HK1202387B - Fastener stringer and slide fastener - Google Patents

Description

Fastener stringer and slide fastener

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a fastener stringer and a slide fastener in which a fastener tape is woven and a continuous fastener element formed by forming a synthetic resin monofilament into a zigzag shape is woven and fixed into an element attachment portion of the fastener tape.

Background

Conventionally, a method of manufacturing a slide fastener by knitting a fastener tape and knitting and fixing continuous fastener elements obtained by molding synthetic resin monofilaments along one side edge portion (element attachment portion) of the fastener tape has been widely known.

As typical examples of the fastener elements to be woven in at this time, there are a continuous fastener element in a coil shape and a continuous fastener element in a zigzag shape. These continuous fastener elements include: an engagement head for engaging with the fastener elements of the opposing fastener stringers; a coupling portion that couples the fastener elements adjacent to each other in the tape longitudinal direction; and a pair of upper and lower leg portions disposed from the engagement head portion to the connection portion.

Such continuous fastener elements are installed by: the monofilament is formed and woven in advance into or to the fastener tape, or the monofilament is formed and woven into the fastener tape when the fastener tape is woven.

However, the continuous fastener element in the coil shape is attached to one tape surface of the fastener tape both in the case of weaving and in the case of sewing. Therefore, when the slide fastener is configured, in a case where the slide fastener is bent substantially in a U-shape along the tape longitudinal direction so that the tape surface (first tape surface) on which the fastener elements are attached is positioned outward, the slide fastener is more easily bent than a case where the slide fastener is bent substantially in a U-shape so that the first tape surface is positioned inward, but a problem of so-called disengagement of engagement between the right and left fastener elements, that is, so-called engagement breakage, is likely to occur.

On the other hand, in a slide fastener having a continuous fastener element in a zigzag shape, the fastener element is attached to a fastener tape in a form in which the fastener tape is inserted into an inside of a continuous element row folded into two parts. In this case, coupling portions coupled between 2 fastener elements adjacent in the tape longitudinal direction are alternately exposed on the front surface and the back surface of the fastener tape, and the fastener elements are formed symmetrically so that the attaching pitch of the fastener elements is shifted by 1 amount in the tape longitudinal direction on the front surface side and the back surface side of the tape.

Therefore, the slide fastener having the continuous fastener element of zigzag shape has the following features: the fastener stringer is not conspicuous in appearance and touch, and is less likely to cause engagement cracks even when the fastener is bent substantially in a U-shape toward the tape front surface side or the fastener is bent substantially in a U-shape toward the tape back surface side in a state where the right and left fastener elements are engaged with each other.

An example of such a slide fastener having zigzag-shaped continuous fastener elements is disclosed in japanese patent application laid-open No. 2-177902 (patent document 1).

As shown in fig. 8, a slide fastener 60 described in patent document 1 includes: a pair of left and right fastener stringers 61; and a slider, not shown, slidable along the element row of the fastener stringer 61.

Each fastener stringer 61 includes: a knitted fastener tape 62; and a fastener element 63 woven into one side edge portion of the fastener tape 62 while the fastener tape 62 is woven. The fastener element 63 of patent document 1 is formed continuously by forming a monofilament having a semicircular cross section into a zigzag shape.

The fastener element 63 includes: the engagement head 63 a; an upper leg portion 63b and a lower leg portion 63c which extend from the engaging head portion 63a in the tape width direction on the tape surface side and the tape back side of the fastener tape 62, respectively; an upper coupling portion 63d coupled between the upper leg portions 63b of the fastener elements 63 adjacent in the tape longitudinal direction; and a lower coupling portion 63e coupled between the lower leg portions 63c of the fastener elements 63 adjacent in the tape longitudinal direction.

The coupling head 63a of the fastener element 63 is formed by press forming (also referred to as "bulging forming") with a punch press, and is bent in a U-shape in the tape thickness direction (tape front-back direction) so as to straddle over (straddle over) the tape side edge of the fastener tape 62, and has a bulging portion bulging in the front-back direction in the tape longitudinal direction.

The upper leg portion 63b and the lower leg portion 63c linearly extend from the coupling head portion 63a substantially parallel to the fastener tape 62 in the tape width direction. The upper leg 63b and the lower leg 63c are configured to: a flat surface portion of the upper leg portion 63b and a flat surface portion of the lower leg portion 63c formed by a flat surface portion of a monofilament having a semicircular cross section are parallel to the tape surface and the tape back surface of the fastener tape 62, respectively, whereby the attachment of the fastener element 63 to the fastener tape 62 becomes stable.

The upper coupling portion 63d and the lower coupling portion 63e are formed by performing a swaging (holding) process, a clamping (crimping) process, or the like before or after bending and molding a monofilament having a semicircular cross section into a zigzag shape. In this case, the upper coupling portion 63d and the lower coupling portion 63e are formed in such a manner that the planar portions of the monofilaments having a semicircular cross section face the side of the engagement head 63a, the upper end edge of the upper coupling portion 63d is set at a position higher than the upper surface of the upper leg portion 63b (i.e., a position distant from the fastener tape 62), and the lower end edge of the lower coupling portion 63e is set at a position lower than the lower surface of the lower leg portion 63c (i.e., a position distant from the fastener tape 62).

Such zigzag-shaped fastener elements 63 are fastened and fixed to the fastener tape 62 by: the first fastening warp yarn 64 running on the upper surface side of the upper leg portion 63b and the second fastening warp yarn 65 running on the lower surface side of the lower leg portion 63c intersect with the weft yarn and are fastened so as to sandwich the upper leg portion 63b and the lower leg portion 63 c.

In the slide fastener 60 of patent document 1 configured as described above, since the upper end edge of the upper coupling portion 63d and the lower end edge of the lower coupling portion 63e protrude in the tape thickness direction in comparison with the upper leg portion 63b and the lower leg portion 63c, respectively, when the slider is slid in the slide fastener 60, the upper coupling portion 63d and the lower coupling portion 63e of the left and right fastener elements 63 are easily brought into sliding contact with the upper and lower wing plates of the slider, so that the slider can be made excellent in guiding performance and its sliding performance can be improved.

Further, since the upper end edge of the upper coupling portion 63d and the lower end edge of the lower coupling portion 63e protruding in the tape thickness direction are in sliding contact with the inner surfaces of the upper and lower wing plates of the slider, the first and second fastening warp yarns 64, 65 fastening the upper leg portion 63b and the lower leg portion 63c of the fastener element 63 are less likely to be in sliding contact with the inner surfaces of the upper and lower wing plates. Accordingly, even if the slider is repeatedly slid, the first and second fastening warp yarns 64 and 65 are less likely to be worn or broken.

Documents of the prior art

Patent document 1: japanese laid-open patent publication No. 2-177902

Disclosure of Invention

In the slide fastener 60 of patent document 1 shown in fig. 8, as described above, the upper leg portion 63b and the lower leg portion 63c of the fastener element 63 linearly extend from the coupling head portion 63a substantially parallel to the fastener tape 62 in the tape width direction. Therefore, there are the following cases: the positions of the first and second fastening warp yarns 64 and 65 fastening the upper leg portion 63b and the lower leg portion 63c are shifted in the tape width direction (particularly, toward the coupling head portion 63a side) in relation to the fastener element 63, for example, in the process of repeating the slide operation of the slider.

As described above, when the positions of the first and second fastening warp yarns 64 and 65 are shifted, the positions of the coupling heads 63a may be shifted in the tape longitudinal direction or the tape width direction, and the postures of the coupling heads 63a may be inclined, which may cause a problem in coupling the right and left fastener elements 63 or a reduction in coupling strength.

Further, when the left and right fastener elements 63 are engaged in the element guide passage of the slider, the engagement head 63a of the fastener element 63 may be displaced in the tape thickness direction in the element guide passage and brought into contact with the upper and lower wing plates of the slider, but when the positions of the first and second fastening warps 64 and 65 are relatively shifted toward the engagement head 63a as described above, for example, the first and second fastening warps 64 and 65 may also come into contact with the inner surfaces of the upper and lower wing plates when the slider slides, and therefore, the first and second fastening warps 64 and 65 may be worn or broken.

