Patent Grant
7624481
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a spring body for a slide fastener and a slider having the spring body mounted thereon, and particularly, the invention relates to a spring body for a slide fastener and a slider with an automatic stop function having the spring body mounted thereon, whereby the slider is miniaturized, the material cost is reduced, and the exterior design is improved.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, a slider for a slide fastener provided with an automatic stop function is used in many cases, in which the automatic stop function stops the movement of a slider body in such a manner that, by operating a pull against the slider body for coupling and releasing tooth rows of a fastener chain, a pawl portion of a spring body made of a long and minute elastic metal platy material is engaged with a part of the tooth row of the fastener chain. A structural example of such a slider is disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 10-127313 proposed by the present applicant in advance. In the slider disclosed in this publication, a front attaching post and a rear attaching post are built back and forth on the slider body, a projection piece portion is protruded on a top surface of the front attaching post, a pawl hole is formed on the front side of the rear attaching post and a pull guide surface is inclined downwardly step by step toward the front side in adjacent to the pawl hole. On the pull guide surface, a pintle of the pull is mounted across the rear attaching post and a spring body is mounted on the pintle of the pull.
In this spring body, a pawl portion made of a long element bends at an end of the elastic metal platy member, a hook portion made of a short element bends at the other end in the same direction as the pawl portion, and a cut-out hole is provided by cutting a center of a spring piece. The hook portion of this spring body is freely fit into the projection element of the front attaching post through the cut-out hole of the spring body to be hooked thereon, and at the same time, the pawl portion of the spring body is engaged between the teeth of the fastener chain through the pawl hole of the slider body. Then, the cover body holding the pull covers the spring body against the elastic force of the spring body to be supported and fixed on the front attaching post and the rear attaching post.
According to the operation by the slider assembled as described above, when a user picks up the pull by hands, the spring body is picked up against the elastic force of the spring piece, and the pawl portion of the spring body is left from the teeth of the fastener chain. In this state, the slider body is freely moved to the front side so as to couple the tooth rows of the fastener chain. Then, leaving the pull, due to the action of the spring piece of the spring body, the pawl portion is automatically inserted between the teeth of the fastener chain so as to stop the movement of the slider. In addition, if the pull is pulled backwardly, the pintle of the pull rises along the pull guide surface of the slider body and this makes the spring body to be pulled up against the elastic force of the spring piece and the pawl portion of the spring body is left from the teeth of the fastener chain. Then, the slider body can freely move backward to leave from the tooth rows of the fastener chain right and left.
In the meantime, upon forming such a kind of spring piece, when a base portion of the spring piece is cut out obliquely upward directly from a longitudinal middle portion of the elastic metal platy material and a horse-shoe shaped cut-out hole is formed, an oscillation range of the spring piece becomes narrow and it lacks flexibility. Therefore, when the entire spring body is oscillated and this spring piece is fit in the cut-out hole of this spring piece and is hooked in the cutout hole, this involves a problem such that the spring piece does not return to the original state and the automatic stop function of the slider is lost.
In order to solve this problem, for example, in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 46-35376 proposed by the present applicant in advance, an example of the spring body is disclosed, which is incorporated in the slider of the slide fastener provided with the automatic stop function. The spring body disclosed in this publication has a pair of front and rear oblique plane portions bending obliquely downward back and forth of a long and minute elastic metal platy material; a pair of front and rear leg portions bending vertically downward in connection with respective oblique plane portions; a pair of right and left engaging projections that are protruded at the both sides of the front end leg portion; a pawl portion that is protruded at the rear end leg portion; and a trapezoidal spring piece, which is made by cutting out a portion of the platy material upward and its right and left side faces are tapered, at a lateral middle portion of the elastic metal platy material. In this spring piece, its base portion bends downward more than one step toward the front end side at a position higher than the upper surface of an edged line portion at a rising side of the spring piece of the cut-out hole. The entire spring piece is elongated obliquely upward around the base portion, and a required gap is formed on a flat face with the rising side edged line portion.
In this conventional spring body, the base portion of the spring piece bends and rises upward once, the front end portion of the spring piece is elongated obliquely upward at a required gap with the rising side edged line portion of the spring piece of the cut-out hole, so that there is a gap between the right and left side surfaces and the cut-out hole of the spring piece even when the spring body is oscillated and the spring piece is prevented from being fit into the cut-out hole. In addition, the right and left side surfaces at the front end portion of the spring piece have taper trapezoidal outlines and a flat gap is formed between the rising side edged line portion of the spring piece of the cut-out hole and the spring piece after bending processing, so that it is possible to prevent the rising side edged line portion and the spring piece from overlapping with each other on the oscillation of the spring body.
In addition, another example of a spring body having a pawl portion that is engaged with or released from a portion of tooth rows of a fastener chain is disclosed, for example, in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 61-27449 and Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 62-490 that are proposed by the present applicant in advance. In the spring body disclosed in these publications, a long spring piece having a predetermined cross section is made of one sheet of elastic metal material by a cutting-out processing.
