SLIDE FASTENER

Abstract

In a slide fastener, a back-side guide plate is formed in a tapered shape toward a front end portion side and provided with guide ribs on both right and left ends. The guide ribs stand to the front side and guide elements in right and left element lines to respective engagement positions in accordance with movement of a slider to the rear end portions side. A connection column is provided with a disengagement guide portion for performing disengagement of the elements in accordance with the movement of the slider to the other direction, and back side portions of the elements in the right and left element lines are guided by the guide ribs of the back-side guide plate in accordance with the movement of the slider to thereby perform engagement and disengagement of the elements.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application Nos. 2017-017903 filed on Feb. 2, 2017 and 2017-193662 filed on Oct. 3, 2017, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This disclosure relates to a slide fastener provided in clothes, bags and the like, performing opening/closing by moving a slider.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

Conventionally, there has been known a slide fastener having a structure in which engagement or disengagement of elements separated into two lines is performed by moving the slider (Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2007-296288).

However, when the elements are decorated in the above structure, it is difficult to perform engagement or disengagement of elements as the slider touches the decoration. Therefore, there are restrictions in design except on the surface of the slider.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In order to solve the above problems, an object of the disclosure is to provide a slide fastener with excellent design, which is capable of performing engagement or disengagement of elements without the slider touching the decoration even when the elements are decorated.

A slide fastener according to an embodiment of the disclosure includes right and left symmetrical element lines and a slider. The right and left element lines have a plurality of elements linearly arranged at prescribed intervals in strip-shaped base cloths. The slider having a front-side guide plate and a back-side guide plate. The front-side guide plate is capable of moving in an arrangement direction of the elements over the right and left element lines and provided with a pull. The back-side guide plate is connected by a connection column at an interval corresponding to a thickness of the element line. In the slide fastener, the right and left element lines are connected so that the elements are alternately engaged with each other by movement of the slider in one direction, and the right and left element lines are separated so that the elements are disengaged from each other by movement of the slider in the other direction. In the slide fastener, the back-side guide plate is formed in a tapered shape toward the other direction and provided with guide ribs on both right and left ends. The guide ribs stand toward the front side and guide the elements in the right and left element lines to respective engagement positions in accordance with movement of the slider in one direction. The connection column is provided with a disengagement guide portion. The disengagement guide portion performs disengagement of the elements in accordance with the movement of the slider in the other direction. Back side portions of the elements in the right and left element lines are guided by the guide ribs of the back-side guide plate in accordance with the movement of the slider, thereby performing engagement and disengagement of the elements.

In the slide fastener according to another aspect of the disclosure, the disengagement guide portion may have supporting plates protruding in a tapered shape to the other direction and performing disengagement of the elements at the time of movement of the slider in the other direction.

In the slide fastener according to further another aspect of the disclosure, engagement pieces bending so as to face each other toward the connection column may be provided at upper end portions of the right and left guide ribs in the back-side guide plate, and grooves for engagement with which the engagement pieces are engaged may be formed on side surfaces of the elements. In the slide fastener, back side portions of the elements in the right and left element lines may be guided by the guide ribs of the back-side guide plate and the engagement pieces are engaged with the grooves for engagement in accordance with the movement of the slider, thereby performing engagement and disengagement of the elements.

In the slide fastener according to further another aspect of the disclosure, a tapered surface becoming thinner to the surface side toward the front direction may be formed in a front end portion on the back side of the front-side guide plate, and a tapered surface becoming thinner to the surface side toward the rear direction may be formed in a rear end portion on the back side of the front-side guide plate.

According to the embodiment of the disclosure, the back side portions of the elements in the right and left element lines are guided by the guide ribs provided in the back-side guide plate. Since a guide rib is not provided in the front-side guide plate, front-side portions of respective elements are not restricted in the shape in plan view except consideration of interference with respect to the connection column and are excellent in design.