Further, for example, when the slide fastener 60 is used by being attached to a garment or a bag, since the slide fastener 60 is often exposed on the outer surface side, the first fastening warp yarn 64 or the second fastening warp yarn 65 (particularly, the first fastening warp yarn 64 or the second fastening warp yarn 65 which is shifted in position toward the coupling head 63a side) which fastens and fixes the fastener element 63 in patent document 1 may come into contact with another member. In this way, when the first fastening warp 64 or the second fastening warp 65 repeatedly comes into contact with another member, the first fastening warp 64 or the second fastening warp 65 may be worn or broken.

In this case, for example, by setting the height dimension of the fastener element 63 from the upper surface of the upper leg 63b to the lower surface of the lower leg 63c to be smaller and increasing the difference between the height dimension and the height dimension from the upper end edge of the upper coupling portion 63d to the lower end edge of the lower coupling portion 63e, even if the positions of the first and second fastening warps 64 and 65 are shifted toward the engagement head 63a side, it is difficult to bring the first and second fastening warps 64 and 65 into contact with the upper and lower flaps or other members of the slider.

However, when the height dimension from the upper surface of the upper leg portion 63b to the lower surface of the lower leg portion 63c is set to be smaller as described above, the height dimension from the upper surface to the lower surface of the coupling head portion 63a for coupling the left and right fastener elements 63 is also reduced, so that the coupling strength is lowered and coupling failure is likely to occur.

When the height dimension of the coupling head 63a is reduced, when the slide slider engages the left and right fastener elements 63, the coupling head 63a is easily displaced in the tape thickness direction in the element guide passage of the slider, and the position of the coupling head 63a becomes unstable, so that the fastener elements 63 cannot be smoothly coupled.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems of the conventional art, and a specific object of the present invention is to provide a fastener stringer for a slide fastener and a slide fastener, which can more smoothly engage left and right saw-toothed fastener elements woven into a fastener tape by sliding a slider, can stably secure a desired engagement strength, and can make it difficult for warp yarns fastening the fastener elements to be worn or broken even if the slider is repeatedly slid.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a fastener stringer for a slide fastener, including as a basic structure: a fastener tape woven from weft yarns and a plurality of warp yarns, the fastener tape having an element attaching portion arranged along one side edge of a tape main body portion; and a fastener element which is continuous and is fixed by being woven into the element attachment portion, wherein the fastener element is formed by forming a synthetic resin monofilament into a zigzag shape, and includes: a coupling head portion having a coupling portion protruding in a belt longitudinal direction at a bent portion bent in a belt thickness direction; a first leg portion and a second leg portion extending from the coupling head portion in a tape width direction on a first tape surface side and a second tape surface side of the fastener tape, respectively; a first connecting portion connected between the first leg portions of the fastener elements adjacent to each other in the tape longitudinal direction; and a second coupling portion coupled between the second leg portions of the fastener elements adjacent in the tape longitudinal direction, the warp yarn including: a first fastening warp that runs on an outer surface side of the first leg and that crosses the weft yarn to fasten and fix the first leg; and a second fastening warp yarn running on an outer surface side of the second leg portion and crossing the weft yarn to fasten and fix the second leg portion, wherein the fastener stringer is provided with a first concave portion on an outer surface side of the first leg portion, a second concave portion on an outer surface side of the second leg portion, the first fastening warp yarn is accommodated in the first concave portion of the first leg portion, and the second fastening warp yarn is accommodated in the second concave portion of the second leg portion.

In the fastener stringer according to the present invention, it is preferable that the height dimension of the first coupling portion and the second coupling portion from the center position of the fastener tape is set to be larger than the height dimension of the coupling head from the center position of the fastener tape.

In the fastener stringer according to the present invention, the monofilament preferably has an elliptical or flat cross-section.

In this case, it is particularly preferable that, in the cross section of the monofilament, when a longest line segment of radial line segments passing through a center point of the monofilament and connecting 2 points on an outer periphery of the monofilament is a major axis, an orientation of the major axis of a portion of the first foot portion and the second foot portion where the first concave portion and the second concave portion are arranged is inclined toward the first tape surface side and the second tape surface side of the fastener tape with respect to an orientation of the major axis of the first coupling portion and the second coupling portion.

Further, in the fastener stringer according to the present invention, it is preferable that at least a part of the first leg portion and the second leg portion extending from the respective coupling heads of the incorporated fastener element are in contact with each other.

Further, in the fastener stringer according to the present invention, it is preferable that the weft yarn is inserted by a reciprocating motion of 1 constituent yarn, and is woven in a state where 2 constituent yarns are pulled out.

In this case, it is particularly preferable that 1 of the constituent yarns constituting the weft yarn is inserted between the first surface of the first leg portion and the first fastening warp yarn so as to obliquely cross the first leg portion at a predetermined pitch of the fastener elements, and 1 of the constituent yarns constituting the weft yarn is inserted between the second surface of the second leg portion and the second fastening warp yarn so as to obliquely cross the second leg portion at a predetermined pitch of the fastener elements.

In this case, it is particularly preferable that 1 of the constituent yarns obliquely crossing the first leg portion is accommodated in the first recess, and 1 of the constituent yarns obliquely crossing the second leg portion is accommodated in the second recess.

Further, according to the present invention, there is provided a slide fastener comprising: 2 zipper teeth chain with the structure in a group.

The fastener stringer according to the present invention is configured by weaving fastener elements formed in a zigzag shape into an element attaching portion fixed to a fastener tape, the fastener elements including: an engagement head; a first leg (upper leg) and a second leg (lower leg) extending from the engagement head in the tape width direction; a first coupling portion (upper coupling portion) for coupling the first leg portions of the adjacent fastener elements; and a second coupling portion (lower coupling portion) for coupling the second leg portions of the adjacent fastener elements.

In the fastener element, the first concave portion is disposed on the outer surface (upper surface) side of the first leg portion, and the second concave portion is disposed on the outer surface (lower surface) side of the second leg portion. In addition, a first fastening warp for fastening and fixing the fastener element from the outer surface side of the first leg portion is stored in the first concave portion of the first leg portion, and a second fastening warp for fastening and fixing the fastener element from the outer surface side of the second leg portion is stored in the second concave portion of the second leg portion.

In this case, when a cross section of the fastener element orthogonal to the tape longitudinal direction is viewed, the height dimension of the first concave portion and the second concave portion from the center position of the fastener tape in the tape thickness direction is set to be smaller than the height dimension of the coupling head from the center position and smaller than the height dimension of the first or second coupling portion from the center position.

Here, the height dimension of the coupling head from the center position of the fastener tape means the maximum value of the height dimension from the center position of the fastener tape to the upper end edge or the lower end edge of the coupling head in the tape thickness direction, and the height dimension of the first or second coupling portion from the center position of the fastener tape in the tape thickness direction means the maximum value of the height dimension from the center position of the fastener tape to the upper end edge (end edge in the tape thickness direction) of the first coupling portion or the lower end edge (end edge in the tape thickness direction) of the second coupling portion.

In the fastener stringer of the present invention thus constituted, the first fastening warp yarn and the second fastening warp yarn are disposed and accommodated in the first concave portion of the first leg portion and the second concave portion of the second leg portion, respectively, which are smaller in height dimension than the coupling head portion and the first or second coupling portion, and thus, by accommodating the first fastening warp yarn and the second fastening warp yarn in the first concave portion and the second concave portion of the fastener element, it is possible to effectively prevent the positions of the first fastening warp yarn and the second fastening warp yarn with respect to the fastener element from being displaced in the tape width direction.

Thus, when the slide fastener is configured by using the fastener stringer, even if the slider is slid, the first and second fastening warp yarns housed in the first and second concave portions can be made less likely to contact the inner surfaces of the upper and lower wing plates of the slider. Further, when the slide fastener is used by being attached to a garment or a bag, the first and second fastening warp yarns are accommodated in the first and second concave portions of the fastener element, and therefore, the risk of coming into contact with other members can be reduced. Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the first and second fastening warp yarns from being worn or broken due to sliding of the slider or contact with other members, and to stably use the slide fastener for a long period of time.

In the present invention, the height dimension of the coupling head of the fastener element is secured to a certain extent, and the first leg portion and the second leg portion are provided with the first concave portion and the second concave portion in which the first fastening warp yarn and the second fastening warp yarn are accommodated. Therefore, the left and right fastener elements can be smoothly engaged by sliding the slider without causing the drawbacks due to the small size of the engaging head, that is, the drawbacks such as the reduction in the engaging strength and the easy occurrence of the engagement crack described above, and the desired engaging strength can be stably secured.

