HK1073593B - Slider for slide fastener with automatic stopper - Google Patents

Description

Slider for slide fastener with automatic stopper

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a slider for a slide fastener having an automatic braking function, and more particularly, to a slider for a slide fastener having an automatic stopper, which can simplify the structure of a slider body and can allow a slider to be easily mounted on the slider body.

Background

Conventionally, there has been often used a slider for a slide fastener having an automatic braking function, in which a slider body is engaged with/separated from a fastener element row of a fastener stringer by operating a slider of the slider body, and a braking pawl of a braking pawl body is engaged with a part of the fastener element row of the fastener stringer so as to stop movement of the slider body (for example, see japanese utility model publication No. 4-32974).

In the slider 100 described in japanese utility model publication No.4-32974, as shown in fig. 17 and 18, a downward concave tab fixing body 102 is firmly fixed to the slider body 101 from the shoulder side to the rear opening side of the upper plate. The proximal end portion of the stopper pawl body 103 is mounted in the vicinity of the shoulder side of the same tab fixing body 102 so that it can move vertically.

An engaging pawl 105 and an operating recess 107 are formed at the front end of the stopper pawl body 103, wherein the engaging pawl 105 protrudes to the zipper teeth row position through an engaging window 104 formed in the upper plate of the slider body 101 so as to vertically penetrate therethrough, and the operating recess 107 is opened to the upper plate rear opening side for accommodating the mounting shaft portion of the slider 106. The bottom surface of the base end portion of the stopper pawl body 103 is always pressed by the elastic force of a compression coil spring which is placed in a small hole formed in the upper plate member as shown in fig. 18, so that the engaging pawl 105 of the stopper pawl body 103 is extended to the element row position on the fastener chain through the engaging window 104.

As shown in fig. 18, a gap portion 108 formed between the end portion on the rear opening side of the tab fixing body 102 and the upper plate member of the tap body 101 serves as a gap for inserting the mounting shaft portion of the tab 106. A closing member 109 for closing the insertion gap is provided in the gap portion 108 so that it can slide between a gap closing position near the rear opening side and a gap opening position near the shoulder side. The closure member 109 is always urged towards the gap closing position.

The closure 109 is formed substantially in a U-shape in a plan view thereof, as shown in fig. 17. At both branch arm portions thereof, a first closing portion 110 for closing the gap portion 108 so that the mounting shaft portion of the tab 106 cannot pass through the gap position and a second closing portion 114 for closing a continuous edge portion 113 continuous between the gap 111 formed in the vicinity of the rear openings of the left and right wall portions of the tab fixing body 102 and the accommodation space 112 formed in the vicinity of the shoulder portion so that the mounting shaft portion of the tab 106 cannot pass through are formed. Both the first and second closure portions 110, 114 project upwardly.

With the slider 100 having the above-described structure, as shown in fig. 18 to 20, in addition to the tab 106, the detent pawl body 103, the closing member 109 and the tab fixing body 102 are assembled on the slider body 101 to form a slider assembled product, and then the tab 106 is mounted on the slider assembled product.

When the puller 106 is mounted to the puller body 101, as shown in fig. 18 and 19, the mounting shaft portion of the puller 106 is pressed into the clearance portion 108 in the puller body 101, which is the first step. If the outer end of the first closing portion 110 of the closure 109 is pressed by the mounting shaft portion of the tab 106, the first closing portion 110 leaves the rear open side end of the tab fixing body 102 as shown in fig. 19, so that the gap portion 108 is opened widely to allow the mounting shaft portion of the tab 106 to pass through. After the mounting shaft portion moves from the gap portion 108 into the gap 111 in the tab fixing body 102, the closure 109 returns to its original gap closure position by the restoring force of the spring, as shown in fig. 20.

Then, as shown in fig. 20, the mounting shaft portion of the tab 106 is moved from the gap 111 in the tab fixing body 102 into a recessed portion formed between the first and second closing portions 110 and 114 of the closing member 109, which is the second step. If the mounting shaft portion of the tab 106 is pressed into the gap portion 108 again as a third step, the second closing portion 114 is released from the position of the continuous edge portion 113 in the tab fixing body 102, as shown in fig. 19. The mounting shaft portion of the tab 106 passes the bottom end of the continuous edge portion 113 in a state where it is accommodated in the recessed portion, and moves to the bottom end of the accommodating space 112 in the tab fixing body 102. At the same time, the mounting shaft portion of the puller 106 is displaced into the operating recessed portion 107 in the detent body 103, as shown by the broken line in fig. 19.

As a fourth step, if the tab 106 is moved upward so as to move the mounting shaft portion of the tab 106 into the receiving space 112 in the tab fixing body 102, the interference between the mounting shaft portion and the second closing portion 114 of the closing member 109 is eliminated. Therefore, the closure 109 returns to the gap closing position due to the elastic force, and then, the mounting of the tab 106 is completed. Then, if the closure member 109 returns to the gap closing position, the tab 106 can be prevented from coming off.

After the attachment of the tab 106, if the tab 106 is to be removed from the tap body 101, the closing member 109 is moved to the gap opening position against the elastic force, and the closing member 109 is held at the gap opening position, and the operation opposite to the above-described operation is performed on the tab 106. Thus, the current tab 106 can be removed from the tab body 101 and a new tab can be installed instead of the current tab 106.

With the operation of the slider 106 mounted in this manner, if the slider 106 is pulled obliquely upward or in the sliding direction of the slider, the detent pawl body 103 is pulled out against the elastic force by the mounting shaft portion of the slider 106 through the operating recessed portion 107 in the detent pawl body 103, so that the engaging pawl 105 of the detent pawl body 103 is separated from the element row on the fastener stringer. In this state, the slider body 101 can be freely moved so that the element rows on the fastener element chain are engaged with each other. When the slider 106 is released from the hand, the stopper pawl body 103 is urged by the spring so that the engagement pawl 105 is automatically inserted into the element row on the fastener stringer through the engagement window 104 in the upper plate, thereby stopping the movement of the slider. Meanwhile, a technique for a slider for a slide fastener with an automatic stopper, which is described in japanese utility model publication No.4-32974, was proposed by the present inventors previously.

The manufacture of garments, bags, etc. has required that the tab body and the various tabs be separately prepared according to the customer's requirements and desires, so that various types of tabs each having a different color and shape are mounted on the tab body.

As a result, after receiving an order for a slider according to customer requirements or desires, a manufacturer of a fastening device, such as a component manufacturer of zippers for, for example, bags, sportswear, and other clothing, is required to again develop and manufacture a zipper suitable for the customer requirements or desires so that the manufacturer of the clothing, bags, and the like can quickly satisfy such requirements or desires of the customer.

According to the related art described in japanese utility model publication No.4-32974, the slider 106 can be detachably mounted on a slide fastener assembly product in the above-described manner. However, when the stopper pawl body 103 and the tab fixing body 102 are mounted on the slider body 101 of the conventional slider 100, it is necessary to form a shaft hole in each of a pair of mounting pieces (left and right) standing on the shoulder side of the slider body 101 and to support the leading end of the stopper pawl body 103 between the supporting pieces so as to be vertically rotatable about a pin inserted into each shaft hole. Then, the exposed end portions of both sides of the aforementioned pin are inserted into shaft holes formed in the left and right side wall portions of the tab fixing body 102, and the tab fixing body 102 should be mounted on each mounting piece so that it is fixed with respect to the left and right side wall portions of the tab fixing body 102 by crimping each exposed end of the pin.

Therefore, the structure for mounting the detent body 103 and the tab fixing body 102 to the tap body 101 becomes complicated. If the detent body 103 and the tab fixing body 102 are assembled to the tap body 101 using an automatic assembling machine, various devices accompanying the automatic assembling work are required, thereby increasing the equipment cost, and as the equipment cost increases, the management cost and the like may increase. Further, since the structure of mounting the stopper pawl body 103 and the tab fixing body 102 to the slider body 101 becomes complicated, the manufacturing cost of the slider increases, thereby making it impossible to produce at low cost.

According to the related art described in japanese utility model publication No.4-32974, when the closing member 109 is pressed to the gap closing position of the puller body 101 as described above, the gap portion 108 formed between one end portion on the rear opening side of the puller fixing body 102 and the upper plate of the puller body 101 is opened. Then, the mounting shaft portion of the tab 106 is inserted below the rear face of the tab fixing body 102 through the opening portion of the gap portion 108, and is further inserted into the operation recessed portion 107 in the detent pawl body 103. Then, the mounting of the tab 106 is completed.