According to another aspect of the disclosure, disengagement between elements can be performed stably and positively.

According to further another aspect of the disclosure, the engagement pieces of the guide ribs are engaged with the grooves for engagement of the elements, therefore, it is possible to move the elements stably.

According to further another aspect of the disclosure, even when the elements move or rotate at the time of movement of the slider, the elements touches the tapered surfaces, therefore, the movement of the slider is suppressed and introduction into the slider can be performed more smoothly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is an explanatory view showing a front side of a slide fastener and FIG. 1B is an explanatory view showing a back side of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 2A is an explanatory view showing a front side of right and left element lines and FIG. 2B is an explanatory view showing a back side of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 3A is an explanatory view showing a front side of an element and FIG. 3B is s an explanatory view showing a back side of FIG. 3A.

FIG. 4A is an explanatory view showing a front side of a slider, FIG. 4B is an explanatory view showing a back side of FIG. 4A and FIG. 4C is an explanatory view showing an inside.

FIG. 5A is an explanatory view showing a state in which elements are engaged with each other, FIG. 5B is an explanatory view showing a cross section taken along line A-A and FIG. 5C is an explanatory view showing a cross section taken along line B-B.

FIG. 6A is an explanatory view showing a front side of a slide fastener according to a modification example and FIG. 6B is an explanatory view showing a back side of FIG. 6A.

FIG. 7A is an explanatory view showing a front side of right and left element lines in FIG. 6, and FIG. 7B is an explanatory view showing a back side of FIG. 7A.

FIG. 8A is an explanatory view showing a front side of an element in FIG. 6 and FIG. 8B is an explanatory view showing a back side of FIG. 8A.

FIG. 9A is an explanatory view showing a front side of a connected element in FIG. 6 and FIG. 9B is an explanatory view showing a back side of FIG. 9A.

FIG. 10A is an explanatory view showing a front side of a slider in FIG. 6 and FIG. 10B is an explanatory view showing a back side of FIG. 10A.

FIG. 11A is an explanatory view showing a front side of a slide fastener and

FIG. 11B is an explanatory view showing a back side of FIG. 11A.

FIG. 12A is an explanatory view showing a front side of an element of FIG. 11 and FIG. 12B is an explanatory view showing a back side of FIG. 12A.

FIG. 13A is an explanatory view showing a front side of a slider and FIG. 13B is an explanatory view showing a back side of FIG. 13A.

FIG. 14A is an explanatory view showing a back side of the slider of FIG. 12 and FIG. 14B is an explanatory view showing an inside of the slider.

FIG. 15A is an explanatory view showing a front face of the slider of FIG. 12, FIG. 15B is an explanatory view showing a cross section taken along line C-C of FIG. 15A and FIG. 15C is an explanatory view showing a cross section taken along line D-D of FIG. 15A.

FIG. 16A is an explanatory view showing a state in which elements are engaged with each other, FIG. 16B is an explanatory view showing a cross section taken along line E-E of FIG. 16A and FIG. 16C is an explanatory view showing a cross section taken along line F-F of FIG. 16A.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, a slide fastener according to an embodiment of the disclosure will be explained in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 1A and 1B are explanatory views showing a slide fastener. FIGS. 2A and 2B are explanatory views showing right and left element lines. FIGS. 3A and 3B are explanatory views showing elements. FIGS. 4A to 4C are explanatory views showing a slider. FIGS. 6A and 6B are explanatory views showing a state in which right and left elements are engaged with each other.

First, as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, a slide fastener 1 includes a slider 2 and an element portion 20 having a left element line 21 and a right element line 31. When the slider 2 moves on the element portion 20, elements 22, 22 . . . in the left element line 21 and elements 32, 32 . . . in the right element line 31 are alternately engaged or disengaged.

