FASTENER ELEMENT AND SLIDE FASTENER

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Japanese Patent Application No. 2024-175893, filed October 7, 2024, which is hereby specifically incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a fastener element and a slide fastener.

BACKGROUND ART

There is known a fastener element for repair to be attached to a slide fastener in place of a missing fastener element. For example, Document 1 (WO 2023/176067 A1) discloses, as a fastener element for repair, a metal fastener element having substantially the same appearance as a resin fastener element. This metal fastener element can be attached, by crimping, to the slide fastener to be repaired.

However, in the fastener element disclosed in Document 1, distortion during crimping occurs in a concentrated manner at one point, which may cause breakage or cracks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the invention is to provide a fastener element that can be used to repair a slide fastener and that can inhibit the occurrence of breakage or cracks during crimping.

[1] A fastener element according to an aspect of the invention is a fastener element to be attached to a fastener tape, the fastener element being made of metal, the fastener element including: an engagement portion; and a first extension and a second extension, the first extension and the second extension extending from the engagement portion, the first extension being disposed opposing the second extension, in which each of the first extension and the second extension includes: a holding portion configured to hold a side edge of the fastener tape, the side edge of the fastener tape being held between the holding portion of the first extension and the holding portion of the second extension; and a thin portion disposed closer to the engagement portion than the holding portion in an extending direction of the first extension or the second extension, each of the first extension and the second extension has a thickness in a direction orthogonal to the corresponding extending direction and a longitudinal direction of the fastener tape, and in each of the first extension and the second extension, a minimum dimension of the thickness of the thin portion is smaller than a maximum dimension of the thickness of the holding portion.

[2] In [1] above, in a projection view of the fastener element along the longitudinal direction, it is preferable that the minimum dimension of the thickness of the thin portion is smaller than a minimum dimension of the thickness of the holding portion in each of the first extension and the second extension.

[3] In [1] or [2] above, it is preferable that each of the first extension and the second extension further includes a groove of which bottom is the thin portion, and that the groove of the first extension and the groove of the second extension are opened facing each other to form a groove space therebetween.

[4] In [3] above, it is preferable that a bottom surface of the groove of each of the first extension and the second extension has a concave arc shape when viewed in the longitudinal direction.

[5] In any of [1] to [4] above, it is preferable that the engagement portion includes: a first head connected to the first extension; a second head connected to the second extension; a connecting portion connecting the first head to the second head; and a head groove provided between the first head and the second head and opened on a side opposite to the groove space.

[6] In [5] above, it is preferable that the connecting portion has a curved surface extending continuously to inner surfaces of the grooves of the first extension and the second extension and curving to be convex toward the groove space when viewed in the longitudinal direction.

[7] In [5] or [6] above, it is preferable that the first head has a tapered shape with a dimension in the longitudinal direction decreasing toward a side opposite to the first extension, and that the second head has a bulging shape bulging on opposite sides of the first head in the longitudinal direction.

[8] In [7] above, it is preferable that the second head includes: a groove side surface that forms a part of an inner surface of the head groove; and a pair of locking surfaces, the locking surfaces being disposed closer to the first head than the groove side surface on opposite sides of the connecting portion in the longitudinal direction.

[9] In [7] or [8] above, it is preferable that the thin portion of the first extension partially forms shoulders as a pair that are positioned on opposite sides of the second extension in the longitudinal direction, when viewed in a direction in which the first extension and the second extension face each other.

In [9] above, it is preferable that the minimum dimension of the thickness of the thin portion of the first extension is larger than the minimum dimension of the thickness of the thin portion of the second extension.

In any of [1] to above, it is preferable that each of the first extension and the second extension includes an outer surface disposed on a side opposite to an opening of the fastener element between the first extension and the second extension, and that the outer surface of each of the first extension and the second extension is provided with a protrusion, a pattern shape of the protrusion of the first extension being different from a pattern shape of the protrusion of the second extension.

A slide fastener according to an aspect of the invention includes the fastener element described in any of [1] to [11].

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a slide fastener of an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a partial enlarged view of the slide fastener of the exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a side view of one of existing fastener elements of the slide fastener of the exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a fastener element of the exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 5 is another perspective view of the fastener element of the exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the fastener element of the exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view along line VII-VII in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view along line VIII-VIII in FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the fastener element of the exemplary embodiment after crimping.

FIG. 10 is another plan view of the fastener element of the exemplary embodiment after crimping.