However, when the tab 106 is engaged with the operation recessed portion 107 in the detent pawl body 103, it is necessary to move the tab 106 by an amount that allows it to exceed the sliding surface tips of the first and second closing portions 110, 114 of the closure member 109 while moving the closure member 109 against the elastic force by the tab 106.

As a result, if the tab fixing body 102 is provided large, the size of the closure 109 must be increased so that excessive pressure is required on the closure 109. Since this strong pressure is directly applied to the first and second closure portions 110, 114 of the closure 109 and the detent body 103, damage, deformation, etc. may occur to the closure 109, the detent body 103, and the puller 106, thereby deteriorating the assembling performance of the puller 106 and the puller body 101.

On the other hand, when the front tab 106 is removed from the slider assembled product, it is necessary to move the closure 109 to the gap open position against the elastic force so as to release the engagement between the tab 106 and the operation recessed portion 107 in the detent pawl body 103. By performing an operation opposite to the operation of engaging the tab 106 with the operation recessed portion 107 in the detent pawl body 103 while the closing member 109 is held in the gap open position against the elastic force of the closing member 109, it is necessary to pull out the tab 106 while moving the tab 106 by an amount that allows it to exceed the respective sliding face top surfaces of the first and second closing portions 110, 114 of the closing member 109. Therefore, the mounting work of the tab 106 becomes as complicated as the case where the tab 106 is engaged with the operation concave portion 107 in the detent pawl body 103.

The slider for a slide fastener with an automatic stopper described in japanese utility model publication No.4-32974 is constituted so that its puller 106 can be replaced with a new puller having a different color or shape by pulling out the puller 106 from the slider assembly product. Then, the slider structure is complicated as described above, and there is a limit in accurately mounting the tab to the slider assembled product, and thus, it has been required that the mounting work of the tab is convenient. If this need is met, the tab can be suitably mounted on the head body.

Disclosure of Invention

Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a slider for a slide fastener having an automatic braking function, which can simplify the structure of a slider body thereof, can reduce the manufacturing cost, and at the same time, can secure such a stable and excellent automatic braking function, and a readily installable slider.

In order to achieve the above object, according to a main aspect of the present invention, there is provided a slider for a slide fastener with an automatic stopper, comprising: a tab body for engaging/disengaging a fastener element row of a fastener stringer, a pair of front and rear mounting posts provided on a top surface of the tab body, a pawl body mounted on the top surface of the tab body so as to be capable of swinging vertically and engaging and disengaging a part of the fastener element row in the fastener stringer through an inner side of the tab body, a recessed portion formed in the pawl body and opened to one of the pair of front and rear mounting posts for accommodating a shaft portion of the tab, wherein a clearance portion allowing the shaft portion of the tab to pass therethrough is formed between an open end of the recessed portion and the one mounting post, an engaging portion provided on the pair of front and rear mounting posts, and an engaged portion to be engaged with each engaging portion provided on the tab fixing body, either one of the pair of mounting posts or the tab fixing body having closing means, for closing a portion of the gap portion and preventing the tab from coming out of the open end of the recessed portion.

Preferably, the pair of front-rear mounting posts and the tab fixing body have side shift prevention means for preventing the tab fixing body from shifting in the left-right direction with respect to the tab body, and the side shift prevention means includes support walls erected on the left and right edges of the pair of front-rear mounting posts and a wall portion of the tab fixing body fitted and supported between the left and right support walls.

More preferably, the pair of front and rear mounting posts includes a front mounting post provided on a front portion of the tap body and a rear mounting post provided on a rear portion of the tap body, the tab fixing body includes a wall portion constituted by a top wall portion, front and rear wall portions extending from front and rear ends of the top wall portion, and the front and rear wall portions include the engaged portions.

Preferably, the closing means includes left and right wall portions projecting downward from left and right sides of the top wall portion of the tab fixing body, and the left and right wall portions cover and close the gap portion when the tab fixing body is engaged with the pair of front and rear mounting posts.

Preferably, tab guide surfaces for guiding the shaft portion of the tab are formed in the left and right wall portions, respectively.

Preferably, the closing means includes one of the mounting posts and the one of the mounting posts is slidably disposed at the open end of the recessed portion and closes the gap portion at a position near the open end of the recessed portion, while a positioning portion for positioning the one of the mounting posts at a position near the open end is formed on the head body.

More preferably, a fitting guide groove for guiding one of the mounting posts in its fitted state is formed in the top surface of the head body, and a fitting portion fitted to the fitting guide groove is formed on one of the mounting posts.

The slider for a slide fastener with an automatic stopper of the present invention has a first notable feature that engaging portions are formed on a pair of front and rear mounting posts of the slider body, and engaged portions capable of engaging with the engaging portions on the mounting posts may be formed on the slider fixing body.

The slider of the present invention has a second notable feature that, in the assembling process, before the slider fixing body is mounted to the slider body across the pawl body, after the pawl body, which is engaged and disengaged with a part of element rows on the fastener stringer through the inside of the slider body, is mounted to the slider body so as to be able to swing vertically, a clearance portion for allowing the shaft portion of the slider to pass therethrough may be formed between the mounting post and the recessed portion in the pawl body.

Further, the slider of the present invention has a third notable feature that, after the shaft portion of the tab is inserted into the recessed portion in the pawl body through the gap portion, a closing means for closing at least a part of the gap portion and preventing the tab from coming out of the open end of the recessed portion in the pawl body may be formed in one of the mounting posts or the tab fixing body. The "closing a part of the gap portion" mentioned in the description about the first aspect of the present invention and the specification means that the gap in the gap portion is reduced to be small.

According to the invention, the tab fixing body can be kept in a fixed state and firmly kept on the mounting column of the tab body. Thus, after the pawl body is mounted on the top surface of the head body and the shaft portion of the tab is movably mounted into the recessed portion in the pawl body through the gap portion, the tab fixing body can be engaged with the mounting post from above the pawl body and the tab. Therefore, the shaft portion of the tab can be securely prevented from coming out of the open end of the recessed portion in the pawl body through the clearance portion.

Further, with a simple structure, a gap portion may be formed between the open end of the recessed portion in the pawl body and the mounting post, and at least a part of the gap portion may be closed by the tab fixing body. Further, the shaft portion of the tab and the pawl body can be smoothly and reliably driven in the space portion formed between the rear face of the tab fixing body and the top face of the tab body. As a result, damage, undue deformation and malfunction of the pawl body can be prevented, thereby improving durability thereof.

The slider can be manufactured in a simple structure without necessity of providing the slider body with any special closing means or complicated structure as described in japanese utility model publication No. 4-32974. When the tab is mounted on the top surface of the tab body, the pawl body, the tab and the tab fixing body may be assembled in order on the top surface of the tab body. Therefore, the assembling property and reliability can be remarkably improved and the handleability is high.

In addition, the puller and the puller fixing body can be properly assembled on the puller body provided with the pawl body to form a complete puller product. The assembly can be done not only by automatic assembly machines but also easily and safely by hand. When the puller is mounted on the top surface of the puller body, a simple handling device can be used without any special auxiliary equipment or peripheral machinery. As a result, the processing cost is reduced, and the productivity is improved, whereby the manufacturing cost of the slider is reduced.

Since the tab fixing body can be fitted to the mounting post and securely and safely mounted, the tab fixing body does not have to be formed into any complicated structure, but, for example, a simple rectangular plate-like structure can be adopted for the tab fixing body. As a result, reduction in size and thickness of the slider can be achieved. Further, the mounting position of the engaging portion of the mounting post is not limited to any particular position, and for example, the engaging portion may be formed in front of the front mounting post and in back of the rear mounting post.

For the engaging portion applied to the mounting post of the present invention, it is permissible to use, for example, an engaging recessed portion, a cutout, a hole portion, a projection, or the like. For the engaged portion of the tab fixing body, it is permissible to employ an elastic member, a pawl, or the like which engages with the engaging portion in the mounting post. The engaging portion of the mounting post itself has a resilient structure and the engaged portion of the tab anchor can be formed as a structure or configuration, such as a simple protrusion having rigidity.

According to the present invention, the mounting post and the tab fixing body may be provided with a side shift preventing means for preventing themselves from relatively shifting to the left and right sides. For a typical structure of the anti-backlash device, the anti-backlash device may be constituted by a support wall erected on the left and right edges of the mounting post and a wall portion on the tab fixing body. The top wall portion and the front and rear wall portions of the tab fixing body at the front and rear ends thereof may be fitted and supported between the left and right support walls of the mounting post.