Then, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the left element line 21 is configured such that the elements 22, 22 . . . are arranged on a strip-shaped base cloth BL in a longitudinal direction at prescribed intervals, and the right element line 31 is configured such that the elements 32, 32 . . . are arranged on a strip-shaped base cloth BR in the longitudinal direction at prescribed intervals in the same manner.

Next, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, a body portion of a base 24 in each element 22 is constricted, and an engagement portion 23 to be engaged with the element 32 of the right element line 31 is formed at a tip end.

Additionally, a decorated portion 25 having a columnar shape with a dome-shaped head portion is provided on the base 24. A base end of the decorated portion 25 on the engagement portion 23 side has a thinner plate thickness than the base portion 24 as a groove 26 is inclined in an R-shape. On the other hand, a clamping portion 27 that clamps the base cloth BL is formed in a base end of the decorated portion 25 on the opposite side. The element 22 having the above structure has different shapes in a back side portion 29 guided by later-described guide ribs 9 and in a front-side portion 28 not guided by the guide ribs 9.

The element 32 has a symmetrical shape to the element 22, having an engagement portion 33, a base 34, a decorated portion 35, a groove 36, a clamping portion 37, a front-side portion 38 and a back side portion 39 in the same structure.

Next, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the slider 2 is provided with a pull 3 on a flat surface side of a circular front-side guide plate 4, and a back-side guide plate 8 is connected with the front-side guide plate 4 at a fixed distance through a connection column 5.

In the above structure, the back-side guide plate 8 has a tapered shape, in which the connection column 5 is provided over an area from rear end portions 11 and 12 side to the center to thereby form passages for the elements 22 and 32 in a Y-shape. On both side surfaces of the back-side guide plate 8, the guide ribs 9, 9 are provided over areas from a front end portion 10 to rear end portions 11 and 12. The guide ribs 9, 9 are formed to be lower than a height of the connection column 5. On the other hand, the front-side guide plate 4 is formed in a disc shape and a guide rib is not provided on the connection column 5 side.

As shown in FIG. 4C, a disengagement guide portion 6 is provided in an outer periphery of a shaft portion of the connection column 5 in a tapered shape such that the disengagement guide portion 6 protrudes to the front end portion 10 side, and supporting plates 7, 7 are provided on right and left sides in the disengagement guide portion 6.

Next, the engagement between the elements 22, 22 . . . and the elements 32, 32 . . . is performed by moving the slider 2 of the slide fastener 1 having the above structure as described below.

First of all, in a state where the right element line 31 is not engaged with the left element line 21, the slider 2 is moved from a lower side to an upper side in a state where the lowermost elements 22 and 32 are inserted to the rear end portions 11 and 12 side of the slider 2. Then, on the back-side guide plate 8 shown in FIG. 5A, as an end edge of the supporting plate 7 is introduced into the groove 36, the element 32 relatively moves from the rear end portion 12 side to the front end portion 10 side along an inner wall of the guide rib 9 from a position of an element 32c in an opposite direction of a movement direction of the slider 2. Then, the engagement portion 33 is engaged with the engagement portions 23, 23 of adjacent elements 22. After that, the element 32 is extruded from a position of an element 32a to the front end portion 10 side.

On the other hand, when the element 22 arranged between adjacent elements 32 moves to a position of an element 22c, the end edge of the supporting plate 7 is introduced into the groove 26 shown in FIG. 5B, and the element 22 relatively moves from the rear end portion 11 side to the front end portion 10 side along the inner wall of the guide rib 9. Then, the engagement portion 23 is engaged with the engagement portions 33, 33 of adjacent elements 32 in the same manner. After that, the element 22 is extruded to a position of an element 22a from the front end portion 10 side.

Other elements 32, 32 . . . and other elements 22, 22 . . . are also engaged sequentially by the movement of the slider 2 in the same manner.

Next, disengagement between the left element line 21 and the right element line 31 is performed as described below.

