US2721367A - Slider for a sliding clasp fastener - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 25, 1955 2. DESHAW SLIDER FOR A SLIDING CLASP FASTENER S Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 14, 1954 Inventor Evita. 9 9

Attorney Oct. 25, 1955 z. DESHAW 2,721,367

SLIDER FOR A SLIDING CLASP FASTENEP.

Filed May 14, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 25, 1955 2. DESHAW SLIDER FOR A SLIDING CLASP FASTENER 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 14, 1954 ll 5H I M H m H b y M I m 5 M\/ I9 ...5 7Uo/o 2 M m 3 5 Y 7 .9 M

Inventor 20M JEIHFW' By W 22.

A itorney United The present invention relates to a slider for a sliding clasp fastener of the kind comprising a member for operating the slider, and opposed shields for guiding two fastener stringers through the slider, the said shields being joined so as to allow spreading apart of the shields on the stringers when the slider may have jammed, whereby to overcome the jamming.

It is an object of the invention to provide a slider wherein means are provided for securely preventing unintentional spreading of the slider shields.

It is another object of the invention to provide such a slider wherein the means for preventing unintentional spreading of the slider shields are operatively independent of the member for operating the slider.

It is a further object of the invention to provide such a slider in which one stringer of the sliding clasp fastener is retained on the slider even when the slider shields are spread apart whereby to prevent the slider from becoming completely detached unintentionally from the sliding clasp fastener.

It is still another object of the invention to provide such a slider which has a reduced maximum width.

It is still a further object of the invention to provide such a slider wherein the stringers are not liable to be nipped between the edges of the slider shields when spread apart.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description of a specific embodiment of the invention when read with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a portion of a sliding clasp fastener comprising a slider of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. l, but showing the slider shields hinged apart and one of the fastener stringers retained by the slider while the other stringer is detached from the slider;

Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the slider;

Fig. 4 is a side view of the assembled slider partly in section;

Fig. 5 is a similar side view of the slider with its shields hinged apart;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of theslider; and

Fig. 7 illustrates a section along the line VII-VII of Fig. 4, a member for operating the slider shown in Fig. 4 being omitted.

The invention consists in a slider for a sliding clasp fastener, comprising a member for operating the slider, and two slider shields for guiding two fastener stringers through the slider, the slider shields being joined so as to allow spreading apart of the shields for separating the stringers from each other when the slider has jammed, means operatively independent of the operating member being provided for releasably locking the slider shields against unintentional spreading during normal operation of the slider.

If the said locking means were under the control of the operatingmember, which is repeatedly in movement durtates Fatent G ice ing the normal use of the slider, there may be a tendency for the slider to spread open or partly to spread open accidentally, for example owing to wear after a period of use, whereby the proper normal working of the slider would be impaired. A slider of the kind referred to may have to be spread open only at infrequent intervals, if at all, and it is important that the slider remain positively closed and effective for all normal use.

Preferably, the locking means comprise a catch operatively associated with one of the slider shields and normally cooperating with the other slider shield. The catch may be spring-loaded for urging the catch into its locking position. The slider shields may be hingedly joined. The hinge axis may be arranged transversely and substantially parallel to the slider shields. Preferably, one of the slider shields has a riser element extending through a slot in the other slider shield, the riser element being provided with a platform on which the catch is slidably arranged, the said other shield normally resting on said platform. The riser element may have a portion overhanging the platform, the catch being slidably arranged between the said overhanging portion and the platform, the catch normally engaging with one end a portion of the slotted slider shield. The riser element may have a socket for receiving an end of a coiled compression spring, the other end of said spring acting on the catch to urge the same into engagement with the portion of the slotted slider shield. The slotted slider shield may comprise two substantially parallel raised portions at its outer surface, one at each side of the slot, the arrangement being such that the said two raised portions, the platform and the overhanging portion of the riser element form a guide channel for the catch. The slotted slider shield may have two substantially parallel recesses at its inner surface, one at each side of the slot, the recesses normally receiving the adjacent sides of the platform. The slider shields may have inturned overlying side walls, the overlying side walls at one side of the riser element being so short in the longitudinal direction that when, in use, the slider shields have been hinged apart, the stringer at the said one side of the riser element is removable from the slider, while the overlying side walls at the other side of the riser element extend from one end of the slider to its other end so that when, in use, the slider shields have been hinged apart, the stringer at the said other side of the riser element is retained by the slider owing to the side walls at the said other side of the riser element engaging behind fastener interlocking members of the retained stringer. The riser element may have a longitudinal recess at the said other side for receiving at least parts of fastener interlocking members of the adjacent stringer. The base of at least one slider shield may be chamfered at one or both sides of the riser element at its end where the shields approach each other on hinging so as to allow the stringer overlying the chamfer to flex towards the chamfer whereby to prevent the stringer from being nipped by the edges of the shields when the slider shields have been hinged apart. The base of that slider shield which is remote from the operating member may be chamfered.