The tab fixing body can be prevented from moving in the front-rear direction, and the mounting post and the tab fixing body can be held in a fixed state by the side shift preventing means. As a result, even if a large force is applied in an attempt to release the engagement between the engaging portion of the mounting post and the engaged portion of the tab fixing body in accordance with the operation of the tab, the holding force acting on the tab fixing body can be increased without twisting the tab fixing body in the front-rear direction, the left-right direction, the oblique direction, or the vertical direction.

The anti-backlash means may be formed on the top surface of the mounting post and the surface of the tab fixing body opposite to the mounting post, and may be convex or concave portions that fit each other. Thus, the anti-backlash means may be constituted by a projection formed on the mounting post top surface or the tab fixing body and the mounting post opposing surface and a recessed portion formed on the other of the mounting post top surface and the tab fixing body and the mounting post opposing surface.

The holding regions of the tab body and the tab holding body can be protected without exposing any particular holding structure outside the tab body and the tab holding body. Further, by appropriately providing the convex and concave portions as the side shift preventing means at the position where the pulling force of the tab is likely to act, a large fixing force can be obtained for the tab fixing body, and the gap portion and the closing means can be appropriately provided.

When the engaged portion of the tab fixing body is engaged with the engaging portion of the mounting post, the support wall of the mounting post is fitted to the wall portion of the tab fixing body so as to firmly and securely support and fix the tab fixing body. Despite such a simple structure that such a support wall is fitted to the wall portion of the tab fixing body, the tab fixing body and the respective mounting posts are integrally formed with each other so that they are inseparable, thereby significantly improving the assembling property and reliability, and the like. Thus, the tab holder need not be constructed in any complex configuration and allows a simple horizontal C-shape to be employed for the tab holder. Therefore, reduction in size and thickness of the slider can be achieved and ease of handling is high.

Further, at least the wall portions of the tab fixing body are fitted between the opposing faces of the left and right support walls of the mounting posts, so that the tab fixing body can be disposed flush with the top face of each mounting post. At the same time, the thickness thereof can be reduced, whereby the weight and size of the slider can be reduced. Therefore, the slider which is excellent in design and has a high value as a product can be efficiently produced.

As a typical structure of the closing means of the present invention, left and right wall portions projecting downward from left and right sides of the tab fixing body top wall portion may be constituted as the closing means like the embodiment of the third aspect. When the tab fixing body is engaged with the mounting post, the left and right wall portions of the tab fixing body extend into a space formed between the rear surface of the tab fixing body and the top surface of the tab body. Therefore, the left and right wall portions cover and close the gap portion between the open end of the recessed portion in the pawl body and the mounting post.

According to the above structure, if the tab is lifted upward, the shaft portion of the tab comes into contact with the left and right wall portions, thereby restricting the distance by which the shaft portion of the tab moves upward. Thus, the tab can be prevented from coming out of the open end of the recessed portion in the pawl body. Further, it is possible to ensure a function of allowing the pawl portion of the pawl body to engage and disengage a part of the fastener tooth row on the slide fastener without generating excessive deformation in the pawl body.

The left and right wall portions may be provided with a tab guide surface for guiding the shaft portion of the tab as described in the fourth aspect of the invention. When the tab fixing body is engaged with the mounting post, the shaft portion of the tab can be reliably positioned, and the swinging of the pawl body can be smoothly and easily achieved by operating the tab. Since no excessive deformation is generated in the pawl body, the pawl body can be smoothly and reliably restored to its original state, and the function of the pawl body can be ensured for a long time.

For another exemplary structural example of the closure of the present invention, the closure may be formed of a mounting post, as in the fifth aspect of the present invention. The mounting post may be configured to fit to the top surface of the tab body and be slidable thereon between a position where the gap portion allowing the shaft portion of the tab to pass therethrough is closed and a position where the gap portion is formed. Thus, when the slider is mounted on the slider top face, the gap portion can be formed as a desired gap.

With the above structure, when the mounting post slides on the top surface of the head body, the gap portion can be closed by the mounting post at a position where the open end of the mounting post with respect to the recessed portion approaches a predetermined gap, and then the mounting post can be positioned by the positioning portion. Therefore, the shaft portion of the tab can be accurately and stably inserted into the recessed portion in the pawl body, thereby obtaining highly stable and excellent assembling performance. After the shaft portion of the tab is fitted into the recessed portion in the pawl body, the tab fixing body can be engaged with the mounting post at a position close to the mounting post.

With the structure for sliding the mounting post relative to the top face of the head body, a fitting guide groove for guiding the mounting post in a fitted state may be formed in the top face of the head body, like the sixth aspect of the present invention, and a fitting portion to be fitted with the fitting guide groove may be formed on the mounting post.

By adopting the structure, the matching guide groove can be formed towards the opening end of the concave part in the pawl body along the top surface of the pull head body. Thus, the mounting post can be accurately and stably guided to the pawl body, and the mounting is simple and accurate.

Sufficient connection strength of the head body and the mounting post can be ensured without exposing any special connection structure outside the head body and the mounting post. In addition, by appropriately providing the convex and concave portions at positions that allow the mounting post to easily slide, a large fixing force of the mounting post to the head body can be obtained. Meanwhile, the fitting guide groove in the slider body and the fitting portion on the mounting post may be a projection or a recess portion that fits each other, for example, a projection formed in the fitting guide groove and a recess formed in the fitting portion.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which parts constituting a slider for a slide fastener with an automatic stopper (first embodiment) of the present invention are disassembled;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a main part of a slider assembling step (first embodiment);

fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an assembling step next to the assembling step of the slider in fig. 2 (first embodiment);

FIG. 4 is a plan view of essential parts for explaining assembly of a rear mounting body of the slider (first embodiment);

fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a main part of a next assembling step of the drawing head assembling step in fig. 3 (first embodiment);

fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a main part of a next assembling step of the drawing head assembling step in fig. 5 (first embodiment);

fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a main part of a next assembling step of the drawing head assembling step in fig. 6 (first embodiment);

fig. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a main part of a next assembling step of the drawing head assembling step in fig. 7 (first embodiment);

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the same slider (first embodiment);

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a state where parts constituting a slider for a slide fastener with an automatic stopper (second embodiment) of the present invention are disassembled;

FIG. 11 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a principal part of an assembling step of the same slider (second embodiment);

fig. 12 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an assembling step next to the assembling step of the drawing head in fig. 11 (second embodiment);

fig. 13 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a main part of a next assembling step of the drawing head assembling step in fig. 12 (second embodiment);

fig. 14 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a main part of a next assembling step of the drawing head assembling step in fig. 13 (second embodiment);

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the same slider (second embodiment);

FIG. 16 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a main part of a modified example of the same slider (third embodiment);

FIG. 17 is an exploded perspective view of a conventional slider;

FIG. 18 is a longitudinal sectional view of a principal part for explaining an assembling step of a conventional slider;

FIG. 19 is a longitudinal sectional view of essential parts for explaining an assembling step of a conventional slider; and

fig. 20 is a longitudinal sectional view of a principal part for explaining an assembling step of the conventional slider.

Detailed Description

The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 to 9 show a first exemplary embodiment of the invention. Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which parts constituting a slider for a slide fastener with an automatic stopper are disassembled. Fig. 2 to 8 are longitudinal sectional views showing main parts of the assembly steps of the same slider, and fig. 9 is a perspective view of the same slider. In this embodiment, the shoulder side (left side in fig. 1) of the slider is referred to as the front, and the rear opening side (right side in fig. 1) of the slider is referred to as the rear.

(first embodiment)

Referring to fig. 1, a slider 10 for a slide fastener with an automatic stopper includes a slider body 20, a front mounting post 25, a rear mounting post 26, a pawl body 30, a slider fixing body (cover) 40, a slider 50, and the like. The pawl body 30 and the tab holding body 40 can be manufactured by press molding using a metallic material such as stainless and/or a copper alloy. On the other hand, the tap body 20, the front mounting post 25, the rear mounting post 26, and the tab 50 may be manufactured by die-casting using a metal material such as an aluminum alloy and a zinc alloy. Meanwhile, these members may be manufactured by injection molding using a thermoplastic resin such as polyamide, polypropylene, polyacetal, polybutylene terephthalate, or the like, or a thermoplastic resin material to which a wear-resistant reinforcing material is added, instead of a metal material.

As shown in fig. 2, the head body 20 includes an upper plate 21, a lower plate 22, and a connecting post 23 for connecting the front end portions of the upper and lower plates 21, 22. The upper and lower plate members 21, 22 have upper and lower flanges 21a, 22a on the left and right sides, respectively, from the rear ends to the substantially central portions. A Y-shaped engaging element guide passage 24 is formed between the upper and lower plate members 21, 22.