First, in a state where the left element line 21 is engaged with the right element line 31, the slider 2 shown in FIG. 1A is moved from the upper side to the lower side. Then, on the back-side guide plate 8 shown in FIG. 5A, the elements 32, 32 . . . relatively move from the position of the element 32a to the position of the element 32c along the inner wall of the guide rib 9 in an opposite direction of a movement direction of the slider 2.

At this time, the disengagement guide portion 6 of the connection column 5 is introduced into the groove 36 after the position of the element 32b, and the element 32 moves to the rear end portion 12 side along the end edge of the supporting plate 7. Thus, disengagement between the engagement portion 33 and engagement portions 23, 23 of adjacent elements 22 is performed. After that, the element 32 is extruded from the rear end portion 12 side to the position of the element 32c.

On the other hand, when the element 22, 22 . . . arranged between adjacent elements 32 moves to a position of an element 22b from the position of the element 22a, the disengagement guide portion 6 is introduced into the groove 26 shown in FIGS. 5B and 5C and the groove 26 moves to the rear end portion 11 side along the end edge of the supporting plate 7. Thus, disengagement between the engagement portion 23 and the engagement portions 33, 33 of adjacent elements 32 is performed in the same manner. After that, the element 22 is extruded from the position of the element 22c to the rear end portion 11 side.

Other elements 22, 22 . . . and other elements 32, 32 . . . are also disengaged sequentially by the movement of the slider 2 in the same manner. In this case, the elements 22 and 32 move along the guide ribs 9, 9 in a state where movement is restricted in a thickness direction between the front-side guide plate 4 and the back-side guide plate 8 even when the guide rib is not provided in the front-side guide plate 4. Therefore, engagement and disengagement can be performed without hindrance.

In the slide fastener 1 having the above structure, the back-side guide plate 8 is formed in the tapered shape toward the front end portion 10 side and provided with the guide ribs 9, 9 on both right and left ends. The guide ribs 9, 9 stands toward the front side and guides the elements 22, 32 . . . of the right and left element lines 21 and 31 to respective engagement positions in accordance with the movement to the rear end portions 11 and 12. The disengagement guide portion 6 that performs disengagement between the elements 22 and 32 in accordance with the movement of the slider 2 to the other side is provided in the connection column 5. Therefore, engagement and disengagement between the elements 22 and 32 are performed by back side portions of the elements 22 and 32 in the right and left element lines 21 and 31 being guided by the guide ribs 9, 9 of the back-side guide plate 8 by the movement of the slider 2. Accordingly, the back side portions of the elements 22 and 32 in the right and left element lines 21 and 31 are guided by the guide ribs 9, 9 provided in the back-side guide plate 8. Since the guide rib is not provided in the front-side guide plate 4, front-side portions of respective elements 22 and 32 are not restricted in the shape in plan view except consideration of interference with respect to the connection column 5 and are excellent in design. That is, the size and shape of the decorated portions 25 and 35 can be set freely within a range where the decorated portions 25 and 35 do not interfere with the guide rib 9 or the connection column 5. Moreover, it is not necessary to allow the shape of the front-side guide plate 4 to correspond to the shape of the back-side guide plate 8, and the size and shape can be set freely.

The disengagement guide portion 6 protrudes to the front end portion 10 side in a tapered state and includes supporting plates 7, 7 for performing disengagement of the connection between the elements 22 and 32 at the time of movement to the rear end portion 11 and 12. Accordingly, disengagement between the elements 22 and 32 can be performed stably and positively.

The slide fastener according to the disclosure is not limited to the above embodiment, and the shape and size of the elements and the slider can be suitably changed within a scope not departing from the gist of the disclosure.

For example, the line of elements may have a structure in which elements and connected elements fixed by connection members over the front side of plural elements are alternately arranged.

In this case, a slide fastener 50 is formed by a slider 51 and an element portion 70 as shown in FIGS. 6A, 6B and FIGS. 7A, 7B.

