Abstract: Deposition of a hard film of Ti-Si-N composite material on a substrate is carried out by using a source of evaporation possessing a composition of Ti.sub.a Si.sub.b (wherein "a" and "b" stand for atomic percentages respectively falling in the ranges of 75 at % .ltoreq.a.ltoreq.85 at % and 15 at %.ltoreq.b.ltoreq.25 at %, providing a+b=100 at %). Deposition is effected by a sputtering process or ion plating process in an atmosphere of an inert gas containing a nitrogen-containing reaction gas while controlling the feed rate of the reaction gas into a chamber in such a manner that the partial pressure of nitrogen is kept constant or varied continuously or stepwise. By this method there can be obtained a film having fine TiN crystalline particles uniformly dispersed in the matrix phase of Ti-Si amorphous metal or a film of functionally gradient structure in which the ratio of fine TiN crystalline particles dispersed in the matrix phase increases continuously or stepwise in the direction of thickness of the film.

Abstract: An automatic winding machine for automatically and certainly guiding and sticking not only one flexible tape-like article, but also a plurality of flexible tape-like articles on desired spool peripheral surface. While adhesive portions of one or more double-sided adhesive tapes fed in parallel are cut to every predetermined length, a separated paper is wound for a predetermined length. The severed adhesive portions of the predetermined length are stuck onto the back surfaces of the leading ends of the one or more tape-like articles. Individual leading ends of the tape-like articles on which the adhesive tapes are respectively stuck, are gripped by grippers and moved through the guide member to the winding spool. Thereafter, the leading ends of the tape-like articles are pressed and stuck onto the peripheral surface of the winding spool to wind automatically the tape-like articles for every predetermined length on the winding spools.

Abstract: A buckle comprising a plug having a base plate and a pair of resilient arms extending forward from the base plate; each arms having a coupling hook; a socket including a pair of upper and lower walls to define therebetween a chamber for receiving the arms and a pair of coupling lugs mounted in the chamber; as inserted into the chamber, the arms being first compressed laterally thereof by the lugs against its own resiliency and, after the coupling hooks pass beyond the respective lugs expanded under its own resiliency to bring the coupling hooks into coupling engagement with the coupling lugs; and a lock member mounted in the chamber so as to reciprocally move between a locking position and an unlocking position; the lock member comprising two or first or second pairs of locking members, each locking member in each pair being opposed to the other locking member, respectively, in said each pair; the lock member resiliently fitted in an elongated aperture of the upper wall, with the first and second locking memb

Abstract: An organic solid electrolyte and an electrochromic device using the electrolyte are disclosed. The organic solid electrolyte comprises in combination a monosaccharide represented by the general formula: (CH.sub.2 O)n wherein n is an integer of 5 to 7, or a derivative thereof, as at least part of a substrate, and a salt. The electrochromic device is manufactured by interposing the organic solid electrolyte between a transparent electrode having an electrochromic substance deposited thereon and a counter electrode.

Abstract: An automatically locking slider for slide fasteners is formed from a moldable plastics material and provided with an integral multi-leg locking structure including a spring portion, a locking prong portion and an anchoring portion. The spring portion is relatively short in length and has at one of its ends a bulged or ball-like projection extending outwardly beyond the region of the locking prong portion for abutting engagement with the inner wall of a cap.

Abstract: A decorative pull tab adapted for being pivotally connected to a slide fastener slider body and for fastening a decorative piece thereto. The decorative pull tab comprising a ring pivotally connected to the slider body and a pull tab body including a pair of first and second clamping plates and a hinge joint joining the first and second plates, the pull tab body being folded over itself on the hinge joint, with the ring pivotally connected to the hinge joint and with the decorative piece clamped between the first and second clamping plate.

Abstract: A slide fastener tape comprising: a tape body portion having a double-layer woven structure; a surface cloth woven of a plurality of yarns, which are dyeable in different degrees with a single dye, so as to form a pattern; and a lining cloth woven of yarns, which are dyeable with a dye different from the first-named dye in such a manner that said yarns dyeable with the latter dye are exposed on the majority of the outer surface of said lining cloth. On the surface cloth, the pattern is dyed in tints of the same color. On the lining cloth, a polychromic pattern is created.

Abstract: In a separable bottom end stop assembly for a concealed slide fastener, a socket member has first- and second-plug-member insertion holes on opposite sides of a central catch plate, and an engaging tongue projecting inwardly from one side wall. When a first plug member is inserted into the socket member, a locking portion on one side of a lower end of the first plug member comes into locking engagement with the catch plate and an engaging portion on the other side of the lower end of the first plug member comes into engagement with the engaing tongue. With continued inserting of the first plug member, an inwardly directed hook-shape end of an engaging projection extending from an upper end of the socket member comes into engagement with an engaging recess in a rear wall of a slider.