As shown in fig. 1, a front mounting post 25 having an exemplary structure of the present invention is integrally formed with the top surface of the front portion of the upper plate 21 of the head body 20 so as to stand vertically therefrom. The front mounting post 25 includes a pair of front support walls 25a, 25a separated by a spacing corresponding to the profile of the tab anchor 40. As shown in fig. 1 and 2, a stepped portion 25c is formed in each of the opposed faces of the front support wall 25a such that the stepped portion is lowered from the top edge by only a predetermined depth, while a protruding portion 25b remains at the rear end corner. In order to prevent the tab fixing body 40 from entering more when mounted between the front support walls 25a, the step face of the step portion 25c is formed as a contact face of the tab fixing body 40. The top surface of the projecting portion 25b is set to be substantially flush with the top surface of the tab fixing body 40 when it is mounted.

A linear engagement portion 25d extending between the left and right side faces as shown in fig. 2 is formed integrally with the front opposite face of the front support wall 25 a. The engaging portion 25d is formed in a stepped shape including a guide slope smoothly inclined downward along the stepped surface of each of the left and right stepped portions 25c and an edge engaging surface engaging with/disengaging from the tab fixing body 40.

As shown in fig. 1 and 2, a longitudinally extending pawl receiving recessed portion 21b is formed in a central portion of the top surface of the upper plate member 21 between the opposite surfaces of the front support wall 25a as the mounting surfaces of the pawl body 30. As shown in fig. 2, a spring receiving hole 21c is formed in a central portion of the front end of the bottom surface of the pawl receiving recessed portion 21 b. A compression coil spring 11 is housed in the spring housing hole 21c, the coil spring 11 being used to press the pawl portion 31 of the pawl body 30 and to project the pawl portion 31 into the engaging element guide passage 24 after the pawl body 30 is mounted.

A pair of left and right pawl mounting portions 21d, 21d are integrally formed on the top surface of the upper plate member 21 between the rear opposite faces of the front support wall 25a so that they project upwardly near both side edges of the pawl accommodating recessed portion 21 b. The top surface of each pawl mounting portion 21d is divided into two branches. A clearance in the pawl mounting portion 21d is formed as a pin support hole of the pin 12 for supporting the pawl body 30 so that it can swing vertically. The pin 12 is fixed to the top surface of the upper plate member 21 by crimping the two branches of the pawl mounting portion 21d after the pawl body 30 is mounted, as shown in fig. 3.

As shown in fig. 1 and 2, a short base member and a long member of a flat plate material are integrally formed at front and rear end portions of the ratchet body 30. As shown in fig. 3, a supporting concave portion 33 for supporting the pawl body 30 by the pin 12 is formed between the base member and the elongated member, wherein the pin 12 is supported and fixed by the pawl mounting portion 21 d. The support recess 33 is formed to a desired depth and shape so that the pin 12 can support the pawl body 30. The bottom surface of the base end of the pawl body 30 is configured as a mounting surface to be mounted on the compression coil spring 11. A recessed portion 32 is formed in the forward end of the pawl body 30 which opens to the rear mounting post 26 to receive the shaft portion 51 of the tab 50. The pawl portion 31 is integrally formed on the bottom surface of the front end of the pawl body 30 so as to be bent downward, and it is engaged with an engaging element of a slide fastener (not shown) so as to stop the movement of the slider body 20.

A first notable feature of the slider 10 of the present invention is that, as shown in fig. 8, engaging portions 25d, 26d are formed on the paired mounting posts 25, 26 and engaged portions 41a, 42a which are engaged with the engaging portions 25d, 26d may be formed on the tab fixing body 40.

A second notable feature of the present invention is that, as shown in fig. 3, in the assembling step after the pawl body 30 is mounted on the top face of the upper plate member 21 so that it can swing vertically and before the tab fixing body 40 is mounted on the top face of the upper plate member 21, a clearance portion 60 for the passage of the shaft portion 51 of the tab 50 is formed between the rear mounting post 26 and the pawl body 30.

Further, a third notable feature of the present invention is that when the tab fixing body 40 is engaged with the respective front and rear mounting posts 25, 26, as shown in fig. 8, it is possible to form a closing means which partially closes the gap portion 60 (fig. 3) and prevents the tab 50 from coming out of the open end of the recessed portion 32 of the pawl body 30. The term "partially closing the gap portion 60" as used herein means that the gap of the gap portion 60 is narrowed to a small extent.

According to the first embodiment, the initial object of the present invention can be achieved by constituting the rear mounting post 26 mounted to the rear top surface of the upper plate member 21 so that it can slide. The rear mounting post 26, which represents a typical structural example of the present invention, has a pair of left and right rear support walls 26a, 26a disposed to be as wide as the front mounting post 25, as shown in fig. 1 and 2. A stepped portion 26c is formed on each of the opposed faces of the support wall 26a, the stepped portion being lowered from the top edge by a predetermined depth, while a protruding portion 26b remains at the front end corner. The step surface of the step portion 26c is formed as a contact surface of the tab fixing body 40. A recess is formed in the front of the rear mounting post 26 which forms part of the operating space for the pawl body 30.

A linear engagement portion 26d is integrally formed so that it extends between the left and right side faces of the opposing face near the rear end of the rear support wall 26 a. The engaging portion 26d is formed in a stepped shape including a guiding inclined surface smoothly inclined downward along the surface of the stepped portion 26c and an edge engaging surface engaging/disengaging with/from the tab fixing body 40. The rear mounting post 26 is substantially identical in construction to the front mounting post 25, except that it is configured to slide relative to the upper plate 21.

A fitting guide groove 27 may be formed in the top surface of the rear portion of the upper plate member 21 into which the bottom end portion of the rear mounting post 26 is inserted and mounted. The fitting guide groove 27 is formed to have grooves having a substantially U-shaped cross section on the right and left sides thereof while it extends from the rear end of the upper plate member 21 to a substantially central portion, as shown in fig. 1 and 2. As shown in fig. 1 and 4, rectangular projections as fitting portions 26e, 26e and fitted to the fitting guide grooves 27 are formed to project from portions of the rear support walls 26a, 26a of the rear mounting post 26. (hereinafter, each fitting portion 26e is referred to as a projection 26 e.) while the fitting guide groove 27 in the upper plate member 21 and the projection 26e of the rear mounting post 26 may be formed as a projection or a recess portion fitted to each other, and needless to say, for example, a projection formed in the fitting guide groove 27 and a recess portion formed in the rear mounting post 26 may be used, and the present invention is not limited to the example described here.

The front end surface intersecting the pawl body receiving portion 21b in the fitting guide groove 27 may be constituted as a positioning portion 21g of the rear mounting post 26, which can prevent the rear mounting post 26 from entering more when the rear mounting post 26 is mounted into the fitting guide groove 27, as shown in fig. 1 and 2. Meanwhile, the positioning portion 21g requires a condition that the post 26 is positioned at a position so that the respective mounting posts 25, 26 and the tab fixing body 40 can be engaged with each other while closing the gap portion 60 after the shaft portion 51 of the tab 50 is mounted in the concave portion 32 of the pawl body 30. Needless to say, for example, the positioning portion 21g may be formed in the fitting guide groove 27 or at a predetermined position on the top surface of the upper plate member 21.

As shown in fig. 4 and 5, a concave cut-away portion having a concave step is formed inwardly from the end surface of the upper fixture of the fitting guide groove 27, and the slip-out preventing portions 27a, 27a are formed by the concave cut-away portion. After the projection 26e of the rear mounting post 26 is fitted into the fitting guide groove 27, the anti-slip-out portion 27a can be elastically deformed by being curled in a usual manner with respect to the top surface of the upper plate member 21. Therefore, a stopper portion that prevents the rear mounting post 26 from coming off can be formed. Meanwhile, the anti-slip-out portion 27a may be formed at a predetermined position of the top surface of the upper plate member 21, instead of being formed in the fitting guide groove 27.

As shown in fig. 3, the fitting guide groove 27 extends from the rear end of the upper plate member 21 toward the recessed portion 32 in the pawl body 30 in a state where the pawl body 30 is mounted to the upper plate member 21. Therefore, after the pawl body 30 is mounted to the top surface of the upper plate 21, the rear mounting post 26 can be accurately and stably introduced and guided to the open end of the recessed portion 32 in the pawl body 30, thereby achieving excellent assembling performance ensuring high stability.