FIG. 11 is a side view of the fastener element of the exemplary embodiment after crimping.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An exemplary embodiment of the invention will be described below.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, a fastener element 1 of the exemplary embodiment is capable of forming a part of a slide fastener 10. The fastener element 1 of the exemplary embodiment can be used to repair the slide fastener 10. In FIG. 1, for the purpose of description, the fastener element 1 in the slide fastener 10 is illustrated as a shaded area.

Configuration of Slide Fastener 10

A configuration of the slide fastener 10, in which the fastener element 1 of the exemplary embodiment can be used, will be described briefly. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the slide fastener 10 includes a pair of fastener stringers 11 and 12 and a slider 13 capable of opening and closing the fastener stringers 11 and 12.

In the description of the slide fastener 10, a direction in which the fastener stringers 11 and 12 are arranged is defined as a left-right direction, and a direction in which the slider 13 slides on the pair of left and right fastener stringers 11 and 12 is defined as an up-down direction. A direction orthogonal to the left-right direction and the up-down direction is defined as an exterior-interior direction.

Each of the fastener stringers 11 and 12 includes a fastener tape 14 and an element array 15 provided for the fastener tape 14.

The fastener tape 14 includes a tape 142 and a core string 141 provided for a side edge of the tape 142. The tape 142 is disposed along the up-down direction. The tape 142 has a width in the left-right direction and a thickness in the exterior-interior direction. The core string 141 is disposed along the up-down direction. A diameter of the core string 141 in the exterior-interior direction is larger than the thickness of the tape 142 in the exterior-interior direction.

The core string 141 and an area of the tape 142 close to the core string 141 form a side edge 14a of the fastener tape 14. The side edge 14a of the fastener stringer 11 is disposed opposing the side edge 14a of the fastener stringer 12.

The element array 15 is formed by multiple resin fastener elements 16. Each of the fastener elements 16 is injection-molded on the side edge 14a of the fastener tape 14. Exemplary materials of the fastener elements 16 include synthetic resin materials such as polyacetal, polyethylene terephthalate, and nylon.

The configuration of the fastener elements 16 of the exemplary embodiment, which is not particularly limited, is substantially the same as that of fastener elements of a watertight fastener disclosed in WO 2011/064893 A1.

Specifically, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, each fastener element 16 is provided integrally with an exterior surface 16A disposed on an exterior side of the fastener tape 14 and an interior surface 16B disposed on an interior side of the fastener tape 14. The exterior surface 16A includes a first base 161 attached to the fastener tape 14 and a first head 162 that has a substantially triangular shape and tapers from the first base 161 toward the mating fastener tape 14. The interior surface 16B includes a second base 163 attached to the fastener tape 14 and a second head 164 that has a bulging shape bulging from the second base 163 toward the mating fastener tape 14. In addition, the interior surface 16B includes a neck 165 that is constricted between the second base 163 and the second head 164 in the up-down direction. The fist base 161 includes a pair of shoulders 166 positioned on opposite sides of the neck 165 in the up-down direction.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, in a state where the pair of fastener stringers 11 and 12 are fastened, the fastener elements 16 of the fastener stringer 11 and the fastener elements 16 of the fastener stringer 12 engage with each other. In this state, the first head 162 is fitted in between the shoulders 166 of the mating fastener elements 16 adjacent to each other in the up-down direction and is in contact with the mating core string 141. The second head 164 is fitted in between the necks 165 of the mating fastener elements 16 adjacent to each other in the up-down direction and abuts against the shoulders 166 of the mating fastener elements 16 in the exterior-interior direction.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the element arrays 15 of the fastener stringers 11 and 12 engage with each other by sliding the slider 13 upward on the fastener stringers 11 and 12. The element arrays 15 of the fastener stringers 11 and 12 are disengaged by sliding the slider 13 downward on the fastener stringers 11 and 12.

The slide fastener 10 may include a pair of upper stoppers 17 and a lower stopper 18. The upper stoppers 17 may be respectively provided for the side edges 14a of the fastener stringers 11 and 12 on the upper side of the element arrays 15. The lower stopper 18 may be provided for the side edges 14a of the fastener stringers 11 and 12 on the lower side of the element arrays 15. The upper stoppers 17 and the lower stopper 18 are configured to prevent the slider 13 from coming off of the element arrays 15.

The lower stopper 18 may be a separable end stop including an insertion pin and a box. The upper stoppers 17 and/or the lower stopper 18 may be omitted.

When excessive pulling force in the left-right direction is applied to the fastener stringers 11 and 12 of the slide fastener 10 in a state where the element arrays 15 of the fastener stringers 11 and 12 engage with each other, some fastener elements 16 may come off of the fastener tape 14.