In the fastener stringer of the present invention, the height dimension of the first coupling portion and the second coupling portion from the center position of the fastener tape is set to be larger than the height dimension of the coupling head from the center position of the fastener tape.

Thus, when the fastener chain is configured by using the fastener stringer, the first coupling portion and the second coupling portion of the fastener element can be stably brought into contact with the upper wing plate and the lower wing plate of the slider, and can also be stably brought into contact with the upper flange portion suspended from the upper wing plate and the lower flange portion erected from the lower wing plate.

Therefore, when the slide slider opens and closes the slide fastener, the fastener elements can be prevented from falling off from the element guide passage of the slider. Further, the slider has good guiding properties with respect to the element rows of the slide fastener, and the left and right fastener elements can be appropriately guided in the element guide passage of the slider to be smoothly engaged with each other.

Further, when the zigzag-shaped fastener element is molded by the monofilament having a constant cross-sectional shape in the longitudinal direction, the more the bent portion of the coupling head portion is bent so as to reduce the dimension in the tape thickness direction, the more stably the coupling portion which is raised in the tape longitudinal direction can be formed at the coupling head portion. Therefore, by making the height dimension of the engaging head smaller than the height dimensions of the first coupling portion and the second coupling portion as described above, the engaging portion can be stably formed, and a desired engaging strength can be appropriately obtained.

In the fastener stringer of the present invention, the cross section of the monofilament before the forming into the zigzag-shaped fastener element is formed into an oval shape or a flat shape. By molding the zigzag fastener elements using such monofilaments, the zigzag fastener elements having the above-described configuration can be stably formed even when press molding for forming the coupling heads, press forging (stamping) processing for forming the first coupling parts and the second coupling parts, clamping (clipping) processing, or the like is performed by a press (punch), for example.

In this case, when the longest line segment of radial line segments passing through the center point of the monofilament and connecting 2 points on the outer periphery of the monofilament is taken as the major axis in the cross section of the monofilament, the orientation of the major axis of the portion of the first and second leg portions where the first and second concave portions are arranged is inclined toward the first tape surface side and the second tape surface side of the fastener tape, compared with the orientation of the major axis of the first and second coupling portions. By configuring the fastener element in this manner, the first concave portion and the second concave portion are stably formed in the first leg portion and the second leg portion of the fastener element.

In the fastener stringer of the present invention, at least a part of the first leg portion and the second leg portion extending from the respective coupling heads of the incorporated fastener element are in contact with each other. In this way, by knitting the fastener element into the fastener tape in a state where the first leg portion and the second leg portion are brought into contact with each other, the height dimension of the first recess portion and the second recess portion can be easily made smaller than the height dimension of the coupling head portion and the height dimension of the first coupling portion or the second coupling portion.

In the fastener stringer of the present invention, the weft yarn is inserted by the reciprocating motion of 1 constituent yarn, and the 2 constituent yarns are woven in a state of being pulled out. By thus weaving in the weft yarn, the first and second fastening warp yarns are made to cross the weft yarn, whereby the first and second fastening warp yarns can be pressed against each other to reliably fasten the first and second leg portions of the fastener element.

In addition, by crossing and pressing the weft yarns with the first and second fastening warp yarns in this manner, the first and second fastening warp yarns are held in the first and second concave portions of the fastener element, and the height of the first and second concave portions is stably kept smaller than the height of the coupling head portion and the height of the first or second coupling portion by the tension of the first and second fastening warp yarns.

Particularly, in the present invention, when knitting the fastener tape, a constituent yarn constituting a weft is inserted into an aperture formed by the first and second fastening warp yarns, and the first and second fastening warp yarns are crossed with the 2-weft yarns adjacent to each other in the tape longitudinal direction. In this way, the first and second warp threads for fastening are compressed together by the weft, whereby the first and second leg portions of the fastener element are compressed by the first and second warp threads for fastening, and the state in which the first and second warp threads for fastening are accommodated in the first and second concave portions is maintained.

In this case, 1 component yarn constituting the weft yarn is inserted between the first surface of the first leg portion and the first fastening warp yarn at a predetermined pitch of the fastener elements, obliquely across the first leg portion. Then, 1 of the constituent yarns constituting the weft yarn is inserted between the second surface of the second leg portion and the second fastening warp yarn at a predetermined pitch of the fastener elements, obliquely across the second leg portion.

This can reduce the number of constituent yarns of weft yarn existing between fastener elements adjacent in the tape longitudinal direction, and as a result, the fastener element can be formed thin, and the flexibility of the fastener element in the tape longitudinal direction can be improved. Further, since the fastener elements can be pressed by the constituent yarn of the weft yarn woven obliquely across the first leg portion and the second leg portion, the fastener elements can be fastened and fixed to the fastener tape more stably, and the positional deviation of each fastener element in the tape longitudinal direction is less likely to occur.

Further, in this case, 1 component yarn obliquely crossing the first leg portion is accommodated in the first recess, and 1 component yarn obliquely crossing the second leg portion is accommodated in the second recess. Accordingly, as in the case of the first and second fastening warp yarns, it is possible to prevent the abrasion or yarn breakage of the component yarn due to the sliding of the slider or the contact with another member.

Further, according to the present invention, there is provided a slide fastener including the fastener stringer having the above-described structure in which 2 fastener elements are grouped.

In the slide fastener according to the present invention, since the first and second fastening warp yarns for fastening and fixing the fastener elements are respectively arranged and accommodated in the first concave portion of the first leg portion and the second concave portion of the second leg portion, it is possible to prevent the positions of the first and second fastening warp yarns from being displaced in the tape width direction, and it is difficult for the first and second fastening warp yarns to be worn or broken due to sliding of the slider or contact with other members. Therefore, the slide fastener can be used stably for a long period of time, and the life of the slide fastener can be expected to be extended.

Further, since it is not necessary to reduce the height of the coupling head portion of the fastener element in order to prevent the abrasion or the yarn breakage of the first and second fastening warp yarns, there is no problem that the coupling strength is reduced and the coupling is easily cracked.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a woven slide fastener having zigzag fastener elements attached to fastener tapes according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view showing a main part of the slide fastener in an enlarged and schematic manner.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view schematically showing a main part of the slide fastener in a cross section with respect to a tape length direction.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along line IV-IV shown in fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along line V-V shown in fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged view schematically showing a main part of the slide fastener in a state where the right and left fastener elements are engaged.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken along line VII-VII shown in fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view showing a conventional woven slide fastener in which zigzag fastener elements are attached to a fastener tape.

Description of reference numerals:

1 zipper

5 first stop

6 second stop

10 zipper teeth chain belt

11 zipper tape

11a mounting part of the zipper teeth (with side edge)

11b Belt body

12 element row

20 zipper teeth

20a first fastener element

20b second fastener element

20c third zipper tooth

21 engagement head

21a engaging part

22 Upper foot part (first foot part)

22a first recess

23 lower foot (second foot)

23a second recess

24 Upper connecting part (first connecting part)

25 lower connecting part (second connecting part)

30 slider

31 slider body

32 pull tab

33 upper wing plate

34 lower wing plate

35 upper flange part

36 lower flange part

37 pulling-on piece erection column

38 element guide passage

39 band through gap

40 weft yarns

40a make-up sliver

41 first fastening warp yarn

41a to 41d first to fourth warp threads for fastening

42 second fastening warp

42 a-42 d first to fourth segments of second fastening warp yarn

43 ground warp

H1 maximum value of height dimension of upper and lower coupling parts

Maximum height dimension of H2 engagement head

Detailed Description

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings by way of examples. The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described below, and various modifications can be made as long as the present invention has substantially the same configuration and provides the same operational effects as the present invention.

In the embodiments described below, a case will be described where a knitting machine that performs beating-up by inserting weft yarns held by the tips of needles into the openings of warp yarns is used for knitting fastener tapes, but in the present invention, the knitting structure (woven structure) of fastener tapes and the knitting machine used for knitting fastener tapes are not particularly limited, and can be arbitrarily changed depending on the application of the fastener tapes and the like.

Further, the material, fineness (thickness of yarn, number of yarns) and the like of each constituent yarn constituting the fastener tape are not particularly limited, and the same material and fineness as those of the constituent yarn generally used in the conventional woven fastener stringer can be adopted, and the material and fineness of each constituent yarn can be arbitrarily changed as necessary. Further, the specific structure of the components constituting the slide fastener other than the fastener element tapes is not particularly limited.