As a result, because of the fitting of the guide groove 27 and the projection 26e, the fixing areas of the head body 20 and the rear mounting post 26 can be secured without exposing any special fixing structure to the outside of the head body 20 and the rear mounting post 26. Therefore, the fitting guide groove 27 and the projection 26e can be appropriately provided at a portion that allows the rear mounting post 26 to easily slide, and a firm fixing force of the rear mounting post 26 with respect to the head body 20 can be obtained.

When the rear mounting post 26 is mounted on the top surface of the rear portion of the upper plate member 21, the rear mounting post 26 may be provided at a position that allows the shaft portion 51 of the puller 50 to be closed by the gap portion 60 between the rear mounting post 26 and the pawl body 30 as shown in fig. 7, and the gap portion 60 is formed as shown in fig. 3. At the position where the rear end portion of the rear mounting post 26 is in contact with the anti-slip-out portion 27a, the maximum clearance that allows the shaft portion 51 of the tab 50 to pass through can be sufficiently obtained in the clearance portion 60. On the other hand, the tab fixing body 40 may be engaged with each of the mounting posts 25, 26 at a position where the gap portion 60 is closed.

When the rear mounting post 26 is mounted to the top face of the rear end of the upper plate 21, it is possible to use an automatic machine, thereby effectively improving the fitting work of the slider 10. A predetermined gap is provided between the front mounting post 25 and the rear mounting post 26 so as to accommodate a portion of the pawl body 30 and the tab 50 and to form a sufficient space for accommodating the tab fixing body 40.

As shown in fig. 1 and 2, a pair of sheet-like left and right tab guides 21e, 21e are integrally formed at corners where the fitting guide groove 27 and the pawl body accommodating recessed portion 21b intersect each other substantially at a central portion of the upper plate member 21, so that they project upward substantially in a triangular shape in side view. Each of the tab guides 21e is provided on the upper plate 21, and the tab guide 21e crosses the concave portion 32 in the pawl body 30 in a state where the pawl body 30 is mounted on the upper plate 21, as shown in fig. 3. Further, a rectangular pawl hole portion 21f is formed adjacent to the rear base end of the tab guide 21e so that it vertically penetrates the upper plate member 21 in the fitting guide groove 27, wherein the pawl portion 31 of the pawl body 30 is inserted and removed through the pawl hole portion 21 f. The pawl hole portion 21f communicates with the engaging element guide passage 24.

As shown in fig. 3, in a state of straddling the tab guides 21e, the concave portion 32 in the pawl body 30, which pawl body 30 is fitted in the pawl receiving concave portion 21b in the upper plate member 21, is always pressed downward by the elastic force of the compression coil spring 11. Then, in a state where the shaft portion 51 of the tab 50 is fitted in the recessed portion 32 of the pawl body 30 before the gap portion 60 is closed by the rear mounting post 26, the tab guide 21e may be constituted as a stopper portion for preventing the shaft portion 51 of the tab 50 from coming out of the recessed portion 32 of the pawl body 30 by the downward urging force of the pawl body 30.

The rear end surface of the puller guide 21e may be configured as a puller guide surface 21e-2 for guiding the shaft portion 51 of the puller 50 along its tapered surface inclined gradually upward in the forward direction toward the open end of the recessed portion 32 when the shaft portion 51 of the puller 50 is fitted in the recessed portion 32 of the pawl body 30 before the operation of closing the gap portion 60 by the rear fitting post 26, as shown in fig. 6. The front end surface of the tab guide 21e is also configured as a tab guide surface 21e-1 for guiding the shaft portion 51 of the tab 50 toward the recessed portion 32 along its tapered surface which is gradually inclined upward in the rearward direction as viewed in fig. 2 when the shaft portion 51 of the tab 50 is fitted in the recessed portion 32 of the pawl body 30. Further, the front end surface of the tab guide 21e may be formed to serve as a tab guide surface 21e-1 for guiding the tab 50 from the front base end of the tab guide 21e to the movement limit position of the pawl body 30 when the tab 50 is operated after the slider 10 is assembled, as shown in fig. 8.

Further, according to the present invention, in order to prevent the respective mounting posts 25, 26 and the tab fixing body 40 from relatively moving in the lateral direction, it is permissible to provide the respective mounting posts 25, 26 and the tab fixing body 40 with a side shift prevention means. The anti-backlash means may be constituted by support walls 25a, 26a erected on the left and right ends of each mounting post 25, 26, and front and rear wall portions 41, 42 on the top wall portion 45 and the front and rear ends of the tab fixing body 40. The tab fixing body 40 can be held in a fixed state with respect to the respective mounting posts 25, 26 by fitting the respective front and rear wall portions 41, 42 between the respective support walls 25a, 25a and 26a, 26 a.

As shown in fig. 1, the tab holder 40 is formed from an elongated sheet of material. The tab fixing body 40 is constituted by a substantially horizontal C-shaped cover body having front and rear wall portions 41, 42 projecting downward from the flat top wall portion 45 so as to be smoothly curved with the same curvature in front and rear of the top wall portion 45. Engaged portions 41a, 42a which are elastically engaged with/disengaged from edge engaging faces of the engaging portions 25d, 26d of the respective mounting posts 25, 26 project from inner faces at front ends of the wall portions 41, 42.

The left and right wing members are projected to the left and right sides of the upper wall portion of the tab fixing body 40, and are left and right wall portions 43, 43 partially covering the space portion between the front mounting post 25 and the rear mounting post 26 for protection. (hereinafter, each of the left and right wall portions 43 is referred to as a wing member 43.) the upper faces of the left and right wing members 43 are bent downward with the same curvature so as to form a convex curved surface. Notched portions 44 are formed at ridgeline portions (corners) between the left and right wing members 43 and the upper wall portion, which are fitted and engaged with respective pairs of projecting portions 25b, 26b of the front mounting post 25 and the rear mounting post 26. The notched portion 44 is formed in a stepped shape recessed inward from both linear side end faces of the left and right wing members 43.

The left and right wing members 43 may be formed to have substantially the same length as the gap between the front mounting post 25 and the rear mounting post 26 and to be shorter than the vertical length of each of the front and rear wall portions 41, 42. Thus, when the tab fixing body 40 is mounted on the tab body 20, the bottom end faces of the left and right wing members 43 are kept separated from the top face of the upper plate 21, thereby forming a space portion that allows the shaft portion 51 of the tab 50 to move.

When the tab fixing body 40 is engaged with the tab body 20, a space surrounded by the rear face of the tab fixing body 40 and the top face of the upper plate member 21 serves as an operation space portion for allowing the shaft portion 51 of the tab 50 and the pawl body 30 to be operated. In this operation space portion, the shaft portion 51 of the tab 50 and the pawl body 30 can be operated smoothly and safely. Further, the pawl body 30 can be prevented from being damaged, improperly deformed, malfunctioning, etc., thereby improving its durability.

With the above-described structure, the top wall portion 45 and the front and rear wall portions 41, 42 of the tab fixing body 40 are fitted and supported between the opposite faces of the support walls 25a, 26a of the front and rear mounting posts 25, 26, so that the top face of the top wall portion 45 and the top faces of the front and rear wall portions 41, 42 can be flush with the top faces of the support walls 25a, 26 a. Therefore, the tab fixing body 40 can be formed to have a necessary minimum thickness, and reduction in size and thickness in the structure of the slider 10 can be achieved. Further, it is possible to obtain a slider having high product value and excellent design.

The engaged portions 41a, 42a of the tab fixing body 40 are elastically engaged with the engaging portions 25d, 26d of the front and rear mounting posts 25, 26, and the tab fixing body 40 is accommodated between the paired support walls 25a, 26a of the front and rear mounting posts 25, 26 while the notched portions 44 in the tab fixing body 40 are fitted to the paired projecting portions 25b, 26b on the front and rear mounting posts 25, 26.

Since the tab fixing body 40 is fitted between the support walls 25a, 26a of the respective mounting posts 25, 26 while the notched portions 44 in the tab fixing body 40 are fitted to the protruding portions 25b, 26b on the mounting posts 25, 26, the tab fixing body 40 is securely and securely mounted without swinging with respect to any force in the front-rear direction and the width direction. As a result, after the pawl body 30 is mounted on the top surface of the tap body 20 and the shaft portion 51 of the tab 50 is movably mounted inside the recessed portion 32 of the pawl body 30 through the gap portion 60, the tab fixing body 40 can be engaged with the respective mounting posts 25, 26 on the pawl body 30 and the tab 50. Therefore, the shaft portion 51 of the tab 50 can be reliably prevented from coming out of the open end of the concave portion 32 of the pawl body 30 through the gap portion 60, so that the pawl body 30 can be held smoothly and securely, thereby ensuring the quality of the slider 10 for a long time.