In the meantime, the spring bodies disclosed in the above-described Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 10-127313 and Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 46-35376 are made of a metal material such a copper alloy and a stainless steel having a spring property as a long member having a predetermined cross section with its spring piece made in a size corresponding to a width and a length of the cut-out hole made of the metal material. However, since the spring body is a small element of several mm, a width and a length cut out along the outer peripheral end edge of the member become smaller. Therefore, for example, when the spring piece is molded from the metal material having a strong spring property, if the very small part such as the spring piece requires a cut-out processing and a bending processing much, this involves a problem such that the spring piece suffers some cracks during processing or abrasion of a blanking punch blade is hastened. In other words, if the excess force is applied to the front end portion of the spring piece, the spring piece is cut and damaged or it suffers some cracks. Accordingly, it is not possible to improve a processing precision of the front end portion of the spring piece to expect the stability of the figuration and further, there is a limitation in manufacturing many products with a high precision.
On the other hand, in order to acquire the spring body having the spring piece by the cut-out processing that is disclosed in the above-described Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 61-27449 and Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 62-490, a cut-out hole formed along the peripheral end edge of the spring piece is needed separately. Therefore, a width of one sheet of the elastic metal material necessary for cutting out the hole should be set at least larger than the size obtained by adding a width of the cut-out hole to the width of the spring piece. In addition, according to such a cut-out processing, it is impossible to mold a spring body without producing broken ends, broken waste or the like by cutting out, and many scraps such as the broken ends or the like due to cutting out upon molding the spring body occur.
Therefore, such a structure uses materials wastefully and this has limitations in downsizing and miniaturization of the entire spring body. Further, in order to dispose the scraps, various facilities are required and this leads to a defect such that a cost of equipment is escalated and an administration cost is also escalated in connection with increase in the cost of equipment. Moreover, if many minute broken ends fly in air, this may provide health problems.
Generally, when the width of the spring body becomes large, the outline measurement of the pull holding body should be made also larger than the size of the spring body, so that this inevitably leads to growing in size of the entire slider. In addition, in connection with growing in size of the entire slider, since the pull holding body and the slider body are naturally made larger, a cost of manufacturing a mold is increased, and further, the used amount of the material or the like are also increased, so that this involves a disadvantage such that the material cost is high and the slider cannot be manufactured at a low cost. Furthermore, there are problems such that the appearance of the slider is deteriorated in accordance with growing in size of the pull holding body and the slider body and its commercial value is lowered.
Thus, the arts disclosed in the above-described Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 10-127313 and Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 46-35376 have limitations in mass-producing the spring pieces with a high accuracy depending on the size of the spring body, and according to the arts disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 61-27449 and Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 62-490, the sizes of the pull holding body and the slider body are inevitably restricted by the size of the spring body. Therefore, simplicity, downsizing and miniaturization in molding the spring body are strongly requested. If this requests are satisfied, it is possible to effectively use the inner spaces of the pull holding body and the slider body having the same measurements as the conventional cases even when assembling the spring body.
The invention has been made taking the foregoing problems into consideration and a first object of the invention is to provide a slider for a slide fastener capable of reducing a material cost and a manufacturing cost, and capable of realizing a stable and excellent productivity, and a second object of the invention is to provide a slider with an automatic stop function, and its structure is simple and inexpensive, which can be miniaturized while securing a stable and excellent automatic stop function, and in which a spring body is mounted, whereby an excellent exterior design can be acquired.
The invention provides a spring body, which is supported and fixed on an upper portion of a slider body for coupling and releasing tooth rows of a fastener chain, has a spring piece to be elastically disposed between the pull and a rear surface of a pull holding body for holding a pull movably between the pull holding body and an upper surface of the slider body, and has a pawl portion to be engaged with and released from a portion of the tooth rows of the fastener chain through the inside of the slider body on the basis of the elastic deformation of the spring piece by operating the pull, wherein the spring body is made of a platy material having an opening window portion at one end side thereof and having the pawl portion at a front end of the other end side, and the spring piece has a figuration which is cut out and pulled up at a predetermined height in such a manner that a longitudinal center portion of the platy material is cut out outward from the end portion of the opening window portion to be bent.
The spring body according to the invention is manufactured in such a manner that, at first, a region adjacent to the front end surface of the spring piece of the platy material is cut out so as to form a cut-out hole as the opening window portion, then, at the same moment when the right and left side end edges of the spring piece are broken by punching-out, the cut-out processing is applied to the spring piece. After this cut-out processing, the bending processing is applied to the spring piece to be bent more than one step downward and be pulled up at a prescribed height. Then, the entire spring body is finished in an approximately lateral C-shape.