(example 1)

Fig. 1 is a plan view showing the woven slide fastener according to example 1. Further, fig. 2 is an enlarged view showing a main part of the slide fastener in an enlarged and schematic manner, and fig. 3 is a sectional view showing a main part of the slide fastener in a schematic manner in a cross section with respect to a tape length direction.

In addition, in order to easily understand the features of the present invention, in fig. 2 and 3, etc., the weft yarns and various warp yarns are represented relatively thin, and the weave structure is represented thick. However, in practice, in consideration of the function as a fastener stringer, various weft yarns and warp yarns are used with required thickness, and the weave structure is also densely configured.

In the following description, the front-back direction refers to the longitudinal direction of the fastener tape, and is the same direction as the sliding direction in which the slider slides. In particular, the slider is provided so that the direction in which the left and right fastener elements are engaged to close the slide fastener is defined as the front, and the slider is provided so that the direction in which the left and right fastener elements are separated to open the slide fastener is defined as the rear.

The left-right direction refers to a tape width direction of the fastener tape, and particularly to a direction parallel to a tape surface of the fastener tape and orthogonal to a tape longitudinal direction. The vertical direction is a tape thickness direction perpendicular to the tape surface of the fastener tape. In particular, the direction of the side on which the slider tab is arranged with respect to the fastener tape is set to be upward, and the direction of the opposite side is set to be downward. For example, in fig. 1 and 2, the upper direction means a direction toward the front side of the paper (first direction), and the lower direction means a direction toward the back side of the paper (second direction).

As shown in fig. 1, a slide fastener 1 according to embodiment 1 includes: a pair of woven fastener stringers 10 in which element rows 12 formed of continuous fastener elements 20 are disposed on opposing tape side edge portions of left and right fastener tapes 11; a slider 30 configured to be slidable along the element row 12; a first stopper 5 disposed adjacent to the front end side of the element row 12 and preventing the slider 30 from falling off; and a second stopper 6 adjacent to the rear end side of the element row 12 and disposed so as to straddle the left and right fastener stringers 10.

Further, the slide fastener 1 of the present embodiment 1 has the main features in the structure of the fastener element 20 and the fastener tape 11, and the slider 30, the first stopper 5, and the second stopper 6 have substantially the same structure as the slider, the first stopper, and the second stopper which are generally used in the conventional slide fastener in which the zigzag-shaped fastener elements are woven and fixed.

For example, the slider 30 in the present embodiment 1 has a slider body 31, and a pull tab 32 held in the slider body 31 in a rotatable manner. Further, as shown in fig. 7 and the like, the slider body 31 includes: upper and lower wing plates 33, 34; a guide post, not shown, connecting the front ends of the upper and lower blades 33, 34; an upper flange 35 suspended from left and right side edges of the upper wing plate 33; lower flange portions 36 erected on left and right side edge portions of the lower blade 34; and a pull-tab attaching post 37 erected on the upper surface of the upper wing plate 33.

Further, left and right shoulder openings are formed at the front end of the slider body 31 so as to sandwich the guide posts, and a rear opening is formed at the rear end of the slider body 31. Further, a substantially Y-shaped element guide passage 38 is formed to communicate the left and right shoulder openings and the rear opening, and is surrounded by the upper and lower paddles 33, 34, the upper flange portion 35, and the lower flange portion 36. A tape insertion gap 39 through which the fastener tape 11 can be inserted is formed between the upper flange portion 35 and the lower flange portion 36 disposed on the left and right side portions of the slider body 31.

Each fastener stringer 10 in embodiment 1 includes: a knitted fastener tape 11; and a zigzag fastener element 20 woven into one side edge portion of the fastener tape 11 while weaving the fastener tape 11, and the fastener element row 12 is formed by weaving the fastener element 20 continuous in zigzag into the fastener tape 11.

The fastener tape 11 includes: an element attaching portion (tape side edge portion) 11a which is arranged on one side edge side of the fastener tape 11 along the tape longitudinal direction and into which the zigzag-shaped fastener element 20 is woven and fixed; and a tape main body portion 11b extending in the tape width direction from the element attaching portion 11a toward an ear portion, not shown, constituting the other side edge side of the fastener tape 11.

The fastener element 20 woven and fixed to the fastener tape 11 is configured to be continuous in the following manner: by the rolling, a synthetic resin monofilament having a circular cross section is processed to be tapered in at least 1 direction so that the cross section becomes an elliptical shape or a flat shape, and the processed monofilament is formed into a zigzag shape (see fig. 3 to 5).

In this way, by using the monofilament having the elliptical or flat cross section, since the monofilament is easily bent in a predetermined direction, the zigzag-shaped fastener element 20 can be easily molded while twisting the monofilament, and the engaging portion 21a protruding in the tape longitudinal direction can be easily formed in the engaging head 21 of the fastener element 20, which will be described later. The cross section of the monofilament is a section on a plane orthogonal to the axis of the monofilament in the direction in which the monofilament extends.

The monofilament constituting the fastener element 20 has an oval or flat shape formed by flattening a perfect circle shape in a cross-sectional view (a state of being viewed from the front when the cross section is taken as a front surface), that is, has the following shape: when the length of a radial segment passing through the center point of the monofilament and connecting 2 points on the periphery of the monofilament is measured in different directions, there are at least 2 segments of different lengths.

In particular, in this case, the monofilament preferably has a symmetrical shape with respect to a major axis, which is the longest line segment among radial line segments passing through the center point of the monofilament and connecting 2 points on the outer circumference of the monofilament. As an example, in the present embodiment 1, the major axis dimension of the monofilament before the fastener element 20 formed in the zigzag shape is 0.77mm, and the minor axis dimension intersecting the major axis is 0.48 mm. The center point of a monofilament is the location where the major axis of the oval or flat shape intersects the minor axis in the cross-section of the monofilament.

The zigzag-shaped fastener element 20 includes: an engaging head 21 formed to project from a tape side edge of the fastener tape 11; an upper leg portion (first leg portion) 22 extending from the coupling head portion 21 in the tape width direction on the upper surface (first tape surface) side of the fastener tape 11; a lower leg portion (second leg portion) 23 extending from the coupling head portion 21 in the tape width direction on the lower surface (second tape surface) side of the fastener tape 11; an upper coupling portion (first coupling portion) 24 coupled between the upper leg portions 22 of the fastener elements 20 adjacent in the tape longitudinal direction; and a lower coupling portion (second coupling portion) 25 coupled between the lower leg portions 23 of the fastener elements 20 adjacent in the tape longitudinal direction.

The coupling head 21 of each fastener element 20 includes: a bent portion bent in a U-shape along the belt thickness direction and connected between the upper leg portion 22 and the lower leg portion 23; and an engaging portion 21a disposed at the bent portion and protruding in the belt longitudinal direction. The upper leg portion 22 and the lower leg portion 23 are portions extending in the tape width direction in regions closer to the upper coupling portion 24 and the lower coupling portion 25 of the fastener element 20 than the position of the coupling head 21 of the fastener element 20 of the coupling partner when the right and left fastener elements 20 are coupled (see, for example, fig. 6).

In this case, in the fastener stringer 10 of example 1, the zigzag-shaped fastener elements 20 have a front-back symmetrical shape in a form in which the attachment pitch of the fastener elements 20 is shifted (shifted) by 1 fastener element in the tape longitudinal direction on the tape front surface (first tape surface) and tape back surface (second tape surface) sides of the fastener tape 11, and the upper coupling portions 24 and the lower coupling portions 25 of the fastener elements 20 are alternately exposed on the tape front surface side and the tape back surface side of the fastener tape 11.

In this embodiment 1, the fastener tape 11 is woven from a weft yarn 40 and a plurality of warp yarns 41, 42, 43 by using a knitting machine, and at the same time of weaving the fastener tape 11, zigzag-shaped fastener elements 20 are sequentially molded and woven into the element attaching portion 11a of the fastener tape 11 by using a mandrel not shown.

As shown in fig. 2, the element attachment portion 11a of the fastener tape 11 is configured by inserting the weft yarn 40 into a woven structure in which a plurality of first fastening warp yarns 41 and a plurality of second fastening warp yarns 42 are woven so as to intersect with each other, the first fastening warp yarns 41 run on the outer surface (upper surface) side of the upper leg portion 22 to fasten and fix the upper leg portion 22 from the upper surface to the lower surface, and the second fastening warp yarns 42 run on the outer surface (lower surface) side of the lower leg portion 23 to fasten and fix the lower leg portion 23 from the lower surface to the upper surface.