In the above components, the element portion 70 includes right and left element lines 71 and 91. The left element line 71 is formed so that elements 72 and connected elements 75 are alternately aligned to be arranged on the strip-shaped base cloth BL in the longitudinal direction at prescribed intervals. The right element line 91 is also formed so that elements 91 and connected elements 95 are alternately aligned to be arranged on the strip-shaped base cloth BR in the longitudinal direction at prescribed intervals.

In the above structure, a body portion of each element 72 is constricted, and an engagement portion 73 to be engaged with the element 92 or the connected element 95 of the right element line 91 is formed at a tip end as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B. The element 72 is attached by clamping the base cloth BL with the body portion so that a stepped portion 74 face the front side (not shown). The element 92 has a symmetrical shape to the element 72 and has the same structure.

As shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, a connection plate 76 is fixed to the connected element 75 over the surface side of an engagement portion 78 of a forward element 77 having the same shape as the element 72 and the surface side of an engagement portion 80 of a backward element 79. The connected element 75 formed as described above has different shapes in a back side portion 82 guided by later-described guide ribs 56 and a front side portion 81 not guided by the guide ribs 56.

The connected element 95 has a symmetrical shape to the connected element 75, having the same structure.

Next, as shown in FIG. 10A, the slider 51 is provided with a pull 52 on a flat surface side of a front-side guide plate 53. A back-side guide plate 55 is connected to a plate portion 54 formed in a tapered shape on an undersurface side of the front-side guide plate 53 through a connection column 60 at a fixed interval with respect to the plate portion 54 as shown in FIG. 10B. The connection column 60 is provided between a later-described rear end portion 57 side to a middle of the plate portion 54.

Additionally, the back-side guide portion 55 is formed to have the same shape as the plate portion 54, and the connection column 60 is provided between the rear end portions 57, 57 side to the center, so that a passage for the elements 72 and 92 as well as the connected elements 75 and 95 is formed into a Y-shape. The guide ribs 56, 56 are provided from a front end portion 59 toward the rear end portions 57, 57 on both side surfaces of the back-side guide portion 55, and notches 58 are provided in the guide ribs 56 on the rear end portions 57 side.

When the slider 51 is moved upward in the slide fastener 50 formed as described above, the elements 72 and the connected elements 75 are engaged with the elements 92 and the connected elements 95 without the slider 51 touching the connection plates 76 of the connected elements 75 and connection plates 96 of the connected elements 95. Thus, engagement between the left element line 71 and the right element line 91 is performed and the connection plates 76, 76 . . . are alternately combined with the connection plates 96, 96 . . . in the longitudinal direction.

On the other hand, when the slider 51 is moved downward, disengagement between the left element line 71 and the right element line 91 is performed without the slider 51 touching the connection plates 76 and the connection plates 96, and the connection plates 76, 76 . . . are separated from the connection plates 96, 96 . . . .

In this case, the size and shape of the connection plates 76 and 96 may be set freely within a range where the connection plates 76 and 96 do not interfere with the lower-side guide ribs 56 and the connection column 60. The size and shape of the front-side guide plate 53 may also be set freely without adjusting the shape so as to correspond to the back-side guide plate 55.

Next, a slide fastener according to another embodiment of the disclosure will be explained in detail with reference to the drawings.

A slide fastener 150 shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B includes a slider 151 having a front-side guide plate 152 with almost the same size as a back-side guide plate 162 and an element portion 110 having a left element line 111 and a right element line 130. The slide fastener 150 has a structure in which each element 112 in the left element line 111 and the right element line 130 are alternately engaged or disengaged when the slider 151 moves on the element portion 110 in the same manner as the aforementioned embodiment.

As shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B, a body portion of a base 114 in each element 112 in the left element line 111 is constricted, and an engagement portion 113 to be engaged with an element 131 in the right element line 130 is formed at a tip end. A concave portion 120 is formed at the center of the engaging portion 113 and a groove for engagement 121 with which an engagement piece 164 of the slider 151 is engaged is provided on a side surface.

