Buckles – buttons – clasps – etc. – Separable-fastener or required component thereof – Including member having distinct formations and mating...
Patent
1998-07-16
1999-10-26
Sakran, Victor N.
Buckles, buttons, clasps, etc.
Separable-fastener or required component thereof
Including member having distinct formations and mating...
24654, 24658, A44B 1700
Patent
active
059705884
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The invention is directed to a snap fastener or snap closure of the type indicated in the preamble of claim 1. When the closing head of the male part has been inserted axially through the insertion hole in the housing of the female part, this coupling position of the slide is secured by a portion with a locking profile because this portion engages behind the closing head of the male part. In order to unlock, the slide is displaced via its actuating portion in the housing until a slide portion with a release profile is aligned axially with the closing head of the male part.
In a known snap closure of this kind (U.S. Pat. No. 1,305,979), the two plate-shaped slides which are identical in shape have, at their inner ends, guide strips which engage alternately in longitudinal grooves of the two slides. A pair of stirrup-shaped metal springs, both of whose stirrup legs are supported at laterally projecting projections of the two slides, serve the purpose of spring-loading the slides in opposite directions. Two disks which are mounted in a housing of the female part serve to secure the position of the two slides and the two stirrup springs. The known snap closure has numerous structural component parts which require elaborate individual manufacture and complicated assembly.
In a snap closure of a different kind (DE-PS 343 131) which has only one individual slide, a spring wire whose curved end forms a spring portion is used for its manufacture. This wire end is supported at an inner surface of the housing. The wire portion which then follows in the slide produces the complete locking profile formed of a U-shaped stirrup. This locking stirrup is held by the spring portion in constant alignment with the insertion hole in the housing of the female part serving for axial insertion of the closing head of the male part. One leg of the U-stirrup is then bent out until it is possible to unlock the closing head when this bent out leg region is aligned with the closing head. This is followed by a U-shaped loop at the outer end of the wire which forms the actuating portion of the slide. In order to ensure a sufficient push-in movement, this actuating portion must project out of the housing to a considerable extent in the initial position in which the above-mentioned U-stirrup is aligned with the insertion hole in the housing. Not only does this impair the appearance of the known snap closure, but, because of its large radial overlap, causes objects which move past it to become hooked thereon in an unwanted manner. However, a substantial disadvantage consists in that the U-stirrup acting as locking profile is rigid, per se, so that a simple snap-in coupling of the male part by means of an axial insertion of the closing head in the female part is impossible. Rather, in order for the male part to be coupled therein, the projecting loop of the slide serving as actuator must first be pressed into the housing until the release portion formed by the above-mentioned bending out of one stirrup leg is aligned axially with the insertion hole in the housing.
The object of the invention is to develop a snap closure of the type indicated in the preamble of claim 1 which can be coupled and uncoupled conveniently, is very economical and can be produced in a simple manner. This object is met, according to the invention, through the steps indicated in the characterizing part of claim 1. The special significance of these steps will be described hereinafter.
The invention requires only two structural component parts in the interior of the housing, namely, the two slides within which the spring portions are already integrated. Elastic material, namely, plastic in particular, is used to produce the slides, wherein longitudinally elastic spring portions can likewise be formed integral thereon. These spring portions enable a very economical arrangement with respect to space because they are supported by their free ends alternately at the other respective slide. The manufacture and assembly of the female part according to the invention is very simp
REFERENCES:
patent: 1265869 (1918-05-01), Arkin
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patent: 1363291 (1920-12-01), Thompson
patent: 1380177 (1921-05-01), Arkin
patent: 1484807 (1924-02-01), Baker et al.
patent: 2629156 (1953-02-01), Kamens et al.
patent: 4687236 (1987-08-01), Rasche
Hurtz Winifred
Schwarz Michael
Kueffner Friedrich
Sakran Victor N.
William Prym GmbH & Co. KG
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