In such a case, the fastener element 1 of the exemplary embodiment is attached by crimping to a part of the fastener tape 14 where the fastener element 16 is missing. The slide fastener 10 can thus be repaired.

Configuration of Fastener Element 1

Referring to FIGS. 4 to 11, a configuration of the fastener element 1 of the exemplary embodiment will be described. FIGS. 4 to 8 illustrate the fastener element 1 before crimping, and FIGS. 9 to 11 illustrate the fastener element 1 after crimping.

The description of the fastener element 1 will be made using an X direction, Y direction, and Z direction orthogonal to each other. When the fastener element 1 is attached to the slide fastener 10, the X direction corresponds to the left-right direction of the slide fastener 10 (i.e., a width direction of the fastener tape 14), the Y direction corresponds to the up-down direction of the slide fastener 10 (i.e., a longitudinal direction of the fastener tape 14), and the Z direction corresponds to the exterior-interior direction of the slide fastener 10 (i.e., a thickness direction of the fastener tape 14).

The fastener element 1 of the exemplary embodiment is a metal element having substantially the same appearance as the resin fastener elements 16. The fastener element 1 is configured to be crimped to the fastener tape 14 (see FIGS. 1 and 2). The type of metal material for the fastener element 1 is not particularly limited, but examples thereof include copper alloys and zinc alloys.

As illustrated in FIGS. 4 to 6, the fastener element 1 of the exemplary embodiment includes an engagement portion 2, a first extension 3, and a second extension 4. The first extension 3 and the second extension 4 extend from the engagement portion 2. The first extension 3 is disposed opposing the second extension 4.

The engagement portion 2 includes a first head 21 connected to the first extension 3, a second head 22 connected to the second extension 4, a head groove 23 provided between the first head 21 and the second head 22, and a connecting portion 24 connecting the first head 21 to the second head 22.

In a state where the fastener element 1 is attached to the slide fastener 10, the first head 21 and the second head 22 of the fastener element 1 are engaged with the existing fastener elements 16 of the slide fastener 10. The first head 21 and the second head 22 of the exemplary embodiment have mutually different shapes to achieve the engagement with the fastener elements 16. Specifically, the first head 21 has a tapered shape with a dimension in the Y direction decreasing in a +X direction. The second head 22 has a bulging shape bulging on opposite sides of the first head 21 in the Y direction.

The second head 22 includes a groove side surface 221 and a pair of locking surfaces 222A and 222B that face the first head 21 (i.e., toward a +Z side). The groove side surface 221 forms a part of an inner surface of the head groove 23 described later. The locking surfaces 222A and 222B are disposed closer to the first head 21 than the groove side surface 221 on opposite sides of the connecting portion 24 in the Y direction. A step in the Z direction is provided between the groove side surface 221 and the locking surfaces 222A, 222B. After crimping, the locking surfaces 222A and 222B are preferably disposed at substantially the same position in the Z direction as the fastener tape 14 (see FIG. 11).

The head groove 23 is provided between the first head 21 and the second head 22. The head groove 23 is opened on a side opposite to a groove space GS described later (e.g., in the +X direction) to penetrate the engagement portion 2 in the Y direction. A bottom surface of the head groove 23 has a concave arc shape when viewed in the Y direction.

The connecting portion 24 is connected to a -Z side part of the first head 21 and connected to a +Z side part of the second head 22, connecting the first head 21 to the second head 22. The connecting portion 24 serves as a starting point for bending the fastener element 1 when crimping is performed.

The connecting portion 24 is a bottom of the head groove 23. The first head 21 and the second head 22 thus extend beyond the connecting portion 24 on an opening side of the head groove 23 (e.g., in the +X direction). In other words, the dimension in the X direction of the connecting portion 24 is smaller than those of the first head 21 and the second head 22. The shape of the connecting portion 24 is not particularly limited, but the dimension in the Y direction of the connecting portion 24 is smaller than the dimension in the Y direction of the second head 22.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, the connecting portion 24 has a curved surface 241 on a side opposite to the head groove 23. The curved surface 241 thus faces the groove space GS (e.g., in a -X direction). The curved surface 241 extends continuously to inner surfaces of later-described grooves 32 and 42 of the first extension 3 and the second extension 4 and curves to be convex toward the groove space GS when viewed in the Y direction.

The first extension 3 extends from the first head 21 toward a -X side, and the second extension 4 extends from the second head 22 toward the -X side. The first extension 3 is disposed opposing the second extension 4 in the Z direction. In other words, the first extension 3 and the second extension 4 extend away from the engagement portion 2, which serves as the starting point for bending the fastener element 1 when crimping is performed.

