Abstract: A strap guide is made of synthetic resin and comprises a wing integral with a hollow rectangular frame or strap body, the wing having a plurality of needle-penetratable portions spaced from one another at equal intervals for the passage therethrough of a sewing needle. The wing includes a plurality of parallel spaced ribs and the needle-penetratable portions are defined between two adjacent ones of the ribs. Each rib has a pair of sidewalls converging toward each other for guiding the sewing needle into an adjacent one of the needle-penetratable portions when the needle is thrust in.

Abstract: A slide fastener comprises discrete coupling elements each having a pair of upper and lower coupling portions disposed one on each side of the plane of a stringer tape. The upper coupling portion has an arcuate head and a reduced neck integral therewith and complementary in shape thereto, the neck being defined by a pair of recesses. The lower coupling portion has a pair of substantially triangular shoulders extending laterally in opposite directions over the recesses beyond the width of upper and lower legs extending from the neck away from the head. Each shoulder is defined by an angled sidewall blending at one end with the lower leg adjacent to a corresponding one end of the sidewall of the neck and intersecting the opposite end of the neck's sidewall.

Abstract: A coupling element of a slide fastener stringer has a pair of integral upper and lower coupling portions having different shapes and engagable with the lower and upper coupling portions of adjacent coupling elements on a co-operating like stringer. The upper coupling portion has a side surface including a flat abutment surface extending perpendicularly to a stringer tape across the thickness of a longitudinal edge portion of the stringer tape. When lateral pulling forces are applied to the coupled stringers, areas on the abutment surfaces of the interdigitating coupling elements take up such forces and prevent the stringers from separation.

Abstract: A buckle assembly comprises a socket and a plug which are made of synthetic resin and which can be assembled together. The socket includes an attachment for connection to one end of a belt, and a pair of hooks extending from the attachment, the hooks having a pair of locking bodies spaced from each other by a gap, respectively, and a pair of arms integral therewith and having a pair of first recesses opening away from each other. The plug has a base, an attachment extending therefrom for connection to an opposite end of the or another belt, and a retainer extending from the base, the retainer having a pair of spaced studs and a pair of holes disposed between the studs and the base and defining therebetween an insert and a pair of legs extending between the studs and the base. The legs have a pair of second recesses opening away from each other.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing slide fastener elements from a metal strip by press working, each element comprising a head portion and a pair of spaced leg portions extending rearwardly from the head portion is disclosed. The head portion includes on each side of the top and bottom surfaces thereof a first projection extending substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the leg portions and a pair of second projections each extending from near one end of the first projection to rearward.

Abstract: The slider for a slide fastener of the invention has a locking device as built in the front half portion thereof with a key hole open upward, and a support member for a pull tab is composed of upright leg portions standing at or near the rear and the front ends of the slider body, one of the leg portions positioned at or near the front end being provided with a key guide leading to the keyhole of the locking device and an arm spanned between the leg portions. With this construction of the locking device and the support member for the pull tab, advantages are obtained that the slider body is raised always at the leading end of it by pulling the tab obliquely so that the sliding movement of the slider receives no resistance by the depression of the leading end onto chain element rows and that the placement of a key in the key hole is not hampered regardless of the position of the pull tab.

Abstract: A slide fastener comprising a box-and-pin separable coupling and an automatically locking slider. The slider has a locking member pivoted at one end on the slider body and having first and second legs formed adjacent its other end in side-by-side disposition. The first leg of the locking member is normally spring-biased into a position of interference with the pin-side row of fastener elements when the slider is riding on both rows of fastener elements, and the second leg is disposed opposite to the box-side row of fastener elements. When the slider is moved into abutting contact with the box member of the separable coupling, the second leg of the locking member rides onto a protuberance formed on the guide bar of the box member, so that the first leg of the locking member is retracted from its interference position against the bias of the spring to permit smooth insertion of the pin member of the separable coupling into the box member through the slider.