In this case, the fastener element 20 molded in a zigzag shape is fixed by being inserted while the weft yarn 40 is inserted and sequentially woven into the opening formed by the first and second fastening warp yarns 41, 42. Here, as shown in fig. 7, the outer surface (upper surface) side of the upper leg portion 22 is a side facing the upper wing plate 33 of the slider 30, and the outer surface (lower surface) side of the lower leg portion 23 is a side facing the lower wing plate 34 of the slider 30.

The tape main body portion 11b of the fastener tape 11 is woven by a flat weave pattern (plain weave pattern) called 1/1 in which the ground warp 43 runs alternately over the weft 40. In the present invention, the weave of the belt main body portion 11b can be arbitrarily selected.

The weft 40 constituting the woven structure of the fastener tape 11 is constituted by a single continuous 1 constituting yarn 40a, and 2 constituting yarns 40a are woven in a state of being aligned by carrying out weft insertion such that the 1 constituting yarn 40a reciprocates from one side edge side of the fastener tape 11 (tape side edge on the fastener element attaching portion 11a side) to the other side edge of the fastener tape 11 (tape side edge on the ear portion side) in the opening of each warp 41, 42, 43 at the time of weaving the fastener tape 11.

In this case, the 2-weft yarns 40 of one set that reach the other edge side of the fastener tape 11 are woven and fixed while the loop (loop) end of the preceding weft yarn 40 is interlaced with the weft yarn 40 by a knitting needle (not shown), thereby forming an ear portion.

Here, the woven structure of the element attachment portion 11a including the fastener element 20 will be described more specifically with reference to fig. 2.

In example 1, a total of 8 warp yarns 41 and 42 including 4 first fastening warp yarns 41a to 41d and 4 second fastening warp yarns 42a to 42d are arranged in the element attaching portion 11 a.

In the following description of fig. 2, the fastener element 20 shown at the lowermost end is referred to as a first fastener element 20a, the fastener element 20 adjacent to the front side of the first fastener element 20a is referred to as a second fastener element 20b, and the fastener element 20 adjacent to the front side of the second fastener element 20b is referred to as a third fastener element 20 c.

The 4 first and second fastening warp yarns 41 and 42 are referred to as first to fourth stages of first and second fastening warp yarns 41a to 41d and 42a to 42d in order from the first and second fastening warp yarns 41a and 42a arranged on the coupling head 21 side of the fastener element 20.

In the knitting structure of the element attachment portion 11a of example 1, as described below, the weft insertion operation of the weft yarn 40 is performed 2 times for each of the warp yarns 41, 42, and 43 constituting the fastener tape 11 between the first fastener element 20a and the second fastener element 20b adjacent to each other and between the second fastener element 20b and the third fastener element 20c, and 4 constituent yarns 40a are arranged between the adjacent fastener elements 20.

In this case, of the 2 component yarns 40a inserted into the same opening by one weft insertion operation, the 1 component yarn 40a with the side edge on the element attaching portion 11a side is returned in the opening by the returning operation of the weft needle not shown, and for the next weft insertion operation, the first or second fastening warp yarn 41a or 42a passing over the outermost first stage arranged in the element attaching portion 11a is folded back and inserted into the opening of the next warp yarn 41, 42, or 43.

Thus, the weft yarn 40 is woven in the following manner: the constituent yarn 40a of 2 sets running back and forth in the same opening is folded back by the first or second fastening warp yarns 41a, 42a at the first stage at the side edge of the belt on the element attaching portion 11a side, with the side edge being spaced back and forth in the belt longitudinal direction. In particular, the weft yarn 40 of example 1 is woven by alternately repeating the folding back at the first fastening warp yarn 41 and the folding back at the second fastening warp yarn 42 at the tape side edge on the element attaching portion 11a side every time the weft insertion operation is performed.

More specifically, after the constituent yarn 40a constituting the weft yarn 40 is woven so as to extend over the lower surface side of the lower leg portion 23 of the first fastener element 20a, the tape side edge on the element attaching portion 11a side is folded back as the first fastening warp yarn 41 goes from the lower surface side to the upper surface side.

The folded-back constituent yarn 40a is inserted into the openings formed by the first to fourth fastening warp yarns 41a to 41d and 42a to 42d and the opening formed by the ground warp yarn 43 of the tape main body portion 11b, travels toward the ear portion, not shown, on the opposite side of the fastener element mounting portion 11a, and travels back to the fastener element mounting portion 11a in the same opening after the ear portion is folded back, whereby 2 constituent yarns 40a are woven as the weft yarn 40 in a state of being pulled out.

At this time, the weft yarn 40 crosses a plurality of first fastening warp yarns 41 (for example, the first fastening warp yarns 41a and 41c of the first stage and the third stage in the case of example 1) and a plurality of second fastening warp yarns 42 (for example, the second fastening warp yarns 42b and 42d of the second stage and the fourth stage in the case of example 1) so as to fasten the first and second fastening warp yarns 41 and 42, respectively, and thereby the upper leg portion 22 and the lower leg portion 23 of the fastener element 20 are fastened and fixed from the upper surface side or the lower surface side by the first and second fastening warp yarns 41 and 42. The weft yarn 40 crosses the first fastening warp yarn 41 and the second fastening warp yarn 42 between the fastener elements 20 adjacent in the tape longitudinal direction.

Next, in the weft yarn 40, the constituent yarn 40a returned to the element attaching portion 11a side is folded back over the first-stage first fastening warp yarn 41a from the upper surface side to the lower surface side at the tape side edge on the element attaching portion 11a side. The folded constituent yarn 40a is inserted into the opening formed by the first to fourth fastening warp yarns 41a to 41d, 42a to 42d and the opening formed by the ground warp yarn 43 of the tape main body portion 11b, travels toward the ear portion not shown, and travels back to the element attaching portion 11a in the same opening after the ear portion is folded, whereby 2 constituent yarn 40a are woven as the weft yarn 40 in a state of being aligned.

At this time, the upper leg portion 22 and the lower leg portion 23 of the second fastener element 20b are inserted into the fastener tape 11 while the weft yarn 40 is inserted. The constituent yarn 40a of the weft yarn 40 that returns from the ear portion to the element attaching portion 11a side is woven so as to obliquely cross over the upper leg portion 22 (particularly, a portion of a first concave portion 22a of the upper leg portion 22 described later) between the upper surface of the upper leg portion 22 and the first fastening warp yarns 41a to 41d of the first to fourth stages with respect to the upper leg portion 22 of the inserted second fastener element 20 b.

Next, in the weft yarn 40, the constituent yarn 40a on the upper surface side of the upper leg portion 22 is folded back over the second fastening warp yarn 42a of the first stage from the upper surface side toward the lower surface side at the tape side edge on the element attaching portion 11a side. The folded constituent yarn 40a is inserted into the opening formed by the first to fourth fastening warp yarns 41a to 41d, 42a to 42d and the opening formed by the ground warp yarn 43 of the tape main body portion 11b, travels toward the ear portion not shown, and travels back to the element attaching portion 11a in the same opening after the ear portion is folded, whereby 2 constituent yarn 40a are woven as the weft yarn 40 in a state of being aligned.

At this time, the weft yarn 40 crosses a plurality of first fastening warp yarns 41 (for example, the first fastening warp yarns 41b and 41d of the second and fourth stages in the case of example 1) and a plurality of second fastening warp yarns 42 (for example, the second fastening warp yarns 42a and 42c of the first and third stages in the case of example 1) so as to fasten the first and second fastening warp yarns 41 and 42, respectively, and thereby the upper leg portion 22 and the lower leg portion 23 of the fastener element 20 are fastened and fixed from the upper surface side or the lower surface side by the first and second fastening warp yarns 41 and 42. The weft yarn 40 crosses the first fastening warp yarn 41 and the second fastening warp yarn 42 between the fastener elements 20 adjacent in the tape longitudinal direction.

Next, in the weft yarn 40, the constituent yarn 40a returned to the element attaching portion 11a side is folded back over the second fastening warp yarn 42a of the first stage from the lower surface side to the upper surface side at the tape side edge of the element attaching portion 11a side. The folded constituent yarn 40a is inserted into the opening formed by the first to fourth fastening warp yarns 41a to 41d, 42a to 42d and the opening formed by the ground warp yarn 43 of the tape main body portion 11b, travels toward the ear portion not shown, and travels back to the element attaching portion 11a in the same opening after the ear portion is folded, whereby 2 constituent yarn 40a are woven as the weft yarn 40 in a state of being aligned.