Before crimping, the first extension 3 and the second extension 4 extend in mutually different directions. For explanatory convenience, it is assumed that an extending direction DS2 of the second extension 4 before crimping is along the X direction and an extending direction DS1 of the first extension 3 before crimping intersects with the X direction. The extending directions DS1 and DS2 of the first extension 3 and the second extension 4 after crimping are along the X direction.

The first extension 3 includes a holding portion 31, a groove 32, and a thin portion 33. The holding portion 31 holds the side edge 14a of the fastener tape 14 between itself and the second extension 4. The groove 32 is opened on a side close to the second extension 4 and on a side closer to the engagement portion 2 than the holding portion 31 in the extending direction DS1 (i.e., on the +X side from the holding portion 31). The thin portion 33 is a bottom of the groove 32. In addition, the first extension 3 has an outer surface 34 disposed on a side opposite to the second extension 4 (on the +Z side) and a protrusion 35 provided for the outer surface 34.

As illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, the holding portion 31 includes a base surface 311 disposed facing the second extension 4, a distal end protrusion 312 protruding from the base surface 311, a proximal end protrusion 313 protruding from the base surface 311 on the +X side from the distal end protrusion 312, a bridge 314 protruding from a center portion in the Y direction of the base surface 311 and extending in the extending direction DS1 to connect the distal end protrusion 312 and the proximal end protrusion 313, and a crossed protrusion 315 protruding from a center portion in the X direction of the base surface 311 and extending in the Y direction to intersect with the bridge 314.

The distal end protrusion 312 and the proximal end protrusion 313 are disposed with a space in the extending direction DS1 therebetween. A clamping groove CG is thus provided between the distal end protrusion 312 and the proximal end protrusion 313. The clamping groove CG is opened on the side close to the second extension 4. The bridge 314 and the crossed protrusion 315 are disposed in the clamping groove CG. The distal end protrusion 312 and the proximal end protrusion 313 respectively have planar portions 312T and 313T disposed facing the second extension 4.

The protruding heights of the distal end protrusion 312 and the proximal end protrusion 313 from the base surface 311 are preferably higher than the protruding heights of the bridge 314 and the crossed protrusion 315 from the base surface 311. In addition, the protruding height of the bridge 314 is preferably higher than that of the crossed protrusion 315.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, the groove 32 is provided between the proximal end protrusion 313 and the first head 21 in the extending direction DS1 of the first extension 3. The groove 32 is opened on the side close to second extension 4 and penetrates the first extension 3 in the Y direction. The groove 32 has a groove depth in a direction orthogonal to the Y direction and the extending direction DS1. A bottom surface 321 of the groove 32 has a concave arc shape when viewed in the Y direction.

The thin portion 33, which is the bottom of the groove 32, is positioned on the side closer to the engagement portion 2 than the holding portion 31 in the extending direction DS1 (i.e., on the +X side from the holding portion 31). In other words, the thin portion 33 is positioned between the holding portion 31 and the engagement portion 2. The thin portion 33 connects the proximal end protrusion 31 and the first head 21.

The first extension 3 has a thickness in a direction orthogonal to the extending direction DS1 in which the first extension 3 extends from the engagement portion 2.

Herein, the “thickness” of the first extension 3 refers to a thickness in a direction orthogonal to the extending direction DS1 of the first extension 3 and a width direction of the first extension 3 (the longitudinal direction of the fastener tape 14, that is, the Y direction).

In the first extension 3, a minimum dimension T3a of the thickness of the thin portion 33 is smaller than a maximum dimension T3b of the thickness of the holding portion 31. In addition, in a projection view of the fastener element 1 along the Y direction (a figure corresponding to the outer edge of the fastener element 1 in FIG. 6), the minimum dimension T3a of the thickness of the thin portion 33 is preferably smaller than a minimum dimension T3c of the thickness of the holding portion 31.

The minimum dimension T3a of the thickness of the thin portion 33 is determined by a shortest distance from the outer surface 34 to the bottom surface 321 of the groove 32 in the exemplary embodiment. The maximum dimension T3b of the thickness of the holding portion 31 is determined by a shortest distance from the outer surface 34 to the planar portion 312T of the distal end protrusion 312. The minimum dimension T3c of the thickness of the holding portion 31 is determined by a shortest distance from the outer surface 34 to a protruding end of the bridge 314.

The outer surface 34 is continuously formed from the holding portion 31 to the thin portion 33 along the extending direction DS1. The protrusion 35 is a small protruding object provided for the outer surface 34. The protrusion 35 has any pattern shape when viewed in the Z direction.