In the meantime, in the spring body according to the invention, it is preferable that, before applying the cut-out processing for the spring piece to be processed by using one sheet of a platy material such as a copper apply or a stainless steel, a region in adjacent to the front end surface of the spring piece and a portion of the pawl portion at the proximal end side of the spring piece are punched out respectively in advance to form punched-out holes having required shapes.
According to the invention, since the spring piece is pulled up via the cut-out hole as the opening window portion as described above, due to the existence of the cut-out hole, the cut-out and pulled-up height of the spring piece can be formed sufficiently higher with respect to the platy material, the spring piece can be simply molded, and a strong spring property can be acquired.
In addition, according to the above-described configuration, it is possible to set the platy material at the bare minimum measurement. Accordingly, not only the spring piece with a required size can be efficiently formed, but also, by reducing loss of the platy material, the material cost can be economized, so that a yield ratio of the product can be improved. Furthermore, without needing special various accessory facilities and peripheral apparatuses, a simple existing processing apparatus can be used to improve a productivity, so that the disposing cost, the manufacturing cost and the like can be reduced.
In the spring body, it is preferable that the lateral both side end surfaces of the spring piece are formed in tapered faces, which are contracted step by step toward to the front end thereof. After the bending processing, a gap is formed between a periphery of the front end portion of the spring piece and the cut-out hole formed by cutting out the spring piece outward. Therefore, even if the spring piece is fit in the cut-out hole when it is elastically deformed, the spring piece is not hooked on the cut-out hole, so that it is possible to elastically return the spring body smoothly and securely to its original state. Accordingly, the automatic stop function of the slider can be stably secured for a long period.
In addition, it is preferable that the spring body further has chamfered portions which are inclined in a direction in which the ridge line portions at the rising sides of the spring piece of the cut-out hole formed by cutting out the spring piece outward are approached with each other.
The chamfered portions are chamfered by forming two grooves from the end portion at the side of the main body in adjacent to the front end surface of the spring piece to the longitudinal center portion of the platy material by punching out the both right and left side end edges along the outline figuration of the spring piece before applying the punch-out processing to the spring piece. Therefore, there is no fear such that the spring piece is fit in the cut-out hole and it is not elastically returned to the original state, alternatively, the surface of the cut-out hole does not contact the ridge line portion at the rising side of the spring piece. Furthermore, since the operational range of the spring piece is enlarged, it is possible to sufficiently secure the space for allowing the elastic deformation of the spring piece.
Further, the both right and left side end edges along the outline figuration of the spring piece are applied with punching out processing before applying the punch-out processing to the spring piece and the both right and left side end edges of the spring piece are broken upon punching-out the spring piece. Therefore, without suffering a deficit or some cracks due to the excess force applied to the front end portion of the spring piece unlike a conventional case, the spring piece can be simply and smoothly molded, and the front end figuration of the spring piece is stabled to be reliably formed. Accordingly, it is possible to finely finish the spring body at a predetermined measurement, and a stable and excellent productivity can be realized with a high accuracy.
Unlike as described above, the invention is not needed to be provided with all of the chamfered portions formed at the ridge line portions at the rising sides of the spring piece of the cut-out hole of the platy material, and the tapered faces formed at the both side end portions of the spring piece as the spring body having the approximately rectangular opening window portion at one end portion of the platy material, which is entirely formed in an approximately lateral C-shaped. Further, it is possible to acquire a spring body having a simple and inexpensive structure, capable of achieving miniaturization while securing a stable and excellent automatic stop function of a slider, and having an excellent external design by any of the chamfered portion and the tapered face or arbitrary combinations thereof in relation to other causes such as the length and the width of the spring body, the figuration and the size of the spring piece, and the like.
The above-described spring body can be efficiently used for various sliders. The typical structure of the slider for a slide fastener among the various sliders may comprise a slider body for coupling and releasing tooth rows of a fastener chain and a pull holding body, which is supported and fixed on an upper portion of the slider body and holds a pull movably between the pull holding body and an upper surface of the slider body, wherein the spring piece of the spring body is elastically disposed between a rear surface of the pull holding body and the pull, and the pawl portion of the spring body is engaged with and released from a portion of the tooth rows of the fastener chain through the inside of the slider body on the basis of the elastic deformation of the spring piece by operating the pull.
The slider according to the invention, as same as the conventional case, is composed of four members, namely, the slider body, the pull, the pull holding body, and the spring body. The slider according to the invention, however, is largely different from the conventional slider in that the spring piece of the spring body is formed, which is cut out and pulled up at a predetermined height in such a manner that a longitudinal center portion of the platy material is cut out outward from the end portion at the main body of the opening window portion. Therefore, it is possible to effectively use the inner spaces of the pull holding body and the slider body, the most versatile spring body can be acquired, the excellent external design corresponding to the outline shape of the slider body can be acquired, and the commercial value of the slider can be sufficiently improved.