The anti-backlash means applicable to the present invention may be formed on the top surface of each mounting post 25, 26 and the opposite surface of the tab fixing body 40 to each mounting post 25, 26, needless to say, it may be a convex or concave portion that fits each other. The fixing force of the tab fixing body 40 can be securely obtained by providing a protrusion or a recessed portion (not shown) at a portion where the pulling force of the tab 50 is easily exerted, so that the gap portion 60 and the closing means can be properly arranged. As an example, it is possible to constitute the sideslip prevention means with a projection formed on the top surface of each mounting post 25, 26 or on the opposite surface of the tab fixing body 40 from the mounting post 25, 26 and a recessed portion formed on the top surface of the mounting post 25, 26 and on the other of the opposite surfaces of the tab fixing body 40 from the mounting post 25, 26.

As the engaging portions 25d, 26d of the respective mounting posts 25, 26 applied to the present invention, for example, an engaging recessed portion, a cut-away portion, a hole portion, a projection, etc. can be used. As the engaged portions 41a, 42a of the tab fixing body 40, it is possible to employ an elastic member, a pawl, or the like which engages with the above-mentioned engaging portions. If the above-mentioned engaging portion itself has a resilient structure, the engaged portion may be formed as a pure convex structure or configuration having rigidity.

Although the tab holder 40 shown here is constructed as a cover formed of an elongated sheet material, the present invention is not limited to this example. For example, it is permissible to use a rectangular box body including a top wall, front and rear wall portions, and left and right wall portions having a cutout at the center. Further, the mounting positions of the engaging portions 25d, 26d on the mounting posts 25, 26 are not limited to a certain specific position, but, for example, if the tab fixing body 40 is configured as a rectangular box, the engaging portions may be formed on the left and right side surfaces of the front and rear mounting posts.

As shown in fig. 1, the tab 50 is constructed of a short piece of material. The tab 50 has an annular clamping portion at one end thereof and an annular retaining portion 52 at the other end, the annular retaining portion 52 having a substantially square aperture portion into which the rear mounting post 26 can be fitted. The front end portion of the annular holding portion 52 is formed in a shape of a beam having a circular cross section as the shaft portion 51. The length of the shaft portion 51 is set to be larger than the width of the rear mounting post 26, and when the tab is mounted, the shaft portion 51 is guided by the tab guide 21e of the upper plate 21 while straddling the rear mounting post 26, thereby being inserted.

Next, an example of an assembling process of the slider 10 of the present invention will be described with reference to fig. 2 to 9.

To assemble the slider 10 of the above-described structure, first, as shown in fig. 2, the compression coil spring 11 is seated in the spring receiving hole 21c in the upper plate 21. Then, the pawl body 30 is placed in a substantially vertical posture on the pawl body accommodating recessed portion 21b in the upper plate member 21 while pressing the compression coil spring 11 with the base end of the pawl body 30 to be elastically deformed. Then, the pin 12 is inserted so as to straddle the pin support hole in each pawl body mounting portion 21d of the upper plate member 21 and the support recessed portion 33 in the pawl body 30, and then both branch portions of the pawl body mounting portion 21d are crimped to fix the pin 12.

At this time, the pawl portion 31 of the pawl body 30 is inserted into the pawl hole portion 21f in the upper plate member 21, and the pawl body 30 is disposed on the top surface of the upper plate member 21 in a state where it is fully inclined upward from the pawl hole portion 21f toward the front mounting post 25. The base end portion of the pawl body 30 is disposed between the opposed faces of the support wall 25a of the front mounting post 25 in a state where it is always urged by the compression coil spring 11.

After the pawl body 30 is mounted on the top surface of the upper plate member 21 so that it can swing vertically, the projection 26e of the rear mounting post 26 is inserted into the fitting guide groove 27 in the upper plate member 21. At this time, a gap portion 60 allowing the shaft portion 51 of the puller 50 to pass therethrough may be formed between the rear mounting post 26 and the pawl body 30, as shown in fig. 3. The rear mounting post 26 can be prevented from coming off the rear end of the upper plate member 21 by plastically deforming the anti-slip-out portions 27a of the fitting guide grooves 27.

The clearance portion 60 has a maximum clearance at the position where the rear end of the rear mounting post 26 contacts the anti-slip-out portion 27a, which allows the shaft portion 51 of the puller 50 to pass between the rear mounting post 26 and the pawl body 30, as described above. Therefore, the rear mounting post 26 can slide along the fitting guide groove 27 so that it can be located at a position where the gap portion 60 is closed and a position where the gap portion 60 is opened, whereby the gap portion 60 can be closed by the rear mounting post 26.

The shaft portion 51 of the tab 50 is now placed within the gap portion 60, as shown in fig. 3. Then, as shown in fig. 6, when the shaft portion 51 of the tab 50 slides from the bottom end to the top end of the tab guide surface 21e-2 of the tab guide 21e on the side of the rear mounting post 26, the concave portion 32 of the pawl body 30 is lifted, at which time the base end of the pawl body 30 presses and elastically deforms the compression coil spring 11 with the pin 12 in the pawl mounting portion 21d as the swinging center, and then the concave portion 32 of the pawl body 30 swings upward against the elastic force of the compression coil spring 11. If the shaft portion 51 of the tab 50 exceeds the tip of the tab guide 21e against the elastic force of the compression coil spring 11, it is inserted into the open end of the recessed portion 32 in the pawl body 30.

If the shaft portion 51 of the tab 50 is inserted into the open end of the recessed portion 32 in the pawl body 30, the shaft portion 51 of the tab 50 slides downward along the tab guide surface 21e-1 of the tab guide 21e on the side of the front mounting post 25. When the tab 50 slides, the base end of the pawl body 30 swings upward with the pin 12 as the swing center by the elastic force of the compression coil spring 11, and the concave portion 32 of the pawl body 30 swings downward with the pin 12 as the swing center.

Meanwhile, when the shaft portion 51 of the tab 50 passes the front base end of the tab guide 21e, the compression coil spring 11 elastically returns to its original state with the pin 12 as a swing center. At this time, the pawl portion 31 of the pawl body 30 is automatically inserted into the pawl hole portion 21f in the upper plate member 21, and the shaft portion 51 of the tab 50 is accommodated in the recessed portion 32 of the pawl body 30, as shown in fig. 7. Therefore, even before the gap portion 60 is closed by the rear mounting post 26, the shaft portion 51 of the tab 50 can be prevented from coming out of the recessed portion 32 of the pawl body 30 because the tab guide 21e is located on the front side of the slider with respect to the open end of the recessed portion 32 in the pawl body 30.

Then, the rear mounting post 26 moves toward the front mounting post 25 along the fitting guide groove 27 in the upper panel 21, and comes into contact with the positioning portion 21 g. In this state, the annular retaining portion 52 of the tab 50 is inserted across the rear mounting post 26 so as to place the tab 50 fully in a substantially horizontal state. By bringing the rear mounting post 26 into contact with the positioning portion 21g, the gap portion 60 is partially contracted and then closed. In this gap closing position, the shaft portion 51 of the tab 50 can be prevented from coming out of the open end of the recessed portion 32 in the pawl body 30.

Next, as shown in FIG. 8, the tab anchor 40 is fitted into the front and rear mounting posts 25, 26 across the pawl body 30 and the tab 50. When the tab fixing body 40 is fitted into the front and rear mounting posts 25, 26, the engaged portions 41a, 42a of the tab fixing body 40 slide along the guide slopes of the engaging portions 25d, 26d of the front and rear mounting posts 25, 26 while being elastically deformed in the expanding direction, and the engaged portions 41a, 42a pass the leading end slopes of the guide slopes. At the same time, the engaged portions 41a, 42a of the tab fixing body 40 elastically recover in the contraction direction, so that the engaged portions 41a, 42a engage with the edge engaging faces of the engaging portions 25d, 26 d.

At the insertion limit position of the tab fixing body 40, the notched portion 44 in the tab fixing body 40 is fitted and engaged with the respective projecting portions 25b, 26b on the front and rear mounting posts 25, 26, as shown in fig. 9. When the top wall portions of the tab fixing body 40 are received in the front and rear mounting posts 25, 26, the top wall portions of the tab fixing body 40 are flush with the top end faces of the front and rear mounting posts 25, 26. The bottom end faces of the left and right wing members 43, 43 of the puller fixing body 40 shield and enclose a part of the operation space portion for operating the part of the puller 50 and the pawl body 30 in a state where they are separated from the top face of the upper plate 21. Thus, the assembly of the slider 10 is completed.