The second extension 4 includes a holding portion 41, a groove 42, and a thin portion 43. The holding portion 41 holds the side edge 14a of the fastener tape 14 between itself and the first extension 3. The groove 42 is opened on a side close to the first extension 3 and on a side closer to the engagement portion 2 than the holding portion 41 in the extending direction DS2 (i.e., on the +X side from the holding portion 41). The thin portion 43 is a bottom of the groove 42. The second extension 4 is formed continuously along the extending direction DS2 from the holding portion 41 to the thin portion 43. The second extension 4 has an outer surface 44 disposed on the -Z side and a protrusion 45 provided for the outer surface 44.

The holding portion 41, the groove 42, the thin portion 43, the outer surface 44, and the protrusion 45 in the second extension 4 are configured in substantially the same manner as the holding portion 31, the groove 32, the thin portion 33, the outer surface 34, and the protrusion 35 in the first extension 3. Therefore, the description about each configuration of the first extension 3 described above can be applied to the description about each configuration of the second extension 4 by replacing terms such as “side closer to the second extension 4”, “extending direction DS1”, and “first head 21” for the description about the first extension 3 with terms such as “side closer to the first extension 3”, “extending direction DS2”, and “second head 22”, and by changing the leftmost number in the reference numerals from “3” to “4”. The protrusions 35 and 45 preferably have mutually different pattern shapes.

The groove 32 of the first extension 3 and the groove 42 of the second extension 4 are opened facing each other to form the groove space GS therebetween. The groove space GS is present before and after crimping. For example, after crimping, a maximum dimension H1 in the Z direction of the groove space GS is preferably larger than a maximum dimension H2 in the Z direction of the head groove 23 (see FIG. 11).

An opening OP of the fastener element 1 is defined between the first extension 3 and the second extension 4. Here, the base surface 311 of the first extension 3 is disposed opposing the base surface 411 of the second extension 4. An opening angle θ of the fastener element 1 when viewed in the Y direction is defined between a first reference line L1 passing the planar portions 312T and 313T of the holding portion 31 of the first extension 3 and a second reference line L2 passing the planar portions 412T and 413T of the holding portion 41 of the second extension 4. The opening angle θ is preferably set to such an extent to allow the core string 141 disposed between the holding portions 31 and 41 before crimping to come into contact with the first reference line L1 and the second reference line L2.

As illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10, the first extension 3 and the second extension 4 of the exemplary embodiment have mutually different shapes when viewed in the Z direction to achieve engagement with the existing fastener elements 16 when the fastener element 1 is attached to the fastener tape 14.

Specifically, the first extension 3 includes a pair of shoulders 36A and 36B disposed on opposite sides of the second extension 4 in the Y direction, when viewed in the Z direction. In FIG. 7, a range of each of the shoulders 36A and 36B is indicated by a dotted line. Each of the shoulders 36A and 36B is formed by a part of the thin portion 33 and a part of the proximal end protrusion 313 in the first extension 3. In each of the shoulders 36A and 36B, the planar portion 313T of the proximal end protrusion 313 is partially exposed at the -Z side. The first extension 3 has a base end 37 formed continuously from the first head 21. The base end 37 together with the first head 21 has a substantially triangle shape tapering in the +X direction.

The second extension 4 has a neck 46 at a part adjacent to the second head 22. The neck 46 is constricted in the Y direction. In other words, the second extension 4 includes a pair of concaves 47A and 47B forming the neck 46. The concaves 47A and 47B cause the shoulders 36A and 36B to be exposed at the -Z side.

In the exemplary embodiment, the minimum dimension T3a of the thickness of the thin portion 33 of the first extension 3 and a minimum dimension T4a of the thickness of the thin portion 43 of the second extension 4 have mutually different dimensions. For example, a relationship in thickness size between the thin portion 33 and the thin portion 43 is determined to be the opposite of a relationship in Y directional-size between an end of the first head 21 and an end of the second head 22 (specifically, parts on the +X side from the shoulders 36A, 36B and the neck 46). In the exemplary embodiment, the first head 21 has a tapered shape and the second head 22 has a ball-like shape. Thus, the Y-directional dimension of the end of the first head 21 is small and the Y-directional dimension of the end of the second head 22 is large. Thus, the minimum dimension T3a of the thickness of the thin portion 33 of the first extension 3 is designed to be large, and the minimum dimension T4a of the thickness of the thin portion 43 of the second extension 4 is designed to be small. That is, the minimum dimension T3a of the thickness of the thin portion 33 of the first extension 3 is designed to be larger than the minimum dimension T4a of the thickness of the thin portion 43 of the second extension 4.