Referring now to the drawings, the sliding clasp fastener shown in Figs. 1 and 2 comprises two stringers generally indicated by reference numerals 101 and 162. The stringers 101 and 102 respectively comprise carrier tapes 103 and 104 provided with interlocking members 105 and M96. The fastener is opened and closed in known manner by a slider generally indicated by reference numeral 107.

The slider (see also Figs. 3 to 7) comprises two opposed slider shields generally denoted by reference numerals 1 and 12 respectively, a member 22 for operating the slider, a catch 60, and a spring 70.

The slider shield 1 comprises a base 2 having a narrow end and a wide end, side walls 3 and 31 and a riser element 4 having a wedge shaped end 5 directed towards the narrow end of the base 2, a transverse bearing groove 6, a hole 7, a platform 8, a portion 9 overhanging the platform ti, a socket 10, and a recess 52 at one side. Tl e riser element 4 is integral with the base 2 and extends generally in the longitudinal direction of the base 2 from its wide end towards about the centre of the base 2. The platform 8 is parallel to the base 2 and spaced therefrom substantially by the width of interlocking members 105, 106, (that is to say the extension of the said members perpendicular to the plane of the tapes 103, 104), the platform 8 extending laterally from, and beyond the wedge shaped end 5 of, the riser element 4. The bearing groove 6 and the hole 7 are parallel to each other and to the base 2, the bearing groove 6 being located near the end 11 remote from the end 5 of the riser element 4, and the hole 7 being located near the bearing groove 6,

but farther away from the end 11 of the riser element 4 a and at a greater distance from the base 2 than the bearing groove 6. The portion 9 overhangs the platform 8 and has a surface facing the said platform and parallel thereto. The socket 110 extends in the longitudinal direction of the base 2, is parallel thereto and opens into the space between the platform 8 and the overhanging portion 9. The sidewall 3 of the base 2 extends from the narrow end of the base 2 somewhat beyond the wedge shaped end 5 of the riser element 4, while the side wall 31 extends from the narrow end of the base 2 to its wide end. The recess 52 faces the side wall 33. The base 2 is chamfered at 50 at its wide end at each side of the riser element 4.

The slider shield 12 has a narrow end and a wide end, and is provided with a longitudinal central slot 13, extending from the wide end of the shield 12 so that two forks 15 and 151 are formed which are joined by a base 16 at the narrow end. Near the wide end the slot is bridged by a stud 17. The shield 12 is provided with a short side wall 14 and a longer side wall 141 adapted to over lie the side walls 3 and 31 respectively of the slider shield 1. The shield 1, its side walls 3 and 31, the shield 12, its side walls 14' and 141 and the riser element 4 are arranged in known: manner to form diverging channels for the passage of the. interlocking members 105 and 106 of the two stringers 101 and 102 in connection with which the slider is used. At their surfaces facing the slider shield 1, the forks 15 and 151 have longitudb nal recesses 13 and 181 at the edges of the slot 13 for receiving the longitudinal edges of the platform 3 so that the surface of the platform 8 facing the slider shield. 1 V

is normally flush with the surfaces of the forks 15 and 151 facing the slider shield 1. At their opposite surfaces the forks 15 and 151 are provided at the edges of the slot 13 with longitudinal raised portions 19 and 191..