At this time, the upper leg portion 22 and the lower leg portion 23 of the third fastener element 20c are inserted into the fastener tape 11 while the weft yarn 40 is inserted. The constituent yarn 40a of the weft yarn 40 that returns from the ear portion to the element attaching portion 11a side is woven so as to obliquely cross over the lower leg portion 23 (particularly, a portion of a second recessed portion 23a of the lower leg portion 23 described later) between the lower surface of the lower leg portion 23 and the second fastening warp yarns 42a to 42d of the first to fourth stages, with respect to the lower leg portion 23 of the inserted third fastener element 20 c. Then, the constituent yarn 40a of the weft yarn 40 on the lower surface side of the lower leg portion 23 is folded back over the first fastening warp yarn 41 from the lower surface side to the upper surface side at the tape side edge on the element attaching portion 11a side as described above.

Thus, the fastener tape 11 of the present embodiment 1 is woven by: the insertion of the fastener element 20 is performed, the fastener element 20 is woven into the element attaching portion 11a, and the weft insertion operation of the weft yarn 40 is repeated 2 times between the fastener elements 20 arranged adjacent to each other.

In this case, the constituent yarn 40a of the weft yarn 40 crossing obliquely the upper surface side of the upper leg portion 22 of the second fastener element 20b and the constituent yarn 40a of the weft yarn 40 crossing obliquely the lower surface side of the lower leg portion 23 of the first and third fastener elements 20a, 20c are woven so as to fasten the upper leg portion 22 or the lower leg portion 23 of the fastener element 20.

Therefore, the upper leg portion 22 and the lower leg portion 23 of each fastener element 20 are fastened by the first and second fastening warp yarns 41 and 42 and also fastened by the constituent yarn 40a of the weft yarn 40, and therefore each fastener element 20 is reliably fixed to the fastener tape 11 by a large fastening force, and the position of the fastener element 20 can be more effectively prevented from being displaced or the posture of the fastener element 20 from being tilted.

In the fastener stringer 10 configured by weaving as described above, since the constituent yarn 40a of the weft yarn 40 is woven so as to alternately straddle the upper leg portion 22 or the lower leg portion 23 of each fastener element 20 at every 1 pitch of the fastener elements 20, the number of the constituent yarn 40a of the weft yarn 40 actually existing in the region between the adjacent fastener elements 20 in the element attaching portion 11a is reduced. As a result, the fastener stringer 10 (particularly, the element attaching portion 11a) is formed thin, and flexibility in the tape longitudinal direction can be improved.

Further, the fastener tape 11 of embodiment 1 is woven in the following manner: when the fastener element 20 is woven, a part of the tape body portion 11b, particularly the ground warp 43 disposed closest to the element attaching portion 11a in the tape body portion 11b, is sandwiched between the upper leg portion 22 and the upper coupling portion 24, and the lower leg portion 23 and the lower coupling portion 25 of the fastener element 20.

The weft yarn 40 is woven so as to intersect the ground warp yarn 43 disposed closest to the element attaching portion 11a in the tape main body portion 11b, thereby preventing the position of the weft yarn 40 from being shifted in the tape longitudinal direction or the tape width direction. In particular, since the constituent yarn 40a of the weft yarn 40 crossing obliquely across the upper surface side of the upper leg portion 22 of the fastener element 20 runs on the lower surface side of the ground warp yarn 43 disposed closest to the element attaching portion 11a in the tape main body portion 11b and crosses the ground warp yarn 43, and is pressed by the ground warp yarn 43, the position of the constituent yarn 40a of the weft yarn 40 crossing the upper leg portion 22 is prevented from being shifted in the tape longitudinal direction (for example, shifted toward the upper coupling portion 24 side of the fastener element 20).

Similarly, the constituent yarn 40a of the weft yarn 40 crossing the lower surface side of the lower leg portion 23 of the fastener element 20 so as to obliquely cross runs on the upper surface side of the ground warp yarn 43 disposed closest to the element attachment portion 11a in the tape main body portion 11b and crosses the ground warp yarn 43, and is pressed by the ground warp yarn 43, so that the position of the constituent yarn 40a of the weft yarn 40 crossing the lower leg portion 23 is prevented from being shifted in the tape longitudinal direction (for example, shifted toward the lower coupling portion 25 side of the fastener element 20).

Further, as described above, the fastener element 20 of embodiment 1 is configured by forming a monofilament having an oval or flat cross section into a zigzag shape. In particular, in example 1, in a cross-sectional view of the fastener element 20 shown in fig. 3, which is orthogonal to the tape longitudinal direction, the upper leg portion 22 is bent into a concave shape and disposed on the tape surface side of the fastener tape 11, thereby forming a first concave portion 22a on the upper surface side of the upper leg portion 22, and a constituent yarn 40a of the weft yarn 40 crossing the upper leg portion 22 in a crossing manner and the first fastening warp yarn 41 for fastening and fixing the upper leg portion 22 are accommodated in the first concave portion 22a of the upper leg portion 22.

Here, the first recess 22a is disposed between a position where the coupling head 21 is thickest from the center position of the fastener tape 11 (position where the height dimension is largest) and a position where the upper coupling portion 24 is thickest from the center position of the fastener tape 11 (position where the height dimension is largest) in the tape width direction. The position where the thickness of the engagement head portion 21 from the center position of the fastener tape 11 is the thickest is also the position where the entire thickness of the engagement head portion 21 is the thickest (position where the height dimension is the largest). The position where the thickness of the upper coupling portion 24 is the thickest from the center position of the fastener tape 11 is also the thickest position (the position where the height dimension is the largest) of the thicknesses between the upper end edge of the upper coupling portion 24 and the lower end edge of the lower coupling portion 25. The first fastening warp yarn 41 is located between the thickest position of the coupling head 21 and the thickest position of the upper coupling portion 24 in the belt width direction. Thereby, the first fastening warp yarn 41 is accommodated in the first concave portion 22 a.

The lower leg portion 23 is curved in a concave shape and disposed on the tape back side of the fastener tape 11, thereby forming a second recessed portion 23a on the lower surface side of the lower leg portion 23, and a constituent yarn 40a of a second fastening warp yarn 42 for fastening and fixing the lower leg portion 23 and a weft yarn 40 crossing the lower leg portion 23 so as to straddle is housed in the second recessed portion 23a of the lower leg portion 23.

Here, the second recess 23a is disposed between a position where the coupling head 21 is thickest from the center position of the fastener tape 11 (position where the height dimension is largest) and a position where the lower coupling portion 25 is thickest from the center position of the fastener tape 11 (position where the height dimension is largest) in the tape width direction. The position where the thickness of the lower coupling portion 25 is the thickest from the center position of the fastener tape 11 is also the thickest position (the position where the height dimension is the largest) of the thicknesses between the upper end edge of the upper coupling portion 24 and the lower end edge of the lower coupling portion 25. The second fastening warp yarn 42 is located between the thickest position of the coupling head 21 and the thickest position of the lower coupling portion 25 in the belt width direction. Thereby, the second fastening warp yarns 42 are accommodated in the second concave portions 23 a.

In this case, when the longest line segment of radial line segments passing through the center point of the monofilament and connecting 2 points on the outer periphery of the monofilament is taken as the major axis in the cross-sectional view of the monofilament, the major axis directions of the portion of the upper leg portion 22 where the first concave portion 22a is arranged and the portion of the lower leg portion 23 where the second concave portion 23a is arranged are inclined such that the inclination angles thereof with respect to the tape surface and the tape back surface of the fastener tape 11 are smaller than the orientation of the major axis of the upper coupling portion 24 and the lower coupling portion 25.

In other words, the longitudinal axes of the portions of the upper leg portions 22 where the first recessed portions 22a are arranged and the portions of the lower leg portions 23 where the second recessed portions 23a are arranged are oriented so as to lie down obliquely with respect to the tape front surface and the tape back surface of the fastener tape 11 and are substantially parallel to the tape front surface and the tape back surface. On the other hand, the upper coupling portion 24 and the lower coupling portion 25 have their long axes oriented so as to rise up with respect to the tape front surface and the tape rear surface of the fastener tape 11.