Example of Use of Fastener Element 1

When the fastener element 16 is missing or damaged in the slide fastener 10, the fastener element 1 of the exemplary embodiment is attached to the slide fastener 10 in place of that fastener element 16.

An exemplary method of attaching the fastener element 1 to the slide fastener 10 will be described below.

At first, the fastener element 1 before crimping as illustrated in FIG. 6 is prepared. The opening angle θ of the fastener element 1 is set according to a diameter of the core string 141 of the fastener tape 14.

Subsequently, the side edge 14a of the fastener tape 14 is inserted into the opening OP of the fastener element 1, and the core string 141 is positioned between the holding portions 31 and 41. Bringing the fastener tape 14 into contact with the holding portions 31 and 41 inhibits the rattling of the fastener element 1 relative to the fastener tape 14.

After that, force in a thickness direction of the slide fastener 10 is applied to the fastener element 1 using a crimping tool, thus crimping the fastener element 1 to the fastener tape 14. In the crimping, the fastener element 1 is plastically deformed with the connecting portion 24 as the bending starting point so that the extending directions DS1 and DS2 of the first extension 3 and the second extension 4 are parallel to each other.

Once the fastener element 1 is crimped, the tape 142 is clamped in the Z direction between the planar portions 312T and 412T of the distal end protrusions 312 and 412, as illustrated in FIG. 11. In addition, the core string 141 is clamped in the Z direction between the bridges 314 and 414 and between the crossed protrusions 315 and 415. In this state, the bridges 314 and 414 dig at the core string 141. Furthermore, the core string 141 is clamped in the X direction between the distal end protrusions 312, 412 and the proximal end protrusions 313, 413. A part of the core string 141 may be inserted between the proximal end protrusions 313 and 413.

The fastener element 1 is thus attached to the slide fastener 10.

When the pair of fastener stringers 11 and 12 is closed after the fastener element 1 is attached to the slide fastener 10, the fastener element 1 and the mating fastener elements 16 engage with each other.

Specifically, the first head 21 of the fastener element 1 is fitted in between the shoulders 166 of the mating fastener elements 16 adjacent to each other in the up-down direction and is in contact with the mating core string 141, as illustrated in FIG. 2. The shoulders 36A and 36B (specifically the planar portion 313T, see FIG. 10) of the first extension 3 of the fastener element 1 abut, in the exterior-interior direction, against the second heads 164 of the mating fastener elements 16 adjacent to each other in the up-down direction.

The second head 22 of the fastener element 1 is fitted in between the necks 165 of the mating fastener elements 16 adjacent to each other in the up-down direction. The second head 22 (specifically the locking surfaces 222A, 222B, see FIG. 9) of the fastener element 1 abuts, in the exterior-interior direction, against the shoulders 166 of the mating fastener elements 16 adjacent to each other in the up-down direction.

Accordingly, the fastener element 1 can engage with the existing fastener elements 16 of the slider fastener 10 in substantially the same fashion.

Effects

As described above, the fastener element 1 of the exemplary embodiment, which is made of metal, is to be attached to the fastener tape 14. The fastener element 1 includes the engagement portion 2, the first extension 3, and the second extension 4. The first extension 3 and the second extension 4 extend from the engagement portion 2. The first extension 3 is disposed opposing the second extension 4. The first extension 3 and the second extension 4 respectively include the holding portions 31 and 41 that hold the side edge 14a of the fastener tape 14 therebetween, and the thin portions 33 and 43 disposed closer to the engagement portion 2 than the holding portions 31 and 41 in the extending directions DS1 and DS2 of the first extension 3 and the second extension 4. Each of the first extension 3 and the second extension 4 has a thickness in a direction orthogonal to the corresponding one of extending directions DS1 and DS2 and the longitudinal direction of the fastener tape 14 (Y direction). In the first extension 3 and the second extension 4, the minimum dimensions T3a and T4a of the thickness of the thin portions 33 and 43 are smaller than the maximum dimensions T3b and T4b of the thickness of the holding portions 31 and 41.