It is preferable that the slider has first and second post portions on back and forth on the upper surface of the slider body; the pull holding body is composed of a substantially lateral C-shaped cover body having front and rear wall portions that are formed back and forth of a flat upper wall portion so as to be smoothly curved with a desired curvature; and the inner surfaces at the front end portions of the respective wall portions have engaging pieces to be elastically engaged with locked portions that are formed in the post portions.
The space surrounded by the rear surface of the pull holding body and the upper surface of the upper blade piece becomes an operational space portion for operating the pintle of the pull and the spring body when the engaging piece of the pull holding body and the locked portion of the post portion are engaged with each other. The pull holding body can be formed with the bare minimum of the thickness and the slider can be miniaturized and thinned.
In addition, the pull holding body may have right and left blade pieces that are protruded from right and left of the upper wall portion downward to cover and seal the space portion between the first post portion and the second post portion.
Since the right and left blade pieces of the pull holding body are protruded between the first and second post portions and seal a portion of the space between the both post portions, if the pull is pulled up, the pintle of the pull contacts the right and left blade pieces and the upward moving amount of the pintle of the pull is limited. Therefore, the excess deformation of the spring piece is not produced and the spring piece is not hooked on the cut-out hole, so that the automatic stop function of the slider can be stably secured for a long period by elastically returning the spring piece smoothly and reliably to the original state.
Further, it is preferable that the slider has notch portions at the proximal end portions of the right and left blade pieces and projection portions formed at the post portions are fit in and engaged with the notch portions.
The engaging pieces of the pull holding body are elastically engaged with the locked portions of the slider body, and the notch portions of the pull holding body are fit and engaged with the projection portions of the slider body. Therefore, upon fitting the pull holding body in the upper portion of the slider body, the pull holding body can be solidly and reliably attached to the slider body without oscillation by any forces in the back and forth direction and the width direction, so that the pintle of the pull and the spring body can be reliably held so as to secure the quality of the slider stably for a long period.
Furthermore, it can be configured that the slider has support walls that are built at the right and left end edges of the first and second post portions and at least the front and rear end portions of the pull holding body are fit and supported thereon; and the end portion at the side of the pawl portion of the spring body and the end portion at the opposite side are fit between the right and left support walls.
The pawl portion of the spring body is fit and inserted between the right and left support walls of the second post portion, and the opposite side of the pawl portion is fit and inserted between the right and left support walls of the first post portion with being mounted on the pintle of the pull. The pull holding body is fit and supported between the right and left support walls of the first and second post portions from above the spring body against the elastic force of the spring piece.
According to the above-described configuration, the entire spring body is held between the opposed faces of the right and left support walls of the first and second post portions, and at least the front and rear end portions of the pull holding body are fit and supported therebetween, so that it is possible to elastically deform the spring piece smoothly and reliably in the space formed between the rear surface of the pull holding body and opposed faces of the right and left support walls of the first and second post portions. As a result, a breakage, a defective deformation and a failure of the spring piece can be prevented, and it is possible to secure a ruggedness of the spring body for a long period.
Although the support walls are simply structured to fit and fix the front and rear portions of the pull holding body, upon fitting and fixing them, the spring body is integrally formed so as not to be separated, so that it is possible to remarkably improve the assemble property, the reliability and the like and the slider can be easily treated. Thereby, this assembly can be simply, stably, and reliably carried out by hands as well as by an automatic machine. Further, at least the front and rear end portions of the pull holding body are fit and supported between the opposed faces of the right and left support walls of the first and second post portions, and this pull holding body can be disposed on the same plane as the upper surfaces of the first and second post portions and at the same time, the thickness of the pull holding body can be made thinner. As a result, the light and miniaturized slider can be realized and the slider having the excellent external design and the high commercial value can be acquired effectively.
In addition, it is preferable that the spring body has a hook portion bending at one end thereof, the hook portion is hooked at a projection piece portion that is formed between the right and left support walls of the first post portion, and the end portion at the side of the pawl portion of the spring body is lower than the side of the hook portion and is entirely inclined.
According to the above-described configuration, the hook portion of the spring body can be reliably positioned and the oscillation of the spring body can be smoothly carried out on the basis of the hook portion to act by the operation of the pull. It is also possible to acquire the operational space between the rear surface of the pull holding body and the first and second post portions of the slider body, which is sufficiently spacious for allowing the operation of the pintle of the pull and the spring body.
In addition, it is preferable that the slider has first and second post portions at the front and rear end portions on the upper surface of the slider body, the pull holding body is composed of a rectangular box having a ceiling wall portion, front and rear side wall portions, and right and left side wall portions on which a notch is formed at its center portion; the pull holding body is externally fit to the first and second post portions of the slider body; and the pull holding body seals the upper portion of the slider body to be secured on the upper portion.