Additionally, a decorated portion 115 having a columnar shape with a dome-shaped head portion is provided on the base 114. A base end of the decorated portion 115 on the engagement portion 113 side has a lower height than the base portion 114 as a groove 116 is inclined in an R-shape. On the other hand, a clamping portion 117 that clamps the base cloth BL is formed in a base end of the decorated portion 115 on the opposite side in the same manner as the clamping portion 27 of the element 22 according to the aforementioned embodiment. The element 112 having the above structure has different shapes in a back side portion 119 guided by later-described guide ribs 163 of the slider 151 and in a front side portion 118 guided by a front end portion 165 and a rear end portion 166 and not guided by the guide ribs 163 of the slider 151.

The element 131 has a symmetrical shape to the element 112, having an engagement portion 132, a base 133, a decorated portion 134, a groove 135, a clamping portion 136, a front-side portion 137, a back side portion 138, a concave portion 139 and a groove for engagement 140 in the same structure.

Next, as shown in FIGS. 13A, 13B and FIG. 14A, the slider 151 is configured so that the disc-shaped front-side guide plate 152 is connected at a fixed interval with respect to the back-side guide plate 162 through a connection column 159.

The front-side guide plate 152 is formed so as to have a larger outer shape than the back-side guide plate 162. A guide portion 153 having a tapered shape toward the other side is formed on the back side of the front-side guide plate 152 so as to be expanded. A tapered surface 155 becoming thinner to the surface side toward the front direction is formed in a front end portion 154 of the guide portion 153, and tapered surfaces 158, 158 becoming thinner to the surface side toward the rear direction are also formed in rear end portions 156 and 157.

The back-side guide plate 162 is also formed in a tapered shape in the same manner as the guide portion 153, in which the connection column 159 is provided over an area from rear end portions 166 and 167 side to the center. In the above configuration, a passage for the elements 112 and 131 is formed in a Y-shape as shown in FIG. 14B. On both side surfaces of the back-side guide plate 162, the guide ribs 163, 163 are provided over areas from the front end portion 165 to rear-end portions 166 and 167. The guide ribs 163, 163 are provided with engagement pieces 164, 164 bending so as to face each other toward the connection column 159 at upper end portions thereof. The engagement pieces 164 correspond to the grooves for engagement 121 and 140 of the elements 112 and 131, which are formed to be lower than a height of the connection column 159. Therefore, the engagement pieces 164 do not touch the guide portion 153.

Moreover, a disengagement guide portion 160 is provided in an outer periphery of a shaft portion of the connection column 159 in a tapered shape so as to protrude to the front end portion 154 side as shown in FIGS. 15A to 15C, and supporting plates 161, 161 are provided right and left in the disengagement guide portion 160. Furthermore, the front end portion 165 of the back-side guide plate 162 is also a tapered surface becoming thinner to the back side toward the front direction, and the rear end portions 166 and 167 are also tapered surface becoming thinner to the back side toward the rear direction.

Next, the engagement between the elements 112, 112 . . . and the elements 131, 131 . . . is performed by moving the slider 151 of the slide fastener 150 having the above structure as described below.

First, in a state where the right element line 130 is not engaged with the left element line 111, the slider 151 is moved from a lower side to an upper side in a state where the lowermost elements 112 and 131 are inserted into the rear end portions 166 and 167 side of the slider 151. Then, on the back-side guide plate 162 shown in FIG. 16A, as an end edge of the supporting plate 161 is introduced into the groove 135, the element 131 relatively moves from the rear end portion 167 side to the front end portion 165 side along an inner wall of the guide rib 163 from a position of an element 131c in an opposite direction of a movement direction of the slider 151. Then, the engagement portion 132 is engaged with the engagement portions 113, 113 of adjacent elements 112.