The slide fastener 10 can be repaired by attaching the fastener element 1 to the fastener tape 14 through crimping. In the crimping of the fastener element 1, force is applied to the first extension 3 and the second extension 4 in directions in which the extensions 3 and 4 move closer to each other, so that the fastener element 1 is plastically deformed with the engagement portion 2 as the bending starting point. Here, bending stress easily occurs in the thin portions 33 and 43 of the first extension 3 and the second extension 4 having a small thickness in a bending direction. Thus, the bending stress on the fastener element 1 does not concentrate on the engagement portion 2 as the bending starting point, but occurs distributedly in the thin portions 33 and 43. That is, in the fastener element 1, distortion (plastic deformation) occurs not only in the engagement portion 2 as the bending start point but also in the thin portions 33 and 43 of the first extension 3 and the second extension 4. Accordingly, it is possible to inhibit breakage, cracking, or the like of the fastener element 1 of the exemplary embodiment during crimping.

In a projection view of the fastener element 1 of the exemplary embodiment along the longitudinal direction of the fastener tape 14 (Y direction), the minimum dimensions T3a and T4a of the thickness of the thin portions 33 and 43 of the first extension 3 and the second extension 4 are respectively smaller than the minimum dimensions T3c and T4c of the thickness of the holding portions 31 and 41 of the first extension 3 and the second extension 4.

Such a configuration more favorably inhibits breakage, cracking, or the like of the fastener element 1 during crimping.

In the exemplary embodiment, the respective first extension 3 and the second extension 4 further have the grooves 32 and 42, of which bottoms are the thin portions 33 and 43 respectively. The groove 32 of the first extension 3 and the groove 42 of the second extension 4 are opened facing each other to form the groove space GS therebetween.

In such a configuration, the grooves 32 and 42 prevent the compressive stress during crimping from concentrating on part(s) of the first extension 3 and the second extension 4. It is thus possible to favorably inhibit breakage, cracking, or the like of the first extension 3 and the second extension 4.

In the exemplary embodiment, the bottom surfaces 321 and 421 of the grooves 32 and 42 of the first extension 3 and the second extension 4 each have a concave arc shape when viewed in the longitudinal direction of the fastener tape 14 (Y direction).

Such a configuration prevents stress from concentrating on the thin portions 33 and 43 of the first extension 3 and the second extension 4. It is thus possible to more favorably inhibit breakage, cracking, or the like of the first extension 3 and the second extension 4.

The engagement portion 2 of the exemplary embodiment includes the first head 21 connected to the first extension 3, the second head 22 connected to the second extension 4, the connecting portion 24 connecting the first head 21 to the second head 22, and the head groove 23, the bottom of which is the connecting portion 24, which is opened on the side opposite to the groove space GS (e.g., opened in the +X direction).

In such a configuration, the connecting portion 24 of the engagement portion 2 serves as the starting point for bending the fastener element 1 when crimping is performed. Here, bending stress easily occurs in the connecting portion 24 having a small thickness in the bending direction. Thus, the bending stress on the fastener element 1 is favorably distributed on the connecting portion 24 of the engagement portion 2, the thin portion 33 of the first extension 3, and the thin portion 43 of the second extension 4. This more favorably inhibits breakage, cracking, or the like of the fastener element 1 during crimping.

In the exemplary embodiment, the connecting portion 24 has the curved surface 241 that extends continuously to the inner surfaces of the grooves 32 and 42 of the first extension 3 and the second extension 4 and curves to be convex toward the groove space GS (in the -X direction) when viewed in the longitudinal direction of the fastener tape 14 (Y direction).

In such a configuration, the bending stress on the fastener element 1 is favorably distributed on the connecting portion 24 of the engagement portion 2, the thin portion 33 of the first extension 3, and the thin portion 43 of the second extension 4 during crimping. It is thus possible to more favorably inhibit breakage, cracking, or the like of the fastener element 1 during crimping.

In the exemplary embodiment, the first head 21 has a tapered shape with the dimension in the longitudinal direction of the fastener tape 14 (Y direction) smaller toward the opposite side of the first extension 3, and the second head 22 has a bulging shape bulging on opposite sides of the first head 21 in the longitudinal direction of the fastener tape 14 (Y direction).

The fastener element 1 of the exemplary embodiment with such a configuration can be favorably used to repair modified fasteners such as watertight fasteners.

In the exemplary embodiment, the second head 22 includes the groove side surface 221 that forms a part of the inner surface of the head groove 23, and the locking surfaces 222A and 222B as a pair that are disposed closer to the first head 21 than the groove side surface 221 on opposite sides of the connecting portion 24 in the longitudinal direction of the fastener tape 14 (Y direction).

In such a configuration, when the fastener element 1 is attached to the fastener tape 14, the pair of locking surfaces 222A and 222B of the second head 22 can abut against the mating fastener elements 16 in the Z direction. It is thus possible to favorably achieve the engagement between the fastener element 1 and the existing fastener elements 16.