According to such a configuration, the space surrounded by the rear surface of the pull holding body and the first and second post portions of the slider body becomes an operational space portion for operating the pintle of the pull and the spring body. Thus, according to the invention, by cutting out the longitudinal center portion of the platy material outward from the end portion at the side of the main body of the opening window portion, it is possible to effectively use the most versatile spring body having the spring piece that is bent more than one step and is cut out and pulled up at a predetermined height in various sliders.
It is preferable that the slider has a projection piece portion at the upper portion of the first post portion, the projection piece portion is freely fit in the opening window portion of the spring body to be hooked thereon, and the other end portion at the side of the pawl portion of the spring body is lower than the side of the opening window portion and is entirely inclined.
According to this configuration, since the entire spring body is held and assembled on the slider body with inclined downward toward the other end portion at the side of the pawl portion from the opening window portion, it is possible to acquire an operational space portion, which is sufficiently spacious for allowing the operation of the pintle of the pull and the spring body between the rear surface of the pull holding body and the first and second post portions of the slider body.
Operating the pull, in connection with the operation of the pull, the spring piece of the spring body is oscillated around the hook portion of the spring body that is freely fit and hooked on the projection piece portion that is protruded on the upper portion of the first post portion while elastically deforming the pawl portion of the spring body in a direction to be engaged with or be released from the coupling element. When the spring body is oscillated to the movement limitation position, the pawl portion is engaged with or released from the coupling element. Thus, by the operation of the pull, it is possible to elastically deform the spring piece smoothly and easily, and a breakage, a defective deformation and a failure of the spring piece can be prevented, so that it is possible to improve a ruggedness of the spring body.
Preferred embodiments of the invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings.
A slider 10 for a slider fastener having an automatic stop device of the invention shown in
The slider body 20 has an upper blade piece 21, a lower blade piece 22, and a connecting post 23 for connecting the front end portions of these upper and lower blade pieces 21 and 22. The upper and lower blade pieces 21 and 22 have right and left upper and lower flanges 21a and 22a, respectively, from their rear ends to approximately center positions thereof, and a Y-shaped coupling element guide passage is formed between the upper and lower blade pieces 21 and 22.
On the back and forth on the upper surface of the upper blade piece 21 of the slider body 20, front and rear fitting posts 24 and 25 as first and second post portions for attaching the pull holding body 40 thereto as a narrow platy cover body are integrally formed on the upper surface of the upper blade piece 21 to rise thereon. There are predetermined intervals between these front and rear fitting posts 24 and 25 so as to form a space sufficient to house a portion of the pull 30, the spring body 50, and the pull holding body 40.
The rear fitting post 25 at the side of the rear opening of the slider (the left side in
On the opposed faces close to the rear portions of these support walls 25a, a liner locked portion 25d is integrally formed to be elongated across the both right and left side surfaces. This locked portion 25d is shaped in a step having a guide inclined plane smoothly falling along the stepped plane of the right and left stepped portions 25c and an edge portion engagement surface to be engaged with and disengaged from the pull holding body 40. On the front opposed faces of this support wall 25a, a liner pull guide portion 25e elongated across its right and left side surfaces are formed at a position lower than the locked portion 25d.
On the front end surface of this pull guide portion 25e, a pull guide surface 25e-1 for guiding a pintle 32 of the pull 30 is formed by a tapered face that is inclined downward step by step along the front end surface of the support wall 25a. The pull guide surface 25e-1 leads and guides the pull 30 toward a moving limitation position of the spring body 50 from the front proximal end of the pull guiding portion 25e upon operation of the pull 30. Between the front proximal end of the locked portion 25d and the rear proximal end of the pull guide portion 25e, a rectangular pawl hole portion 25f, in/from which a pawl portion 55 of the spring body 50 is inserted/detached, is cut through upward and downward of the upper blade piece 21 so that the pawl hole portion 25f is communicated with a coupling element guide passage.
The front fitting post 24 at the side of the shoulder opening of the slider (the right side in
This locked portion 24d is shaped in a step having a guide inclined plane smoothly falling along the stepped plane of the right and left stepped portion 24c and an edge portion engagement surface to be engaged with and disengaged from the pull holding body 40. At a center of the front opposed faces of this support walls 24a and on the upper surface of the upper blade piece 21, a pair of right and left platy projection piece portions 24e having a cross section curved in a moderate arc upward are protruded, and the upper surfaces of the projection piece portions 24e are formed as faces on which the spring body 50 is mounted. Between the opposed faces of the support walls 24a and at a center in a width direction of the upper surface of the upper blade piece 21, a concave groove portion 24f is formed between the projection piece portions 24e and the locked portion 25d.