Here, even when the element 131 moves or rotates, the element 131 touches, for example, the tapered surface 158 in the rear end portion 157 to suppress movement. Therefore, introduction into the slider 151 can be performed smoothly. After that, when the groove for engagement 140 of the element 131 is engaged with the engagement piece 164 of the guide rib 163 and moves in the slider 151 along the guide rib 163, the element 131 is extruded from a position of an element 131a to the front end portion 165 side.

When the element 112 arranged between adjacent elements 131 moves to a position of an element 112c, the end edge of the supporting plate 161 is introduced into the groove 116, and the element 112 relatively moves from the rear end portion 166 side to the front end portion 165 side along the inner wall of the guide rib 163. Then, the engagement portion 113 is engaged with the engagement portions 132, 132 of adjacent elements 131 in the same manner.

Here, even when the element 112 moves or rotates, the element 112 touches, for example, the tapered surface 158 in the rear end portion 156 to suppress movement. Therefore, introduction into the slider 151 can be performed smoothly. After that, when the groove for engagement 121 of the element 112 is engaged with the engagement piece 164 of the guide rib 163 and the element 112 moves in the slider 151 along the guide rib 163, the element 112 is extruded from the front end portion 165 side to a position of an element 112a.

Other elements 131, 131 . . . and other elements 112, 112 . . . are also engaged sequentially by the movement of the slider 151 in the same manner.

Next, disengagement between the left element line 111 and the right element line 130 is performed as described below.

First of all, in a state where the left element line 111 is engaged with the right element line 130, the slider 151 is moved from the upper side to the lower side. Then, on the back-side guide plate 162 shown in FIG. 16A, the elements 131, 131 . . . relatively move from a position of the element 131a to the position of the element 131c along the inner wall of the guide rib 163 in an opposite direction of a movement direction of the slider 151.

At this time, the disengagement guide portion 160 of the connection column 159 is introduced into the groove 135 at the position of the element 131b, and the element 131 moves to the rear end portion 167 side along the end edge of the supporting plate 161. Thus, disengagement between the engagement portion 132 and engagement portions 113, 113 of adjacent elements 112 is performed as shown in FIG. 16B.

Even when the element 131 moves or rotates, the element 131 touches, for example, the tapered surface 155 in the front end portion 154 to suppress movement. Therefore, introduction into the slider 151 can be performed smoothly, then, the groove for engagement 140 of the element 131 is engaged with the engagement piece 164 of the guide rib 163 and the element 131 moves in the slider 151 along the guide rib 163.

After that, the element 131 is extruded from the rear end portion 167 side to the position of the element 131c.

When the element 112, 112 . . . arranged between adjacent elements 131 move to a position of an element 112b from the position of the element 112a, the disengagement guide portion 160 is introduced into the groove 116 shown in FIG. 16C and the groove 116 moves to the rear end portion 166 side along the end edge of the supporting plate 161. Thus, disengagement between the engagement portion 113 and the engagement portions 132, 132 of adjacent elements 131 is performed in the same manner.

Even when the element 112 moves or rotates, the element 112 touches, for example, the tapered surface 155 in the front end portion 154 to suppress movement. Therefore, introduction into the slider 151 can be performed smoothly, then, the groove for engagement 140 of the element 131 is engaged with the engagement piece 164 of the guide rib 163 and moves in the slider 151 along the guide rib 163.

After that, the element 112 is extruded from the position of the element 112c to the rear end portion 166 side.

In the slide fastener 150 having the above structure, the engagement pieces 164, 164 bending so as to face each other toward the connection column 159 are respectively provided at upper end portions of the right and left guide ribs 163, 163 in the back-side guide plate 162. The grooves for engagement 121 and 140 with which the engagement pieces 164, 164 may be engaged are formed on the side surfaces of the elements 112 and 131. Therefore, in the right and left element lines 111 and 130, the back side portions 119 and the 138 are guided by the guide ribs 163, 163 in the back-side guide plate 162 and the engagement pieces 164, 164 are engaged with the grooves for engagement 121 and 140 in accordance with the movement of the slider 151. Thus, engagement and disengagement of the elements 112 and 131 is performed. Therefore, the engagement pieces 164, 164 of the guide ribs 163, 163 are engaged with the grooves for engagement 121 and 140 of the elements 112 and 131, which enables stable movement of the elements 112 and 131.