The operating member 22 has an elongated hole 23 and inwardly directed studs 24.

The catch 60 consists of a block which has at one end a projection 61 having a curved outer surface 62, and a hole 63 at its other end, a shoulder 64 being formed where the projection 61 merges into the body of the catch 60.

The spring 70 is a coiled compression spring.

For assembling the slider, the spring 70 is introduced in the socket 10 so that the greater portion of the spring 70 is housed in the said socket. The catch 60 is placed on the platform 8 underneath the overhanging portion 9 of the riser element 4 so that the end of the spring 70, which protrudes from the socket 10 enters the hole 63 in the catch 60. The catch 60 is then displaced as far as possible along the platform 8 towards the riser element 4 against the action of the spring 70 and is temporarily held in this position by any suitable means. The stud 17 of the slider shield 12 is next introduced into the groove 6, the upper portions of the riser element 4 and of the catch 60 extending through the slot 13 of the slider shield 12, While'the forks 15 and 151 of the shield 12 rest on the portions of the platform 8 lateral of the riser element 4. The groove 6 is closed by turning the end 11 of the riser element 4 over the stud 17 whereby the shield 12 is hingedly connected to the shield 1. The studs 24 of the operating member are snapped or pressed into the hole 7 of the riser element 4 whereby the operating member 22 is pivoted to the riser element 4. The catch 60 is now released and moves under the action of the spring in the longitudinal direction of the slider towards the base 16 of the slider shield 12 until the shoulder 64 abuts against the adjacent edge of the base 16 and the projection 61 of the catch 60 engages the base 16, whereby the shield 12 is locked in its normal position illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4' in which the shield 12 is parallel to the shield 1.

It will be recognized from Fig. 4 that the curved outer surface 62 of the catch 60 has such a shape that in thenormal, locking, position of the catch 60 the surface 62 is flush with the adjacent outer surface of the overhanging portion 9 of the riser element 4. It will also be seen, that the catch is slidably arranged between the overhanging portion 9 of the. riser element 4 and the platform 8 and is laterally guided by the surfaces facing each other of the slot 13 and of the raised portions 19 and 191 of the slider shield 12. Thus, the said raised portions 19 and 191, the

platform 8 and the overhanging portion 9 of the riser element 4 form a guide channel for the catch 60.

When it is intended to hinge the slider shields land 12 apart, for example if the slider has jammed on the stringers owing, for instance, to the presence of foreign matter in the slider, the catch 60 is pressed, for example by a finger nail of a user, against the action of the spring 70 away from the base 16 until the projection 61 releases the base 16, whereupon the slider shieldsmay be hinged apart as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 5. In this position, in which the slider shields are inclined relatively to each other, the projection 61 of the catch 60 bears against the adjacent edge of the base 16 so that the catch 60 is securely held on the platform 8 and the spring 70 cannot force the catch 60 away from the slider.

When the slider shields 1 and 12 are in the position shown in Figs. 2 and 5, the side walls 31 and 141 lie behind interlocking members of the stringer 101 (Fig. 2) so that the stringer 101 is held between the riser element 4 and the said side walls and cannot be laterally released from the slider. Since the other side walls 3 and 14 are comparatively short, the other stringer 102 can be laterally detached from the slider 107. With the'slider 107 retained on the stringer 101 there would be a tendency for the stringer 101 to be nipped between the slider shields 1 and 12 at the end of the slider adjacent the riser element 4, but the inclined faces 50 enable the stringer 101 to flex towards the base'2 of the shield 1 so as to obviate this tendency.

The recess 52 in the riser element 4 accommodates the adjacent ends of interlocking members 105 on the stringer 101 that is retained on the slider 107. The broad end ofthe slider has to be so wide that the walls 31 and 141 lie behind the outer ends of interlocking members 105 on the stringer 101 on which the slider 107 is to be retained. By providing the recess 52, portions of interlocking members 105 are accommodated within the riser element 4, whereby the adjacent end of the slidercan be kept narrower than the corresponding end of a similar slider in which such a recess is not provided.