As described above, since the long axis of the monofilament has an inclined orientation in the cross section, the height dimension of the first concave portion 22a of the upper leg portion 22 from the center position of the fastener tape 11 and the height dimension of the second concave portion 23a of the lower leg portion 23 from the center position of the fastener tape 11 in the tape thickness direction can be easily set smaller than the maximum value H1 of the height dimensions of the upper coupling portion 24 and the lower coupling portion 25 from the center position. In other words, the first concave portion 22a of the upper leg portion 22 can be provided closer to the fastener tape 11 than the position of the upper end edge of the upper coupling portion 24, and the second concave portion 23a of the lower leg portion 23 can be provided closer to the fastener tape 11 than the position of the lower end edge of the lower coupling portion 25 in the tape thickness direction.

The center position of the fastener tape 11 is the center in the tape thickness direction. Further, since the fastener element 20 of example 1 is symmetrical in shape between the tape front side and the tape back side in such a manner that the attachment pitch of the fastener element is shifted by 1 amount in the tape longitudinal direction, the center position of the fastener tape 11 can be referred to as the center position in the thickness direction of the fastener element 20.

In the fastener element 20 of example 1, as shown in fig. 3 and 5, the coupling head 21 is bent in a U shape so as to form a space portion on the inner peripheral side thereof, and the height dimension of the coupling head 21 from the center position of the fastener tape 11 in the tape thickness direction is increased, thereby securing the coupling strength when the fastener 1 is formed.

On the other hand, as shown in fig. 3 and 4, the upper leg portion 22 and the lower leg portion 23 of the fastener element 20 are disposed so as to contact each other, and thus the height dimension of the first concave portion 22a of the upper leg portion 22 from the center position of the fastener tape 11 and the height dimension of the second concave portion 23a of the lower leg portion 23 from the center position of the fastener tape 11 are set smaller than the maximum value H2 of the height dimension of the coupling head portion 21 from the center position in the tape thickness direction, respectively, and the fastener element 20 is thinned.

In other words, the first concave portion 22a of the upper leg portion 22 can be provided closer to the fastener tape 11 than the position of the upper end edge of the coupling head portion 21, and the second concave portion 23a of the lower leg portion 23 can be provided closer to the fastener tape 11 than the position of the lower end edge of the coupling head portion 21 in the tape thickness direction.

That is, in example 1, in the cross-sectional view of the fastener element 20 perpendicular to the tape longitudinal direction, the height dimensions of the first concave portion 22a of the upper leg portion 22 and the second concave portion 23a of the lower leg portion 23 are set smaller than the maximum value H1 of the height dimensions of the upper coupling portion 24 or the lower coupling portion 25 and the maximum value H2 of the height dimensions of the coupling head 21, respectively. As an example, in embodiment 1, the maximum value H1 of the height dimension of the upper coupling portion 24 or the lower coupling portion 25 is 0.71mm, the maximum value H2 of the height dimension of the engagement head 21 is 0.59mm, and the minimum value of the height dimensions of the first concave portion 22a of the upper leg portion 22 and the second concave portion 23a of the lower leg portion 23 from the center position is 0.44 mm.

In the cross-sectional view of the fastener element 20 perpendicular to the tape longitudinal direction, the upper leg portion 22 and the lower leg portion 23 are tapered in the middle in the thickness direction at the positions of the first concave portion 22a of the upper leg portion 22 and the second concave portion 23a of the lower leg portion 23, respectively. The difference between the minimum height dimension of the first recess 22a of the upper leg 22 and the second recess 23a of the lower leg 23 and the maximum thickness dimension (the maximum value H1) of the upper and lower connecting portions 24 and 25 is formed to be larger than the difference between the minimum height dimension of the first recess 22a of the upper leg 22 and the second recess 23a of the lower leg 23 and the maximum thickness dimension (the maximum value H2) of the engaging head 21. Specifically, when the difference between the minimum value of the height dimensions of the first concave portion 22a of the upper leg portion 22 and the second concave portion 23a of the lower leg portion 23 and the maximum value H1 is 0.27mm, the difference between the minimum value of the height dimensions of the first concave portion 22a of the upper leg portion 22 and the second concave portion 23a of the lower leg portion 23 and the maximum value H2 is 0.15 mm.

This eliminates the first and second fastening warp yarns 41a and 42a for fastening and fixing the fastener element 20 from freely shifting (moving) outward (tape body side) of the vertical coupling portions 24 and 25 in the tape width direction, and therefore prevents the slider 30 from coming into contact with the slider 30 when the slider 30 slides and causing yarn breakage.

Further, since the first concave portion 22a of the upper leg portion 22 and the second concave portion 23a of the lower leg portion 23 receive the tightening force from the constituent yarn 40a of the first and second warp yarns 41 and 42 and the weft yarn 40 accommodated therein, respectively, the relationship between the height dimensions of the engagement head 21, the upper coupling portion 24, and the lower coupling portion 25 and the first concave portion 22a of the upper leg portion 22 and the second concave portion 23a of the lower leg portion 23 can be stably maintained.

Further, the fastener element 20 of embodiment 1 is configured such that: when the height dimension of the upper coupling portion 24 and the lower coupling portion 25 from the center position of the fastener tape 11 is compared with the height dimension of the engagement head 21 from the center position of the fastener tape 11, the maximum value H1 of the height dimensions of the upper coupling portion 24 and the lower coupling portion 25 is larger than the maximum value H2 of the height dimensions of the engagement head 21 (in other words, the maximum value H2 of the height dimensions of the engagement head 21 is smaller than the maximum value H1 of the height dimensions of the upper coupling portion 24 and the lower coupling portion 25).

As described above, by making the maximum value H1 of the height dimension of the upper coupling portion 24 and the lower coupling portion 25 larger than the maximum value H2 of the height dimension of the engagement head 21, the upper coupling portion 24 and the lower coupling portion 25 of the fastener element 20 can be stably brought into contact with the upper blade 33 and the lower blade 34 of the slider 30 and the upper coupling portion 24 and the lower coupling portion 25 of the fastener element 20 can be brought into contact with the upper flange portion 35 and the lower flange portion 36 of the slider 30 when the slider 30 is slid. This can reliably prevent the fastener element 20 from falling off from the element guide passage 38 of the slider 30, and the slider 30 has good guidance for the element row.

Further, the upper coupling portion 24 and the lower coupling portion 25 of the fastener element 20 are brought into contact with the upper blade 33 and the lower blade 34, the upper flange portion 35, and the lower flange portion 36 of the slider 30, whereby the left and right fastener elements 20 are appropriately guided in the element guide passage 38 of the slider 30, and therefore the left and right fastener elements 20 can be smoothly engaged with each other.

Further, by making the maximum value H2 of the height dimension of the coupling head 21 smaller than the maximum value H1 of the height dimensions of the upper coupling portion 24 and the lower coupling portion 25, when the zigzag-shaped fastener element 20 is molded by a monofilament, the more the bent portion of the coupling head 21 is bent so as to reduce the dimension in the tape thickness direction, the more stably the coupling portion 21a that bulges in the tape longitudinal direction can be formed at the coupling head 21, and therefore, a desired coupling strength can be appropriately secured.

In this case, when the height dimension of the coupling head portion 21 is excessively small on the contrary, the coupling head portion 21 itself may become small as a whole and the coupling strength may be lowered, and when the fastener element 20 is inserted into the element guide passage 38 of the slider 30, the position of the coupling head portion 21 may be unstable in the element guide passage 38 and a problem may occur in the coupling of the fastener element 20, and therefore, it is preferable to set the maximum value H2 of the height dimension of the coupling head portion 21 from the center position of the fastener tape 11 to a size of 70% or more, particularly 80% or more of the maximum value H1 of the height dimension of the upper coupling portion 24 or the lower coupling portion 25 from the center position of the fastener tape 11.

The slide fastener 1 of example 1 in which the fastener element 20 having the above-described configuration is woven into the fastener tape 11 accommodates the first fastening warp yarn 41 and the second fastening warp yarn 42 in the first concave portion 22a of the upper leg portion 22 and the second concave portion 23a of the lower leg portion 23, respectively, which have a predetermined height dimension relationship, and the first fastening warp yarn 41 and the second fastening warp yarn 42 are disposed at positions lower than the upper coupling portion 24 and the lower coupling portion 25 (positions closer to the fastener tape 11) in the tape thickness direction.