Despite such a simple structure in which the engaged portions 41a, 42a of the tab fixing body 40 are caught by the engaging portions 25d, 26d of the front and rear mounting posts 25, 26, the gap portion 60 can be partially contracted and closed when the tab fixing body 40 is engaged with the tap body 20. Further, the structure may be constructed as a closing means for preventing the shaft portion 51 of the tab 50 from coming out of the open end of the recessed portion 32 in the pawl body 30.

When the tab fixing body 40 is fixed by engagement, the pawl body 30 and the tab 50 are integrated with each other so that they are inseparable, thereby significantly improving assembling property and reliability and ensuring easy handling. When the tab 50 is mounted on the top surface of the tab body 20, the tab 50 and the tab fixing body 40 may be assembled in order after the pawl body 30 is mounted on the top surface of the tab body 20. Thus, after the ratchet body 30 is mounted on the tap body 20, the tab 50 can be fitted to the top surface of the tap body 20 in various combinations of shapes and colors, and this fitting can be easily and stably performed by a manual or automatic fitting machine. There is no need to provide any special structural member or related complicated structure for the bit body 20. Therefore, the slider 10 can be manufactured with a simple structure, and the manufacturing cost of the slider 10 can be reduced.

For example, it is possible to prepare a tap body 20 equipped with a pawl body 30 and various tabs 50 and tab holders 40 having different shapes or colors respectively suitable for the tap body 20. Thus, after receiving an order as requested or desired by a customer, various tabs 50 may be mounted on the tab body 20 carrying the pawl body 30. As a result, the components of the slider can be effectively used and the slider 10 having high versatility can be obtained, so that the product value of the slider 10 is enhanced.

When the engagement between the pawl portion 31 of the pawl body 30 and the engaging member (not shown) is released, first, as shown in fig. 9, the tab 50 fitted in parallel to the tap body 20 is lifted by hand. The shaft portion 51 of the tab 50 then rises along the tab guide surface 21e-1 of the tab guide 21e on the side of the front mounting post 25. As the puller 50 is raised, the pawl body 30 swings forward with the shaft portion 51 of the puller 50 as a swing center. When the pawl body 30 swings, the base end portion of the pawl body 30 presses and elastically deforms the compression coil spring 11 in a direction in which the release pawl portion 31 engages with the engaging member (not shown). When the shaft portion 51 of the tab 50 is moved to the movement limit position of the pawl body 30, as shown in fig. 8, the pawl portion 31 leaves the engaging element through the pawl hole portion 21f in the upper plate member 21, thereby releasing the engagement.

At the time of the releasing operation, the slider 10 can freely move to the shoulder side or the rear opening of the slider 10. By freely moving the slider 10, element rows (not shown) of the fastener stringer can be engaged with each other or released to the left and right. If the tab 50 is released from the hand after this desired operation is completed, the pawl body 30 swings backward due to the elastic force of the compression coil spring 11. When the pawl body 30 swings, the shaft portion 51 of the tab 50 descends along the tab guide surface 21e-1 of the tab guide 21e, and elastically returns to its original state. At this time, the pawl portion 31 of the pawl body 30 is automatically inserted between the element rows of the fastener stringer through the pawl hole portion 21f in the upper plate member 21. Thus, the pawl portion 31 of the pawl body 30 engages with the engaging member. With this engaged state, the slider 10 can be prevented from further moving and kept stopped.

(second embodiment)

Another structural example of the slider 10 mounted with the pawl body 30 will be described below with reference to fig. 10 to 15. Fig. 10 to 15 show a second embodiment of a slider for a slide fastener with an automatic stopper of the present invention. Fig. 10 is a perspective view showing a state where the components constituting the slider are disassembled. Fig. 11 to 14 are longitudinal sectional views showing the slider assembling step, and fig. 15 is a perspective view of the slider.

In these drawings, a significant difference from the first embodiment is that, as shown in fig. 12, a clearance portion 60 allowing the shaft portion 51 of the tab 50 to pass therethrough is formed between the rear mounting post 26 and the pawl body 30, the rear mounting post 26 is formed integrally with the top surface of the rear portion of the upper plate 21 of the tab body 20 so as to stand upward, the pawl body 30 is mounted on the front portion of the top surface of the upper plate 21 so as to swing vertically, and closing means is formed on each of the left and right wall portions (wing members) 43, 43 of the tab fixing body 40, which prevents the tab 50 from coming out of the open end of the recessed portion 32 in the pawl body 30 by narrowing and closing a portion of the clearance portion 60 when the tab fixing body 40 is engaged with the front and rear mounting posts 25, 26.

These components, such as the aforementioned mounting post 25, pawl body 30, tab 50 and compression coil spring 11, are the same as those of the first embodiment except for the structure of a part of the tap body 20 shown in the drawings, and the second embodiment is constructed in a similar structure. Thus, for the second embodiment, the upper plate member 21 of the tap body 20, the rear mounting post 26 on one side, and the tab fixing body 40 will be specifically described below. Meanwhile, the same component names and reference numerals are given to components substantially the same as those of the first embodiment. Therefore, detailed descriptions of these components are omitted.

A pair of front and rear mounting posts 25, 26 are integrally formed on the top surface of the upper plate member 21 such that they stand upwardly for mounting a tab attachment body 40 which acts as a narrow transverse C-shaped cover, as shown in fig. 10. Similar to the first embodiment, the rear mounting post 26 includes a rear support wall 26a, a projecting portion 26b, a stepped portion 26c and an engaging portion 26d, as shown in fig. 11.

The difference from the rear mounting posts 26 in the first embodiment is that the rear mounting posts 26 are integrally fixed in a fixed state on the rear top surface of the upper plate member 21. Further, the difference from the rear mounting post 26 in the first embodiment is that when the pawl body 30 is mounted, the gap between the front face of the rear mounting post 26 and the pawl body 30 is enlarged as shown in fig. 12 by forming the front wall of the rear mounting post 26 to be substantially flat as shown in fig. 11, without setting the length of the head body 20 in the front-rear direction longer. Thus, the insertion of the shaft portion 51 of the tab 50 can be facilitated. In addition, the structure of the upper plate 21 and the rear mounting post 26 of the head body 20 is simpler than that of the first embodiment, thereby further reducing the material cost, the manufacturing cost, and the assembly cost.

As shown in fig. 11, the pawl body accommodating recessed portion 21b extending from the rear base end of the front mounting post 25 to the rear mounting post 26 is formed as a placement surface of the pawl body 30 in the central portion of the top surface of the upper plate member 21 without providing the tab guide 21 e. A spring receiving hole 21c for compressing the coil spring 11 is provided in the center of the front end of the bottom surface of the pawl body receiving recessed portion 21 b. A rectangular pawl hole portion 21f which engages/disengages with the pawl portion 31 of the pawl body 30 after the pawl body 30 is mounted is penetratingly formed near the front base end of the rear mounting post 26. The pawl hole portion 21f communicates with the engaging element guide passage 24.

According to the second embodiment, as shown in fig. 12, a special clearance is provided between the respective mounting posts 25, 26 so as to form a sufficient space portion for accommodating the shaft portion 51 of the tab 50 and a part of the pawl body 30. Therefore, in the assembling process, after the pawl body 30 is accommodated inside the pawl body accommodating recessed portion 21b in the upper plate member 21 before the tab fixing body 40 is engaged with the respective mounting posts 25, 26, the clearance portion 60 allowing the shaft portion 51 of the tab 50 to pass therethrough can be sufficiently secured between the front face of the rear mounting post 26 and the open end of the recessed portion 32 in the pawl body 30.

As shown in fig. 10 and 14, the tab fixing body 40 has left and right wing members 43, 43 for covering and shielding a part of the space portion between the front mounting post 25 and the rear mounting post 26. Within left and right wing members 43, left and right side walls 43a, 43a extend downward, as shown in fig. 10 and 13. The front end surface of each of the left and right side walls 43a is formed as a puller guide surface 43b for guiding the shaft portion 51 of the puller 50 by its smooth circular curve, as shown in fig. 13.

The tab guide surface 43b is provided so that the tab 50 can be guided from the front base end of the tab guide surface 43b to the movement limit position of the pawl body 30 when the tab 50 is driven. Thus, it is possible to eliminate the tab guide 21e protruding from the top surface of the upper plate member 21 as shown in the first embodiment. Since the puller guide 21e on the upper plate 21 can be eliminated, simplification of the slider structure and reduction in size and thickness can be achieved.