When it. is intended to close the slider, the diverging ends of the slider shields 1 and 12 are pressed together so that the shield 12 again rests on the platform 8 and the catch 60 automatically re-engages the base 16 of the shield 12 under the action of the spring 70, so that the slider is locked against unintentional hinging apart and is ready for normal use.

It should be clearly understood that the embodiment described and illustrated is given by way of example only. Many modifications, additions and omissions of the embodiment described are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the spring 70 may be omitted, in which case the catch is to be so shaped and arranged that it can be positively moved into and out of its locking position, it being only essential that the locking of the slider shields in their normal position is independent from the operating member 32. By separating the operation of the catch from that of the operating member, the locking of the slider shields in their normal position is ensured independently of ordinary wear on the slider. The manual direct operation of the catch independent from that of the operating member for the slider is not a serious disadvantage over an automatic locking of the slider shields by means of the said operating member, since the necessity of spreading the slider shields arises, if at all, only occasionally during normal use of the slider, while the provision of a catch independent of the operating member tends to increase the reliability of the slider in normal use.

I claim:

1. A slider for a sliding clasp fastener, comprising two slider shields for guiding two stringers of a sliding clasp fastener through the slider, hinge means for hingedly joining the slider shields so as to allow spreading apart of the said shields for allowing separating at least one of the stringers from the slider when the slider has jammed, the hinge axis being arranged transversely of and substantially parallel to the slider shields, a member for operatating the slider, 21 riser element on one of the slider shields, the said riser element extending through a slot in the other slider shield, a platform on said riser element, the said platform and the said hinge means being arranged so that the said other shield normally rests on said platform, a catch slidably arranged on said paltform for normally cooperating with the said other shield for releasably locking the slider shields against unintentional spreading, the said catch being operatively independent of the said operating member, and spring means for urging the catch into its locking position, a portion of said riser element overhanging the platform, the catch being slidably arranged between the said overhanging portion and the platform, the catch when in its locking position engaging with one end a portion of the slotted slider shield.

2. A slider as claimed in claim 1, wherein the spring means comprise a coiled compression spring one end of which is housed in a socket in the riser element and the other end of which acts on the catch.

3. A slider as claimed in claim 1, wherein the slotted slider shield comprises two substantially parallel raised portions at its outer surface, one at each side of the slot, the said two raised portions, the platform and the overhanging portion of the riser element being arranged to form a guide channel for the catch.

4. A slider as claimed in claim 3, wherein the slotted slider has two substantially parallel recesses at its inner surface, one at each side of the slot, for receiving the adjacent sides of the platform.

5. A slider as claimed in claim 3, wherein the slider shields comprise inturned overlying side walls, the overlying side walls at one side of the riser element extending only along a portion of each slider shield so that when, in use, the slider shields have been hinged apart, the sliding clasp fastener stringer at the said one side of the riser element is removable from the slider, while the overlying side walls at the other side of the riser element extend from one end of each slider shield to the other end thereof so that when, in use, the slider shields have been hinged apart, the sliding clasp fastener stringer at the said other side of the riser element is retained on the slider owing to the slide walls at the said other side of the riser element engaging behind fastener interlocking members of the retained stringer.

6. A slider as claimed in claim 5, wherein the riser element has a longitudinal recess at the said other side for receiving at least parts of fastener interlocking members of the adjacent stringer.

7. A slider as claimed in claim 5, wherein the base of at least one slider shield is chamfered at least at one side of the riser element at its end where the shields approach each other on hinging so as to allow the stringer overlying the chamfer to flex towards the chamfer whereby to prevent the stringer from being nipped by the edges of the shields when the slider shields have been hinged apart.

8. A slider as claimed in claim 7, wherein the base of that slider shield which is remote from the operating member is chamfered.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,856,843 Bebel May 3, 1932 2,181,625 Mucci Nov. 28, 1939 2,227,766 Sico Jan. 7, 1941 2,526,653 Gerstman Oct. 24, 1950

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