In addition, in the above configuration, the groove side surface 221 is formed separately from the locking surfaces 222A and 222B to form the step in the second head 22. It is thus possible to favorably achieve the above engagement while securing a groove width of the head groove 23 for the purpose of stress distribution.

In the exemplary embodiment, the thin portion 33 of the first extension 3 partially forms the shoulders 36A and 36B as a pair that are positioned on opposite sides of the second extension 4 in the longitudinal direction of the fastener tape 14 (Y direction) when viewed in a direction in which the first extension 3 and the second extension 4 face each other (Z direction).

In such a configuration, when the fastener element 1 is attached to the fastener tape 14, the shoulders 36A and 36B of the first extension 3 can abut against the mating fastener elements 16 in the Z direction. It is thus possible to favorably achieve the engagement between the fastener element 1 and the existing fastener elements 16.

Furthermore, in the above configuration, the shoulders 36A and 36B that are large in the Y direction are partially formed to be thin, increasing the ease with which bending stress occurs on the first extension 3. It is this possible to favorably achieve the above engagement while favorably distributing the bending stress on the fastener element 1 to the first extension 3.

In the exemplary embodiment, the minimum dimension T3a of the thickness of the thin portion 33 of the first extension 3 is larger than the minimum dimension T4a of the thickness of the thin portion 43 of the second extension 4.

In such a configuration, when the fastener element 1 is used in a modified fastener, the bending stress on the engagement portion 2 can be distributed to the thin portion 33 of the first extension 3 and the thin portion 43 of the second extension 4 in a balanced fashion during crimping.

In the exemplary embodiment, each of the first extension 3 and the second extension 4 has the corresponding one of the outer surfaces 34 and 44 disposed on a side opposite to the opening OP. Each of the outer surface 34 of the first extension 3 and the outer surface 44 of the second extension 4 has the corresponding one of the protrusions 35 and 45. The protrusions 35 and 45 have mutually different pattern shapes.

The fastener element 1 having the protrusions 35 and 45 can reduce a situation in which multiple fastener elements 1 stick together after being painted at the time of manufacture.

Furthermore, the protrusions 35 and 45 having mutually different pattern shapes make it easy to visually recognize the two sides of the fastener element 1 when the fastener element 1 is attached to the fastener tape 14.

The above-described fastener element 1 can serve as a part of the slide fastener 10 in place of the fastener element 16. It is thus possible to favorably use the fastener element 1 as a repairing part of the slide fastener 10. Therefore, when only a single fastener element 16 has a defect in the slide fastener 10, such as in a case where a single fastener element 16 is missing, the slide fastener 10 can be repaired without replacing the entire slide fastener 10 by attaching the fastener element 1 to the slide fastener 10 in place of the missing or damaged fastener element 16.

Modifications

In the above exemplary embodiment, the slide fastener 10 to which the fastener element 1 is attached is a watertight fastener, but the invention is not limited thereto. The fastener element 1 can be configured to be attached to any slide fastener. For example, when the slide fastener 10 to which the fastener element 1 is attached is a common resin fastener, the first head 21 and the second head 22 of the fastener element 1 may have the same shape.

In the above exemplary embodiment, the shape or arrangement of the head groove 23 of the engagement portion 2 may be changed depending on the slide fastener 10 to which the fastener element 1 is attached. The head groove 23 may be omitted.

In the exemplary embodiment, the groove 32 of the first extension 3 and the groove 42 of the second extension 4 are opened facing each other. The invention, however, is not limited thereto. The groove 32 of the first extension 3 may be opened on the side close to the second extension 4 or on a side opposite to the second extension 4. Similarly, the groove 42 of the second extension 4 may be opened on the side close to the first extension 3 or on a side opposite to the first extension 3. In addition, in the exemplary embodiment, the bottom surfaces 321 and 421 of the grooves 32 and 42 of the first extension 3 and the second extension 4 may each have any other shape than the arc shape.

In the exemplary embodiment, the maximum dimensions T3b and T4b of the thickness of the holding portions 31 and 41 are respectively determined by shortest distances from the outer surfaces 34 and 44 to the planar portions 312T and 412T of the distal end protrusions 312 and 412. The invention, however, is not limited thereto. For example, the maximum dimensions T3b and T4b of the thickness of the holding portions 31 and 41 may be respectively determined by shortest distances from the outer surfaces 34 and 44 to the planar portions 313T and 413T of the proximal end protrusions 313 and 413.

In the above exemplary embodiment, it is only necessary for the holding portions 31 and 41 to hold at least the side edge 14a of the fastener tape 14. Thus, the elements of the holding portions 31 and 41 may be changed or omitted.