Metal working – Method of mechanical manufacture – Of a slide fastener
Reexamination Certificate
2002-03-22
2004-07-06
Bryant, David P. (Department: 3726)
Metal working
Method of mechanical manufacture
Of a slide fastener
C029S410000, C029S033200, C029S766000, C024S403000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06757953
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a configuration of an end of linear fastener elements in a space portion of a fastener chain in which coil type or zigzag type linear fastener elements molded of thermoplastic resin monofilament are attached to a fastener tape. It also relates to a method and an apparatus for forming such an end of the linear fastener elements.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, when a single unit of slide fastener is produced by cutting a continuous slide fastener chain, in which coil-shaped fastener elements made of thermoplastic resin are attached to a fastener tape, at each space portion which is provided at a predetermined interval on the fastener chain, an upper stopper device or a lower stopper device is attached to the coil-shaped fastener elements in a state that an end of the coil-shaped fastener elements is cut to be a cut end portion
7
′ as shown in FIG.
33
.
When the slide fastener in this form is employed on clothes or the like, it may injury the skin of a wearer or catch on his underwear so that an unexpected accident may occur. This point has been improved in a slide fastener as shown in FIG.
34
and disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 46-16573. In this slide fastener, linear fastener elements
1
″ made of thermoplastic resin are sewed onto a side edge portion of a fastener tape
2
″ with sewing yarns
15
″, and an upper stopper device
10
″ is attached to an end of the linear fastener elements
1
″ such that it is attached over the linear fastener elements
1
″. Further, the end of the linear fastener elements
1
″ existing outside the upper stopper device
10
″ are melted by heating in that state and fused with the fastener tape
2
so as to form a fused portion
8
″.
In the slide fastener as described above and shown in
FIG. 34
, the upper stopper device
10
″ is attached to the linear fastener elements
1
″ made of thermoplastic resin and then, the linear fastener element
1
″ existing at a upper end side of the upper stopper device
10
″ is melted by a heating means and fused to the fastener tape
2
″ so as to form the fused portion B″. Thus, the fused portion
8
″ is solidified on the fastener tape
2
″ such that it protrudes from an edge portion of the fastener tape
2
″. Therefore, there is a problem that because the fused portion
8
″ is hard, the wearer may feel a physical discomfort and uncomfortable when it touches his skin.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the present invention has been achieved in views of the above described problems. A main object of the present invention is to provide a slide fastener chain in which a cut end portion of linear fastener elements in the fastener chain is formed in a safety form not having a danger of injuring the skin of a wearer or catching on his underwear, and in which the end of the linear fastener elements is fixed onto a fastener tape of the slide fastener chain in a stabilized state. Therefore, it is possible to finish the slide fastener chain with an upper stopper device or a lower stopper device, or a box pin and a separable pin of a separable stopper device attached in a safety state, so that the slide fastener chain can be used comfortably for a long time while not providing a feeling of a physical discomfort to the wearer.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a slide fastener chain which can be used with safety in a stabilized state when the slide fastener is operated, by specifying the cut end portion position of the linear fastener elements in the fastener chain and a fused form of the linear fastener elements at the cut end portion thereof to be fused to the fastener tape.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a slide fastener chain in which a space portion can be produced in the fastener chain simply without considering a coiling direction of the coil-shaped fastener elements in the fastener chain or a disposition of an inverted portion of zigzag shaped fastener elements.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a slide fastener chain allowing the end of the linear fastener elements in the fastener chain to be processed accurately so as to produce a safety form of the fastener chain.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a slide fastener chain in which the end of the linear fastener elements in the fastener chain is processed in a stabilized state, and then an upper stopper device, a lower stopper device or a box pin and separable pin of a separable stopper device is attached, so that a comfortable use of the slide fastener can be achieved for a long time.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a method for forming a cut end portion of thermoplastic-resin-made coil type or zigzag type linear fastener elements of a slide fastener chain in a stabilized configuration, which can be attached to the fastener tape securely.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a method for forming a cut and portion of thermoplastic-resin-made coil type or zigzag type linear fastener elements of a continuous slide fastener chain with ease in a stabilized configuration.
To achieve the above object, according to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a slide fastener chain including coil type or zigzag type linear fastener elements of thermoplastic resin attached to a side edge portion of a fastener tape, wherein an end of the linear fastener elements has a fused portion formed by fusing the fastener element at said end to the fastener tape by heating in such a manner that a cut end portion of the end of the linear fastener elements is located inward of the side edge portion, and the cut end portion of the end of the linear fastener elements is located so as not to project from the side edge portion of the fastener tape.
Preferably, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the end of the coil type or zigzag type linear fastener elements has the fused portion formed by fusing the fastener element at said end to the fastener tape by heating in such a manner that the cut end portion of the end of the linear fastener elements is pushed inward of the side edge portion of the fastener tape.
Further, it is preferable that cut end portion of the end of the coil type or zigzag type linear fastener elements is provided by cutting a leg portion of the fastener element at said end which faces and is in contact with the fastener tape, and the fused portion is formed by fusing an inverted portion of the linear fastener element at said end to the fastener tape by heating.
Alternatively, the cut end portion of the end of the coil type or zigzag type linear fastener elements may be provided by cutting a leg portion of the linear fastener element at the end which faces and is in contact with the fastener tape, and the fused portion is formed by fusing the cut leg portion to the fastener tape by heating.
Further alternatively, the cut end portion of the end of the coil type or zigzag type linear fastener elements may be provided by cutting a leg portion of the linear fastener element at the end which faces and is in contact with the fastener tape, and the fused portion is formed by fusing the cut leg portion and an inverted portion to the fastener tape by heating.
Further, it is preferable that the cut end portion of the end of the coil type or zigzag type linear fastener elements is provided by cutting an upper leg portion at the end which is disposed apart from a surface of the fastener tape, and the fused portion is formed by fusing the cut upper leg portion and an inverted portion to the fastener tape by heating.
Furthermore, it is preferable that the cut end portion of the end of the coil type or zigzag type linear fastener elements is located below a core thread or a blade attached at the linear fastener elements and is fused to the fastener tape in a st
Kuse Kazuki
Matsumoto Masao
Shimai Hideo
Yamakawa Mitsuru
Bryant David P.
Cozart Jermie E.
Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner L.L.P.
YKK Corporation
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