Bottom end stop for a slide fastener, and a slide fastener comprising such a bottom end stop
A bottom end stop (10) for a slide fastener (1) is disclosed, which comprises a pair of stringer tapes (2) defining a gap (3) therebetween and provided, on their respective inner edges, with respective longitudinal rows of coupling elements (5). The bottom end stop (10) comprises a rivet member (11) and a corresponding backplate (12). The backplate (12) is provided with at least one through aperture (12a). The rivet member (11) has at least one integral protruding pin (11b) adapted to be engaged through said at least one aperture (12a) of the backplate (12) and to be permanently deformed beyond and against the backplate (12).
The entire disclosure of Italian Patent Application No. T02006A000659 filed on Sep. 15, 2006 is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a bottom end stop for a slide fastener including a pair of left and right stringer tapes with a gap defined therebetween and provided on their respective inner edges with respective longitudinal rows of coupling elements. More specifically, the present invention relates to a bottom end stop comprising first and second fastening plate members adapted to be fastened to the stringer tapes, one on each side of the slide fastener, adjacent the bottom end of said rows of coupling elements, astride the gap between the tapes, said plate members being connected with each other by at least one connecting member extending perpendicularly of the stringer tapes or in the direction crossing from a front side to a rear side of the stringer tapes.
2. Description of the Related Art
A bottom end stop of this kind is disclosed for instance in EP-0 110 346-A1. The bottom end stop disclosed in that document has a so-called “butterfly” structure and is made in one single piece of metal. With this prior art bottom end stop, weaknesses have been found because of the need to bend the wings of the stop when attaching it to the stringer tapes.
One object of the present invention is to provide an improved bottom end stop for a slide fastener which is free from the above-mentioned weaknesses.
SUMMARYThis and other objects are achieved according to the invention by a bottom end stop of the initially defined kind, characterised in that said first and second fastening plate members are a plate portion (11a) of a rivet member (11) and a backplate (12), respectively; the backplate (12) being provided with at least one through aperture (12a), the transverse connecting member (11b) being one integral protruding pin (11b) provided on the rivet member (11) and adapted to be engaged through said at least one aperture (12a) of the backplate (12) and to be permanently deformed beyond and against the backplate (12).
When a bottom end stop according to the present invention is attached to a slide fastener, pressure can be applied evenly to deform the pin or pins of the rivet member and there is no need to bend any portions of the fastening plate members thereof.
Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent form the detailed description which follows by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the annexed drawings, wherein:
In the drawings, reference numeral 1 indicates a slide fastener including a pair of left and right stringer tapes 2 having their respective opposed inner longitudinal edges. Between the opposed inner longitudinal edges there is defined a gap 3.
In the embodiment shown, on and along their respective inner edges the tapes 2 are provided with respective longitudinal reinforcing cords 4.
The inner edges of the tapes 2 are in a per se known manner provided with respective longitudinal rows of coupling elements 5, such as metal teeth or injection-moulded teeth.
A bottom end stop according to the present invention, generally indicated 10, is fastened to the stringer tapes 2 of the zipper, adjacent the bottom end of said rows of coupling elements 5.
The bottom end stop 10 comprises two originally separate and distinct members, i.e. a rivet member 11 and a corresponding backplate 12 (see in particular
In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the rivet member 11 comprises a plate portion 11a, having a longitudinally elongated, substantially rectangular shape. The plate portion 11a is provided on its inner surface with two integral protruding pins 11b. These pins 11b are arranged at a predetermined interval longitudinally of the plate portion 11a. On the other hand, the back plate 12 has an elongated, substantially rectangular shape, as the plate portion 11a of the rivet member 11. The back plate 12 has two through apertures 12a formed perpendicularly therethrough, and these through apertures 12a are arranged at a predetermined interval longitudinally of the back plate 12. The pins 11b of the rivet member 11 is inserted through the corresponding apertures 12a of the backplate 12 and engaged therewith so that the pins may not be pulled off the backplate 12. (See in particular
After passing through the through aperture 12a of backplate 12, the parts of the pins 11b of the rivet member 11 projecting beyond the backplate 12 are pressed against the backplate 12 for instance by beating and are thus plastically deformed. As an alternative, the pins 11b might be heat-deformable, so that the pins 11b have been deformed in such a manner that they will not be restored into the original shape permanently. With such deformation, the distal end of each pin 11b is enlarged radially thereof to provide a bulged outline or shape which is greater than the corresponding through aperture 12a, so that pins 11b are prevented from coming off the through apertures 12a.