Further, in the slide fastener 1 of example 1, the constituent yarn 40a of the weft yarn 40 crossing the upper leg portion 22 in a crossing manner is housed in the first concave portion 22a of the upper leg portion 22, and the constituent yarn 40a of the weft yarn 40 crossing the lower leg portion 23 in a crossing manner is housed in the second concave portion 23a of the lower leg portion 23.

This effectively prevents the positions of the first and second fastening warp yarns 41, 42 and the constituent yarn 40a of the weft yarn 40 extending over the upper leg portion 22 and the lower leg portion 23 from shifting relative to the fastener elements 20 (particularly, shifting in the tape width direction), and enables the fastener elements 20 to be stably fixed by the first and second fastening warp yarns 41, 42 and the weft yarn 40.

Further, by storing the first and second fastening warp yarns 41, 42 and the constituent yarn 40a of the weft yarn 40 that spans the upper leg portion 22 and the lower leg portion 23 in the first concave portion 22a of the upper leg portion 22 and the second concave portion 23a of the lower leg portion 23, even if the slider 30 is slid along the element row 12 of the fastener element 20, the first and second fastening warp yarns 41, 42 and the constituent yarn 40a of the weft yarn 40 stored in the first and second concave portions 22a, 23a can be made less likely to contact the inner surfaces of the upper and lower wing plates 33, 34 of the slider 30.

Further, even when the slide fastener 1 of example 1 is used by being attached to a garment or a bag, the constituent yarns 40a of the first and second fastening warp yarns 41, 42 and the weft yarn 40 are accommodated in the first and second concave portions 22a, 23a of the fastener element 20, so that the risk of contact with other members can be reduced.

Therefore, according to the slide fastener 1 of example 1, it is possible to prevent the first and second fastening warp yarns 41 and 42 and the constituent yarn 40a of the weft yarn 40 that crosses the upper leg portion 22 or the lower leg portion 23 so as to straddle therebetween from being worn or broken due to sliding of the slider 30 or contact with other members, and it is possible to stably use the slide fastener 1 for a long period of time.

Further, the zigzag-shaped fastener elements 20 are symmetrically woven into the element attaching portion 11a of the fastener tape 11 of example 1 in such a manner that the attaching pitch is shifted by 1 amount in the tape longitudinal direction on the tape front surface side and the tape back surface side of the fastener tape 11.

In this case, the first fastening warp yarns 41 of the element attaching portion 11a run in the warp direction on the upper surface side of the upper leg portion 22, and intersect the weft yarns 40 to be densely woven. The second fastening warp yarns 42 run in the warp direction on the lower surface side of the lower leg portion 23, and cross the weft yarns 40 to be densely woven. That is, the weft yarn 40 is woven so as to intersect with the first fastening warp yarn 41 running on the upper surface side of the upper leg portion 22 and the second fastening warp yarn 42 running on the lower surface side of the lower leg portion 23.

Therefore, even if the first fastening warp 41, the second fastening warp 42, or the constituent yarn 40a of the weft yarn 40 crossing the upper leg portion 22 or the lower leg portion 23 in a crossing manner is cut on the tape surface side or the tape back side of the fastener tape 11 by sliding of the slider 30 or contact with another member, the woven structure of the element attaching portion 11a can be maintained for a while on the tape surface side opposite to the tape surface on which the yarn breakage occurs. As a result, the zigzag fastener elements 20 can be kept from being detached from the element attachment portions 11a of the fastener tape 11, and a decrease in the coupling strength of the slide fastener 1 due to yarn breakage can be suppressed.

Further, in the slide fastener 1 of example 1, since the height dimension of the coupling head 21 of the fastener element 20 is secured to a certain extent, the first concave portion 22a and the second concave portion 23a are provided in the first leg portion and the second leg portion, and the first fastening warp yarn 41 and the second fastening warp yarn 42 are accommodated in the first concave portion 22a and the second concave portion 23a, it is possible to prevent a reduction in coupling strength and a facilitated occurrence of coupling breakage due to a reduction in the coupling head 21.

Therefore, by sliding the slider 30 along the element row 12, the left and right fastener elements 20 can be smoothly engaged and disengaged, and when the slide fastener 1 is closed by engaging the left and right fastener elements 20, a desired engagement strength can be stably secured.

Claims (8)

1. A fastener stringer, characterized in that the fastener stringer is for a slide fastener, comprising:

a fastener tape (11) in which a weft yarn (40) and a plurality of warp yarns (41, 42, 43) are woven, and an element attachment portion (11a) is arranged along one side edge of a tape main body portion (11 b); and

a fastener element (20) which is continuously inserted and fixed into the element attachment portion (11a),

the fastener element (20) is formed by forming a synthetic resin monofilament into a zigzag shape, and includes:

a meshing head (21) having a meshing section (21a) that bulges in the belt longitudinal direction at a bent section that is bent in the belt thickness direction;

a first foot portion (22) and a second foot portion (23) which extend in the tape width direction from the engagement head portion (21) on the first tape surface side and the second tape surface side of the fastener tape (11), respectively;

a first connecting portion (24) connected between the first leg portions (22) of the fastener elements (20) adjacent in the tape longitudinal direction; and

a second coupling part (25) coupled between the second leg parts (23) of the fastener elements (20) adjacent in the tape longitudinal direction,

the warp yarns (41, 42, 43) comprise:

a first fastening warp (41) that runs on the outer surface side of the first leg (22) and that crosses the weft (40) to fasten and fix the first leg (22); and

a second fastening warp (42) that runs on the outer surface side of the second leg (23) and that crosses the weft (40) to fasten and fix the second leg (23),

the fastener stringer (10) is provided with a first recess (22a) on the outer surface side of the first leg (22), and a second recess (23a) on the outer surface side of the second leg (23),

the first warp yarn (41) for fastening is housed in the first concave portion (22a) of the first leg portion (22), and the second warp yarn (42) for fastening is housed in the second concave portion (23a) of the second leg portion (23);

a height dimension (H1) of the first coupling portion (24) and the second coupling portion (25) from a center position of the fastener tape (11) in the tape thickness direction is set larger than a height dimension (H2) of the engagement head portion (21) from the center position of the fastener tape (11) in the tape thickness direction;

a height dimension of a first recess (22a) of the first leg portion (22) from a center position of the fastener tape (11) and a height dimension of a second recess (23a) of the second leg portion (23) from the center position of the fastener tape (11) in a tape thickness direction are set smaller than a maximum value (H2) of a height dimension of the engagement head portion (21) from the center position.

2. The fastener stringer according to claim 1, wherein:

the cross section of the monofilament is in an oval or flat shape.

3. The fastener stringer according to claim 2, wherein:

when the longest line segment of radial line segments passing through the center point of the monofilament and connecting 2 points on the outer periphery of the monofilament is a major axis in the cross section of the monofilament, the orientation of the major axis of the portion of the first foot portion (22) and the second foot portion (23) where the first recess (22a) and the second recess (23a) are arranged is inclined toward the first tape surface side and the second tape surface side of the fastener tape (11) as compared with the orientation of the major axis of the first coupling portion (24) and the second coupling portion (25).

4. The fastener stringer according to claim 1, wherein:

at least a part of the first leg portion (22) and the second leg portion (23) extending from each coupling head portion (21) of the fastener element (20) to be woven in are in contact with each other.

5. The fastener stringer according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein:

the weft yarn (40) is inserted by the reciprocating motion of 1 constituent yarn (40a), and is woven in a state where 2 constituent yarns (40a) are pulled and aligned.

6. The fastener stringer according to claim 5, wherein:

1 of the constituent yarns (40a) constituting the weft yarns (40) is inserted so as to pass between the first surface of the first leg portion (22) and the first fastening warp yarn (41) and obliquely cross the first leg portion (22) at every predetermined pitch of the fastener elements (20),

the 1 piece of the constituent yarn (40a) constituting the weft yarn (40) is inserted between the second surface of the second leg portion (23) and the second fastening warp yarn (42) so as to obliquely cross the second leg portion (23) at every predetermined pitch of the fastener elements (20).

7. The fastener stringer according to claim 6, wherein:

1 of the constituent yarns (40a) obliquely crossing the first leg portion (22) is housed in the first recess portion (22a),

the second recessed part (23a) accommodates 1 of the constituent yarns (40a) that obliquely straddle the second leg part (23).

8. A slide fastener, comprising:

the fastener stringer (10) of any of claims 1 to 7 in a set of 2.