As shown in
The pull holding body 40, as shown in
These right and left blade pieces 43 are formed at the substantially same length as the length between the front fitting post 24 and the rear fitting post 25, and they are formed shorter than the lengths of the wall portions 41 and 42. Accordingly, under the state in which the slider body 20 and the pull holding body 40 are engaged with each other, the lower end surfaces of these right and left blade pieces 43 are separated from the upper surface of the upper blade piece 21 so as to form a space portion for allowing the operation of the pintle 32 of the pull 30. The space surrounded by the rear surface of the pull holding body 40 and the upper surface of the upper blade piece 21 becomes an operational space portion for operating the pintle 32 of the pull 30 and the spring body 50 when the slider body 20 and the pull holding body 40 are engaged with each other.
According to the above-described configuration, the pull holding body 40 is fit and supported between the opposed faces of the support walls 24a and 25a of the front and rear fitting posts 24 and 25, and this pull holding body 40 can be disposed on the same plane as the upper surfaces of the support walls 24a and 25a. Therefore, the pull holding body 40 can be formed with the bare minimum of the thickness and the slider 10 can be miniaturized and thinned, so that it is possible to acquire a slider having an excellent exterior design and a high commercial value. In addition, the engaging pieces 41a and 42a of the pull holding body 40 are elastically engaged with the locked portions 24d and 25d of the front and rear fitting posts 24 and 25 and the notch portions 44 of the pull holding body 40 are fit and engaged with the pair of projection portions 24b and 25b of the front fitting post 24 and rear fitting post 25. As a result, the pull holding body 40 can be solidly and reliably attached to the slider body without oscillation by any forces in the back and forth direction and the width direction, so that a spring piece 52 of the spring body 50 can be smoothly and reliably held so as to secure the quality of the slider 10 stably for a long period.
A main characteristic part of the invention is a structure of the spring body 50. The spring body 50 as the most typical structural example of the invention has a main body made of a platy material such as a copper alloy or a stainless steel, and a rectangular opening window portion 51 at a longitudinal one end side of the main body, and the spring body 50, which has a pawl portion 55 at the front end of the longitudinal other end side of the main body, is entirely formed in a substantially lateral C-shape. On this spring body 50, a flat spring piece 52 is formed, which is cut out, bent and pulled up at a predetermined height in such a manner that a longitudinal center portion of the platy material is cut out outward from the end portion at the main body of the opening window portion 51.
In order to cut out outward the spring piece 52, the platy material can be set at the bare minimum measurement and further, the amount of the use of the platy material used can be economized, so that a yield ratio of the product can be improved. Furthermore, without needing special various accessory facilities and peripheral apparatuses, a simple existing processing apparatus can be used to improve a productivity, so that the disposing cost, the manufacturing cost and the like can be reduced.
As shown in
At the front and rear end portions of the spring body 50, a short platy element and a long platy element are bent downward with respect to the opposed side of the spring piece 52, respectively to be integrally formed in parallel with each other. This short platy element is formed as a hook portion 54 to be mounted on a pair of right and left projection elements 24e, 24e of the front fitting post 24. This hook portion 54 includes a portion of the opening window portion 51 and the hook portion 54 is set at required measurement and figuration capable of being mounted between the pair of projection elements 24e. The front end of one long platy element is formed as the pawl portion 55 for stopping the movement of the slider body 20 against a coupling element of a slide fastener (not shown).
The one side portion at the front end of this pawl portion 55 is formed narrower than the width of the main body of the spring body 50, and through the pawl hole portion 25f formed on the upper surface of the upper blade piece 21 in adjacent to the front proximal end of the locked portion 25d of the rear fitting post 25, the one side portion at the front end of this pawl portion 55 is formed in required size and figuration capable of being inserted and detached in and from the coupling element guide passage. The proximal end portion of the spring piece 52 throws out with a predetermined height from the cut-out hole 53 in an elbowed shape from the upper end of the pawl portion 55 forward.
In the meantime, although according to the present embodiment, the entireness of the spring piece 52 throws out in an approximately elbowed shape forward, the invention is not limited to this. For example, it is a matter of course that the spring piece 52 may be cut out outward at a predetermined height by applying a bending processing to the spring piece 52 to bend it downward more than one step.
The front end of this spring piece 52 is bent and formed downward as capable of elastically contacting the rear surface of the pull holding body 40, and a flat gap is formed between the front end portion of the spring piece 52 and the ridge line at the rising side of the spring piece 52 of the cut-out hole 53. Even if the spring piece 52 is fit in the cut-out hole 53 when it is elastically deformed, the spring piece 52 is not hooked on the cut-out hole 53, so that the automatic stop function of the slider 10 can be stably secured for a long period by elastically returning the spring piece 52 smoothly and reliably to the original state.
Upon manufacturing the spring body 50, at first, before applying the cut out and pulling-out processing to the spring piece 52 to be machined, a region adjacent to the front end surface of the spring piece 52 of the platy material is cut out in advance so as to form a cut-out hole as the opening window portion 51 and at the same time, a portion of a part where the pawl portion 55 of the platy material is formed is cut out to be broken away in advance. Next, at the same moment when the right and left side end edges along the outline figuration are broken by punching-out, which is contracted step by step from the side end portion of the main body of the cut-out hole in adjacent to the front end surface of the spring piece 52 to the longitudinal center portion of the platy material toward the front end of the spring piece 52, the cut-out processing is applied to the spring piece 52 through the opening window portion 51. After this cut-out processing, the bending processing is applied to the spring piece 52, so that the entire spring body having the opening window portion 51 that is pulled up at a predetermined height in an elbowed shape is finished in a substantially lateral C-shape.