Abstract: In a loom, a carrier drive shaft supporting the carrier at one end horizontally, is vertically mounted on the loom frame, and the carrier drive shaft and a reed drive shaft are linked by a link via a pivotal member. With this arrangement, the carrier drive shaft will not undergo at least vertical vibration so that influence due to vibration of the reed during the inserting of the weft yarn can be reduced to a minimum, thus sharply minimizing chances that the latch needle fails to catch the weft yarn.

Abstract: A ball chain for interior decoration, sprocket drive or the like which includes a connecting mechanism in the form of a wire or yarn, a multiplicity of chain balls secured in place at equally spaced intervals along a length of the connecting mechanism, and a coupling interposed between adjacent chain balls. A splicing mechanism provided for splicing the ball chain includes a socket having a cavity dimensioned to receive the coupling.

Abstract: Deposition of a hard film of Ti--Si--N composite material on a substrate is carried out by using a source of evaporation possessing a composition of Ti.sub.a Si.sub.b (wherein "a" and "b" stand for atomic percentages respectively falling in the ranges of 75 at %.ltoreq.a.ltoreq.85 at % and 15 at %.ltoreq.b.ltoreq.25 at %, providing a+b=100 at %). Deposition is effected by a sputtering process or ion plating process in an atmosphere of an inert gas containing a nitrogen-containing reaction gas while controlling the feed rate of the reaction gas into a chamber in such a manner that the partial pressure of nitrogen is kept constant or varied continuously or stepwise.

Abstract: A superplastic aluminum-based alloy material consisting of a matrix formed of aluminum or a supersaturated aluminum solid solution, whose average crystal grain size is 0.005 to 1 .mu.m, and particles made of a stable or metastable phase of various intermetallic compounds formed of the main alloying element (i.e., the matrix element) and the other alloying elements and/or of various intermetallic compounds formed of the other alloying elements and distributed evenly in the matrix, the particles having a mean particle size of 0.001 to 0.1 .mu.m. The superplastic aluminum-based alloy material is produced from a rapidly solidified material consisting of an amorphous phase, a microcrystalline phase or a mixed phase thereof by optionally heat treating at a prescribed temperature for a prescribed period of time and then subjecting to a single or combined thermo-mechanical treatment. The superplastic aluminum-based alloy material of the present invention is suited for to superplastic working.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for manufacturing surface fastener bands having opposite end portions provided with mating multiple fastener elements including a pair of grippers for moving the opposite end portions into a joining station for joining together to form a single band, and an endless belt conveyor having a continuous surface fastener tape applied on an upper surface thereof, and a pressing roller for pressing one of the end portions of the surface fastener band to the conveyor for transporting the band downstream to a packing station or further station.

Abstract: A cloth composed of first and second threads, the first threads being dyeable by a first dye and being much more exposed on a front surface of the cloth than a back surface thereof, the second threads being not dyeable by said first dye and dyeable by a second dye and being much more exposed on the back surface than the front surface.

Abstract: A slide fastener comprises a pair of stringer tapes, a pair of rows of interdigitating fastener elements mounted on the inner longitudinal marginal edges of the respective stringer tapes, and a slider for reciprocally movable along the fastener element rows to bring the fastener element rows into or out of interdigitating engagement with each other and a bottom stop mounted on the lower end of the element rows to stop the descent of the slider. The slide fastener also includes a terminal latch member mounted on the fastener element rows at their upper end for letting the slider move therebeyond and coupling the respective one ends of the fastener element rows to each other to thus maintaining the fastener element rows into interdigitating engagement with each other.

Abstract: In a slide fastener to be attached to an opening such as of the front part of a garment, the front surface of the slide fastener tape is dyed in the same color and pattern as a front cloth of the garment 1 while the back surface of the tape is dyed in the same color and pattern as a lining cloth of the garment. If it is attached to the opening of the garment, the slide fastener does not stand out even when the front part of the garment is opened.

Abstract: A slider for slide fasteners which comprises a slider body with a guide channel, a shielding bracket slidably mounted thereon, a locking member interposed between the slider body and the bracket having a locking prong movable into and away from the guide channel and a spring member normally biasing the locking member into abutting engagement with the shielding bracket. The shielding bracket is generally U-shaped with spaced upper and lower arms 24 and 25 slidably received in guide grooves 19 and 30, respectively, formed in the slider body. A pull tab is pivotally connected to the shielding bracket for manipulating the slider to open and close a slide fastener. The locking member is completely shielded by the bracket against exposure from the slider body.