Furthermore, tapered surface 155 becoming thinner to the surface side toward the front direction is formed in a front end portion 154 on the back side of the guide portion 153 of the guide plate 152, and tapered surfaces 158, 158 becoming thinner to the surface side toward the rear direction are also formed in rear end portions 156 and 157 on the back surface of the front-side guide plate 152. Accordingly, even when the elements 112 and 131 move or rotate at the time of movement of the slider 151, the elements touches the tapered surface 155 of the front end portion 154 or the tapered surfaces 158, 158 of the rear end portions 156 and 157. Therefore, the movement is suppressed and introduction into the slider 151 can be performed smoothly.

Inclined angles of the tapered surface 155 of the front end portion 154 and the tapered surfaces 158, 158 of the rear end portions 156 and 157 can be changed as long as the introduction of the elements 112 and 131 can be performed smoothly, however, gentle angles of inclination are preferable. It is further preferable to form tapered surface having a gentle angle of inclination in the front end portion 165 or the rear end portions 166 and 167 in the back-side guide plate 162.

It is explicitly stated that all features disclosed in the description and/or the claims are intended to be disclosed separately and independently from each other for the purpose of original disclosure as well as for the purpose of restricting the claimed invention independent of the composition of the features in the embodiments and/or the claims. It is explicitly stated that all value ranges or indications of groups of entities disclose every possible intermediate value or intermediate entity for the purpose of original disclosure as well as for the purpose of restricting the claimed invention, in particular as limits of value ranges.

Claims

1. A slide fastener comprising: right and left symmetrical element lines having a plurality of elements linearly arranged at prescribed intervals in strip-shaped base cloths; anda slider having a front-side guide plate that is capable of moving in an arrangement direction of the elements over the right and left element lines and provided with a pull, and a back-side guide plate connected by a connection column at an interval corresponding to a thickness of the element line, wherein the right and left element lines are connected so that the elements are alternately engaged with each other by movement of the slider in one direction, and the right and left element lines are separated so that the elements are disengaged from each other by movement of the slider in the other direction,wherein the back-side guide plate is formed in a tapered shape toward the other direction and provided with guide ribs on both right and left ends, which stand to the front side and guide the elements in the right and left element lines to respective engagement positions in accordance with movement of the slider in one direction,the connection column is provided with a disengagement guide portion for performing disengagement of the elements in accordance with the movement of the slider in the other direction, andback side portions of the elements in the right and left element lines are guided by the guide ribs of the back-side guide plate in accordance with the movement of the slider to thereby perform engagement and disengagement of the elements.

2. The slide fastener according to claim 1, wherein the disengagement guide portion has supporting plates protruding in a tapered shape to the other direction and performing disengagement of the elements at the time of movement in the other direction.

3. The slide fastener according to claim 1, wherein engagement pieces bending so as to face each other toward the connection column are respectively provided at upper end portions of the right and left guide ribs in the back-side guide plate, andgrooves for engagement with which the engagement pieces are engageable are formed on side surfaces of the elements, and back side portions of the elements in the right and left element lines are guided by the guide ribs of the back-side guide plate and the engagement pieces are engaged with the grooves for engagement in accordance with the movement of the slider to thereby perform engagement and disengagement of the elements.

4. The slide fastener according to claim 1, wherein a tapered surface becoming thinner to the surface side toward a front direction is formed in a front end portion on the back side of the front-side guide plate, anda tapered surface becoming thinner to the surface side toward a rear direction is formed in a rear end portion on the back side of the front-side guide plate.