Thus, due to the existence of the opening window portion 51, the spring piece 52 can be pulled up through the opening window portion 51, so that a required pulled-up height of the spring piece 52 against the platy material is obtained, and without suffering a deficit or some cracks due to the excess force applied to the front end portion of the spring piece 52 during processing, it is possible to simply and reliably form the spring body 50 with a desired spring property.
In order to assemble the slider 10 configured as described above, as shown in
Fitting the pull holding body 40 inside the front and rear fitting posts 24 and 25, in connection with fitting of the pull holding body 40, the engaging pieces 41a and 42a of the pull holding body 40 slide on the guide inclined planes of the locked portions 24d and 25d of the front and rear fitting posts 24 and 25 against the elastic force of the spring piece 52 while being elastically deformed in an enlarged and opening direction, and these engaging pieces 41a and 42a pass the front end inclined planes of the guide inclined planes. At the same time, elastically restoring the engaging pieces 41a and 42a in a contracted direction, as shown in
Then, at a fitting limitation position of the pull holding body 40, the notch portions 44 of the pull holding body 40 are fit and engaged with the respective projection portions 24b and 25b of the front and rear fitting posts 24 and 25 as shown in
When the slider body 20 and the pull holding body 40 are engaged with each other in a simple structure such that the engaging pieces 41a and 42a of the pull holding body 40 and the locked portions 24d and 25d of the front and rear fitting posts 24 and 25 are fit and secured with each other, the spring body 50 is integrally formed so as not to be separated therefrom and this assembly can be simply, stably, and reliably carried out by hands or by an automatic machine. Further, the spring piece 52 can be elastically deformed smoothly and reliably in the space that is formed between the rear surface of the pull holding body 40 and the opposed faces of the front and rear fitting posts 24 and 25, a breakage, a defective deformation and a failure of the spring piece 52 can be prevented, so that it is possible to secure a ruggedness of the spring body 50 for a long period.
Upon releasing the engagement, the slider 10 can freely move to the shoulder opening side of the slider (the right side in
The opening window portion 51 of the spring body 50 illustrated in the drawings is formed in a rectangular shape longer in a longitudinal direction of the platy material with a step disposed from the front end surface of the cut-out hole 53 corresponding to the outline figuration of the spring piece 52 outward. At the ridge line portions at the rising sides of the spring piece 52 of the cut-out hole 53, the chamfered portions 53a are formed, which are inclined downward to the inside. Due to the existence of the chamfered portions 53a, a problem such that the spring piece 52 is fit in the cut-out hole 53 when it is elastically deformed and it is not returned elastically to the original state; and the face of the spring piece 52 contacts the ridge line portions at the rising sides of the spring piece 52 of the cut-out hole 53 is solved, so that the space for allowing the elastic deformation of the spring piece 52 is sufficiently secured.
At the front end of the spring body 50, a short platy element that is smoothly bent and formed downward at the opposed side of the spring piece 52 is formed as the hook portion 54 to be hooked on the projection elements 24e of the front fitting post 24. On the other hand, at the rear end portion of the spring body 50, a long platy element that is bent and formed at a sharper angle than the short platy element is formed as the pawl portion 55 for stopping the movement of the slider body 20 against the coupling element (not shown). The both sides of the front end of the pawl portion 55 are formed to be gradually narrower than the width of the main body of the spring body 50.
The spring body 50 according to the modified embodiment shown in
After chamfering is applied to the both right and left side edges of the spring piece 52, as same as the method of manufacturing the spring body 50 shown in
Thus, before applying the punch-out processing to the spring piece 52, chamfering is carried out when two grooves are formed by applying the punch processing to the both right and left side edges of the spring piece 52, and then, the both right and left side end edges of the spring piece 52 are broken upon punching out, so that the punching out can be simply and accurately positioned, the spring piece 52 can be simply and smoothly molded, and the front end figuration of the spring piece 52 is stabled. Accordingly, it is possible to finely finish the spring body 50 at a predetermined measurement. In addition, according to the modified embodiment of the spring body 50 shown in
Next, with reference to
In these drawings, the present embodiment is largely different from the first embodiment in that the opening window portion 51 of the spring body 50 is fit in the projection piece portions 124e protruded on the top surface of the front end supporting post 124 to be supported thereon; and that the front and rear fitting posts 124 and 125 that are configured by the block body having a flat top surface are sealed as completely housed in the inside of the pull holding body 140. Accordingly, in place of the flat pull holding body, the pull holding body is configured by a rectangular box.
