Abstract: A slide fastener stringer with coupling elements molded on inner edge portions of a tape has connecting portions molded through openings formed in the tape between upper and lower leg portions molded on the upper and lower sides of the tape. The openings in the tape are formed by displacement of tape material in the tape and setting of at least a portion of the displaced tape material in regions adjacent each of the openings to maintain the openings during the molding.

Abstract: A slide fastener guide assembly is disclosed for aligning a workpiece, a slide fastener and a strip of backing material as they are fed into a sewing machine. The assembly includes a base with an attached guide member having fingers that bear against the mounting tapes and align the slide fastener by laterally engaging the coupling elements. To allow a slidered fastener to pass through the assembly, the guide member is sufficiently flexible that the fingers may be displaced upward by a slider passing thereunder.

Abstract: Flypieces are fed by a conveyor to a sewing station in a sewing machine which is operated by a sensor mounted a spaced distance in front of the sewing station to sew the flypieces to a slide fastener chain. The linear rate of feed of the flypieces by the conveyor is slower than the linear rate of feed of the flypiece and slide fastener chain through the sewing station by the sewing machine, and operation and termination of the sewing machine in response to the sensor is delayed so that uniform spacing is produced between flypieces sewn on the slide fastener chain.

Abstract: One or more inner bands are employed to cooperate with an outer band and a cavity wheel or inner molding member wherein portions of the inner band or bands together with the outer band and the cavity wheel or inner molding member are utilized to continuously form the cavities for continuously molding articles. The inner band or bands are employed to form core members, intermediate cavity wall portions, and/or stripping members for the molding cavities.

Abstract: A coupling element for a slide fastener has a grooved head adapted to receive tongues of opposed elements to prevent lateral shifting of the elements. The tongues, as well as tapes embedded in the elements, are upwardly offset from the center of the elements so that the top edges of the tapes, the tongues and the grooves are coplanar. Flat abutment surfaces at the rear of the head absorb transverse loads and stabilize the fastener.

Abstract: In a slide fastener employing coupling elements secured within folds of supporting tapes by clamps secured over the folds, clamp legs are formed with raised land areas and lips for cooperating with flange edges and upper surfaces of bases of the elements, and the inside surfaces of heels of the clamps are formed flat for cooperating with bottom surfaces of the elements to accurately position the elements relative to the clamps. Reduced thickness of the junctions between legs and heels relative to the thickness of central portions of the legs and heels produces corners receiving displaced tape material from between the raised land areas of the legs and the outer edges of flanges of the coupling element as well as from between the bottom surfaces of the bases of the coupling elements and the flat inner surfaces of the heels.

Abstract: A bag with an elongated opening formed at one end thereof is opened and closed by means of a slide fastener having its respective tapes attached to the respective sides of the opening. Means, such as a rippable line of stitches, a low peel adhesive on an inner portion of one tape, etc., is provided to hold the bag closed and prevent tension on the coupling elements of the slide fastener during shipping and storing of the bag and its contents.

Abstract: A reclosable bag has elongated opening means adapted to be permanently opened with a slide fastener having support tapes secured to the bag on respective opposite sides of the opening means for forming a closure over the opening means once the opening means have been permanently opened.

Abstract: Flypieces are fed individually to a feeding mechanism which automatically feeds the flypieces to a sewing machine where the flypieces are automatically serged and sewn to a tape of a continuous slide fastener chain. Subsequently the flypiece is folded back away from the slide fastener chain, and the chain is gapped and cut simultaneously with the application of a bottom stop on a common base assembly.

Abstract: Heels of leg portions of thermoplastic coupling elements are welded to the opposite sides of a polymer film tape leaving an edge portion of the tape between diverging inside surfaces of the leg portions spaced from the welds.

Abstract: An apparatus for folding and forming a continuous train of slide fastener coupling element bodies into a train of coupling elements includes a rotating forming disc against which the coupling element bodies are fed. The train is held on the forming disc for a portion of the disc rotation by a pair of flexible discs which clamp the leg portions of the bodies against the sides of the forming disc. After rotation through a portion of the forming disc circumference, the flexible discs are cammed outwardly and the train of coupling elements is pulled from the discs.

Abstract: A slide fastener installation is disclosed in which the trains of coupling elements are adhesively mounted on the article into which the slide fastener is to be installed without the use of mounting tapes. In making this installation, the interlocked trains of elements are mounted on the fabric before a slit is made in the fabric to provide an opening to be closed by the slide fastener.

Abstract: Slide fastening elements mounted on longitudinal connecting and supporting means woven in the edge of a supporting tape with pluralities of loops of weft thread segments passing around the connecting and supporting means between the fastening elements, are removed by cutting the connecting and supporting means on opposite sides of each fastening element of a group of the fastening elements to be removed, and pivoting the group of fastening elements and severed ends of the connecting and supporting means about an axis extending parallel the tape and spaced from the tape and the connecting and supporting means to pull the group of fastening elements and severed ends of the connecting means from the weft thread loops.

Abstract: Protruding head portions of coupling elements are removed from a selected section of a slide stringer, and a reinforcing tape is applied to the selected section by means including a movable holder for clamping the stringer on opposite sides of the selected section. The holder is restricted to movement along track means for guiding and aligning the holder with two or more stations, such as a gapping station, a reinforcing tape applying station and a trimming station.

Abstract: A woven stringer for a slide fastener has reinforcing projections integral with molded coupling elements. The reinforcing projections extend only along upper connecting threads of four spaced connecting threads upon which the coupling elements are molded to permit free compressing and flexing of the lower connecting threads.

Abstract: In performing operations on a continuous slide fastener chain at spaced locations therealong, the slide fastener chain is incrementally advanced to successively advance the spaced locations to an operating station. The chain is advanced from a reel which is braked only when a loop of maximum size is sensed in a loop forming mechanism. Tension is relieved in the slide fastener stringer by means of a continuously rotating capstan which will grip the slide fastener stringer to advance the chain and overcome inertia of the reel.

Abstract: A snap fastener component strip is disclosed as including a series of like square plastic components interconnected by molded plastic portions which are reinforced by continuous polymer monofilaments embedded in the components to provide a strong, flexible strip of components particularly suited to handling by automatic machinery. A method of molding such strips is also disclosed.