As shown in fig. 14, left and right side walls 43a of left and right wing members 43 may be formed to cover and close gap portions 60. Left and right wing members 43 may be formed to have a length substantially equal to the distance between front mounting post 25 and rear mounting post 26, and further, the front end portion of each of left and right wing members 43 may be formed to be shorter than the vertical length of wall portions 41, 42.

When the tab fixing body 40 is engaged with each of the mounting posts 25, 26, the bottom end faces of the left and right wing members 43 are separated from the top face of the upper plate 21, forming a space portion that allows the shaft portion 51 of the tab 50 to move. When the tab fixing body 40 is engaged with the tab body 20, a space surrounded by the rear face of the tab fixing body 40 and the top face of the upper plate member 21 becomes an operation space portion for operating the shaft portion 51 of the tab 50 and the pawl body 30.

According to the second embodiment, with the above-described structure, when the tab fixing body 40 is engaged with each of the mounting posts 25, 26 as shown in fig. 14, the gap portion 60 can be covered and closed. Further, it is possible to configure the left and right wing members 43, 43 of the tab fixing body 40 as closing means for preventing the tab 50 from coming out of the open end of the recessed portion 32 in the pawl body 30.

In assembling the slider 10 having the above-described structure, as shown in fig. 11 to 15, the assembling steps for the compression coil spring 11, the pawl body 30 and the tab fixing body 40 are substantially the same as those of the first embodiment. According to the structure of the slider 10 of the second embodiment, after the pawl body 30 is mounted on the top surface of the upper plate 21 so as to be able to swing vertically, the shaft portion 51 of the puller 50 can be inserted into the gap portion 60 formed between the rear mounting post 26 and the pawl body 30, as shown in fig. 12 and 13. Thus, the shaft portion 51 of the tab 50 can be inserted into the recessed portion 32 in the pawl body 30, while the pawl body 30 is placed and held in a substantially vertical posture on the pawl body receiving recessed portion 21b of the upper plate member 21. Then, the annular retaining portion 52 of the tab 50 is inserted transversely to the front mounting post 25, and the tab 50 is fully placed in a substantially horizontal position.

At this time, the clearance portion 60 and the recessed portion 32 in the pawl body 30 can secure a sufficient insertion space for the shaft portion 51 of the tab 50 by surrounding the components without any interference, as shown in fig. 12 and 13. Therefore, it is not necessary to move the pawl body 30 against the elastic force of the compression coil spring 11. Therefore, as in the first embodiment, not only automatic assembling mechanical assembling but also manual assembling can be easily and safely performed. In addition, productivity can be increased, thereby reducing manufacturing costs.

Then, by the same operation as the first embodiment, the top wall portion of the tab fixing body 40 is fitted to the front and rear mounting posts 25, 26 so that it is accommodated in the front and rear mounting posts 25, 26, and the bottom end faces of the left and right wing members 43, 43 shield a part of the operation space portion for operating the tab 50 and a part of the pawl body 30 in a state where they are separated from the top face of the upper plate member 21. Then, the left and right side walls 43a of the left and right wing members 43 cover and close the gap portions 60. Thus, the assembly of the slider 10 is completed, as shown in fig. 15. Meanwhile, the operation for moving and stopping the slider 10 can be completed by the same operation as that of the first embodiment.

(third embodiment)

Fig. 16 shows a third embodiment of a slider for a slide fastener with an automatic stopper of the present invention. The same component names and reference numerals are given to components substantially the same as those of the above-described embodiment. Therefore, detailed descriptions of these components are omitted.

In fig. 16, reference numeral 13 denotes a modified example of the pressing device for the pawl body 30 applied to the present invention. In the slider shown here, the spring receiving hole 21c and the compression coil spring 11 accommodated in the spring receiving hole 21c are eliminated, and one end portion of the plate spring 13 is supported in a cantilever state by the top portion of the front face of the front mounting post 25, while the bottom end of the same plate spring 13 presses the top face of the pawl body 30. Therefore, the pawl portion 31 of the pawl body 30 can be always pressed so as to project into the engaging element guide passage 24 through the pawl hole portion 21f in the upper plate member 21. If compared with the above embodiments, simplification of the slider structure and reduction in size and thickness can be easily achieved, although the third embodiment has the same operation and effect as the embodiments.

According to the embodiments, although the pin 12 that rotatably supports the pawl body 30 is mounted in the pin support hole formed in the pawl body mounting portion 21d, 21d of the upper plate member 21 and fixed on the top surface of the upper plate member 21 by crimping the pawl mounting portion 21d, the present invention is not limited to this example, and it may be fixed using a generally known suitable fixing means. For example, the pawl body 30 is allowed to be mounted so that it can swing vertically by inserting a pin into a shaft hole provided in the front mounting post 25 and then fixing the pin to the front mounting post 25 by crimping the exposed end of the pin.

The above description has exemplified the preferred embodiment and modifications, and the present invention is achieved if the rear mounting post 26 and/or the tab holding body 40 has the gap portion 60 and the closing means. Thus, needless to say, the object of the present invention can be sufficiently achieved by appropriately setting the shape and size of the rear mounting post 26 or the tab fixing body 40 with respect to other factors, such as the shape and size of other components. Thus, it is natural that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and modifications and can be modified in various ways within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims (7)

1. A slider for a slide fastener with an automatic stopper, comprising:

a slider body (20) for engaging and disengaging the element rows of the fastener chain;

a pair of front and rear mounting posts (25, 26) arranged on the top surface of the head body (20);

a pawl body (30) mounted on the top surface of the slider body (20) so as to be capable of swinging vertically and engaging and disengaging with and from a part of a fastener element row in the fastener chain through the inside of the slider body (20);

a recessed portion (32) formed in the pawl body (30) and opening to one (26) of the pair of front and rear mounting posts (25, 26) for receiving the shaft portion (51) of the puller (50);

a tab fixing body (40) engaged with the pair of front and rear mounting posts (25, 26);

engaging portions (25d, 26d) provided on the pair of front and rear mounting posts (25, 26), respectively; and

engaged portions (41a, 42a) on the tab fixing body (40) for engaging with the respective engaging portions (25d, 26d), characterized in that,

a gap portion (60) allowing the shaft portion (51) of the tab (50) to pass therethrough is formed between the open end of the recessed portion (32) and one of the mounting posts (26); a closing means for closing a part of the gap portion (60) and preventing the tab (50) from coming out of the open end of the recessed portion (32) is provided on either one of the pair of front and rear mounting posts (25, 26) or the tab fixing body (40).

2. The slider for a slide fastener with an automatic stopper according to claim 1, characterized in that the pair of front and rear mounting posts (25, 26) and the tab fixing body (40) have side shift preventing means for preventing the tab fixing body (40) from shifting in the left-right direction with respect to the slider body (20), and the side shift preventing means comprises support walls (25a, 26a) erected on the left and right edges of the pair of front and rear mounting posts (25, 26) and wall portions (41, 42, 45) of the tab fixing body (40) fitted and supported between the left and right support walls (25a, 26 a).

3. The slider for a slide fastener with an automatic stopper according to claim 1, wherein the pair of front and rear mounting posts (25, 26) comprises a front mounting post (25) provided on the front of the slider body (20) and a rear mounting post (26) provided on the rear of the slider body (20), the tab fixing body (40) comprises wall portions (41, 42, 45) in which the front and rear wall portions (41, 42) extend from the front and rear ends of the top wall portion (45), and the front and rear wall portions (41, 42) comprise engaged portions (41a, 42 a).

4. The slider for a slide fastener with an automatic stopper as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the closing means comprises left and right wall portions (43, 43) projecting downward from the tab fixing body (40), and when the tab fixing body (40) is engaged with the pair of front and rear attaching posts (25, 26), the left and right wall portions (43, 43) cover and close the gap portion (60).

5. The slider for a slide fastener with an automatic stopper as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that a slider guide surface (43b) for guiding the shaft portion (51) of the slider (50) is formed in the left and right wall portions (43, 43), respectively.

6. The slider for a slide fastener with an automatic stopper according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the closing means comprises one of said mounting posts (26), and said one of said mounting posts (26) is slidably provided at an open end of the recessed portion (32) and closes the gap portion (60) at a position near the open end of the recessed portion (32), while a positioning portion (21g) for positioning said one of said mounting posts (26) at a position near the open end is formed on the slider body (20).

7. The slider for a slide fastener with an automatic stopper as claimed in claim 6, wherein a fitting guide groove (27) for guiding one of said mounting posts (26) in its fitted state is formed in the top face of the slider body (20), and a fitting portion (26e) fitted to the fitting guide groove (27) is formed on one of said mounting posts (26).