At a center of the top surface of the solid front fitting post 124 at the shoulder opening side of the slider (the right side in
On the lower portion of the front wall surface of the front fitting post 124, a stepped plane of a stepped portion 127 that is formed at the front end edge of the upper surface of the upper wing plate 121 is formed as a mounting face of the pull holding body 140 such that a gap is formed between the inner surface of the front platy portion of the pull holding body 140 and the front fitting post 124. The gap serves to make the operation of the spring body 50 disposed between the inner surface of the front platy portion of the pull holding body 140 and the front fitting post 124 easy as shown in
On the lower portion of the rear wall surface of the front fitting post 124, a pull guide portion 125e is protruded lower than the rear fitting post 125. On the front end surface of the pull guide portion 125e, a pull guide surface 125e-1 for leading and guiding the pintle 32 of the pull 30 by the tapered face that is inclined downward step by step is formed. Further, between the rear proximal end of the pull guide portion 125e and the front proximal end of the rear fitting post 125, a rectangular pawl hole portion 125f is protruded through the upper blade piece 121 vertically, in which the pawl portion 55 of the spring body 50 is inserted and detached in and from the coupling element guide passage.
The pull holding body 140 is configured by a ceiling wall portion 140a formed approximately flat; front and rear side wall portions 140b, 140b which are formed on the back and forth of the ceiling wall portion 140a with their outer side surfaces bent in an arched-shape inwardly with the substantially same curvature; and a pair of right and left side wall portions 140c, 140c at the opposite sides for coupling the ceiling wall portion 140a and the front and rear side wall portions 140b, 140b. A space portion surrounded by the inner sides of the pull holding body 140 is sufficiently spacious to operate a portion of the pull 30 and the spring body 50. At the positions on the lower end edges of the right and left side wall portions 140c of the pull holding body 140 corresponding to the pintle 32 of the pull 30, concave cut-out portion 140d is formed. When the slider body 120 and the pull holding body 140 are engaged with each other, the concave cut-out portion 140d is separated from the upper surface of the upper blade piece 21, and a space portion for allowing the operation of the pintle 32 of the pull 30 is formed.
Further, at the position on the rear surface of the ceiling wall portion 140a corresponding to the spring piece 52 of the spring body 50, a concave groove portion 140e is formed. Since this ceiling wall portion 140a is formed thinner than the front and rear side wall portions 140b, 140b, when elastically deforming the spring piece 52 of the spring body 50, twist, damage and the like are prevented and the spring body 50 is not laterally slipped, so that it is possible to smoothly and reliably engage and detach the spring body 50 with and from the coupling element of the fastener chain (not shown).
Upon assembling the slider 10 configured as described above, as shown in
When the pintle 32 of the pull 30 moves to the movement limitation position of the spring body 50, as shown in
According to the above-described respective embodiments, the spring body 50 is assembled in such a manner that the entire spring body 50 is held on the slider body 20 or 120 with being inclined downward from the opening window portion 51 to the side of the pawl portion 55. Therefore, a space portion can be acquired between the rear surface of the pull holding body 40 or 140 and the front post portions 24, 25, or 124, 125 of the slider body 20 or 120, which is sufficiently spacious to allow the operation of the pintle 32 of the pull 30 and the spring body 50. Thus, the interior portions of the pull holding bodies 40 and 140, and the slider bodies 20 and 120 can be effectively used, so that the excellent external design corresponding to the outline shape of the slider bodies 20 and 120 can be acquired and the commercial value of the slider can be sufficiently improved.
The preferable embodiments of the invention are described as above. For example, unlike as described above, it is not necessary to provide all of the chamfered portions 53a formed at the ridge line portions at the rising sides of the spring piece 52 of the cut-out hole 53 of the platy material, and the tapered faces 52a formed at the both side end portions of the spring piece 52 as the spring body 50 having the substantially rectangular opening window portion 51 at one end portion of the platy material, which is entirely formed in a substantially lateral C-shaped. In addition, it is a matter of course that the objects of the invention can be sufficiently achieved by any of the chamfered portion 53a and the tapered face 52a or arbitrary combinations thereof in relation to other causes such as the material, the length and the width of the spring body 50, the figuration and the size of the spring piece 52a, and the like. Accordingly, it is natural that the invention is not limited to the respective embodiments and the modified embodiments, and the design of the invention can be variously changed within the scope of respective claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003-143551 | May 2003 | JP | national |
This application is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/831,551 entitled “Slider for Slide Fastener and Slider Having a Spring Body Mounted Thereon” and filed on Apr. 23, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,356,887, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety and which claims priority from Japanese Patent Application Number 2003-143551 filed on May 21, 2003 and which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
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| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20080148534 A1 | Jun 2008 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 10831551 | Apr 2004 | US |
| Child | 12037150 | US |