Still referring to
Advantageously, the plate portion 11a of the rivet member 11 is also provided on its four corners with rows of sawteeth 13, which extend along the longitudinal grooves 11c longitudinally of the plate portion 11a. (See
Conveniently, the grooves 11c may each have at least one protruding ridge 11d extending transversely of the plate portion 11a in such a way to cross the rectangular groove 11c. Preferably, a plurality of protruding ridges 11d are provided at predetermined intervals longitudinally of the plate portion 11a. These protruding ridges 11d are adapted to bite the reinforcing cords 4 of the corresponding stringer tapes 2. However, it is not necessarily needed to provide ridges.
In the embodiment shown in
In the embodiment shown in
The outer surface of the rivet member 11 and/or that of the backplate 12 may be used to apply thereto a trade name or a trade mark or the like. The general shape of the member 11 and/or the backplate 12 may be varied in order to best accommodate a customer's desires for a particular logo.
Though in the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and described above the rivet member 11 is provided with grooves, sawteeth and protruding ridges at the same time, in general the rivet member might be provided with only one or more of said features. Furthermore, the sawteeth and the ridges, if at all present, might extend in any direction parallel to the plate portion of the rivet member.
With the construction as mentioned above, when a bottom end stop according to the present invention is attached to a slide fastener, pressure can be applied evenly to deform the pin or pins of the rivet member, and there is no need to bend any portions of the fastening plate members thereof. Therefore, the bottom end stop is very firm and will never be easily broken.
Although the description above contains many specificities, there should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention.
Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given.
Claims
1. A bottom end stop for a slide fastener comprising a pair of stringer tapes defining a gap therebetween and provided on their respective inner edges with respective longitudinal rows of coupling elements; the bottom end stop comprising first and second fastening plate members adapted to be fastened to the stringer tapes, one on each side of the slide fastener, adjacent the bottom end of said rows of coupling elements, astride the gap between the tapes; said plate members being connected with each other by at least one transverse connecting member; said first and second fastening plate members being a plate portion of a rivet member and a backplate, respectively; the backplate being provided with at least one through aperture, the transverse connecting member being one integral protruding pin provided on the rivet member and adapted to be engaged through said at least one aperture of the backplate and to be permanently deformed beyond and against the backplate.
2. A bottom end stop according to claim 1, wherein the rivet member has a plurality of integral protruding pins and the backplate has a corresponding plurality of through apertures.
3. A bottom end stop according to claim 1 or 2, for a slide fastener in which the inner edges of the stringer tapes are provided with respective longitudinal reinforcing cords, the plate portion of the rivet member in its face intended to be applied to the tapes being provided with a pair of parallel grooves adapted to receive and grip the reinforcing cords of the stringer tapes.
4. A bottom end stop according to claim 1, wherein the plate portion of the rivet member is provided with rows of sawteeth for gripping the stringer tapes.
5. A bottom end stop according to claim 1, wherein said rivet members is provided with at least one protruding ridge adapted to bite the reinforcing cord(s) of the stringer tape(s).
6. A slide fastener provided with a bottom end stop according to any of the preceding claims.
7. A slide fastener according to claim 6, wherein the backplate and the rivet member are fastened to the stringer tapes in such a way that the pin or pins of the rivet member extend through the gap between the stringer tapes.
8. A slide fastener according to claim 6, wherein the stringer tapes at their bottom ends are provided with at least one respective through aperture, and the rivet member has at least two integral pins engaged through said apertures of the tapes and the corresponding apertures of the backplate.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 14, 2007
Publication Date: Mar 20, 2008
Inventor: Morimasa Yoneoka (Prarolo (Vercelli))
Application Number: 11/901,257
International Classification: A44B 19/36 (20060101); A44B 19/24 (20060101);