AUTOMATIC LOCKING SLIDER FOR SLIDE FASTENER

Abstract

The invention relates to an automatic locking slider for a slide fastener, wherein: in the automatic locking slider, an auxiliary support groove 2b is further formed adjacent to a support groove 2a on a bottom side of a locking lever accommodation groove 2 on which a locking lever 3 is mounted, and an auxiliary support protrusion 3f is further formed on the inner side of a support protrusion 3a formed at the rear part of the locking lever 3; a top surface 3d is formed on an upper end of the support protrusion 3a such that a downwardly-curved part 5a formed at the back of a cover 5 contacts a top surface of the support protrusion of the locking lever, whereby the locking lever can be stably supported in the support groove of the accommodation groove.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an automatic locking slider for a slide fastener, and in particular to an automatic locking slider for a slide fastener which has features in that a locking lever accommodation part is formed at a central portion of a guide pillar which guide pillar upwardly protrudes from a central portion of an input port of a fastener engaging groove formed at a slider, and a locking protrusion is formed at a front end of the locking lever accommodation part, and a locking lever equipped with a support protrusion is formed at the opposite side, and a fixing cover is covered on the upper surface of the locking lever accommodation part, and a spring is disposed between the cover and the locking lever, by means of which elements the spring supplies pressure to the locking lever, so the locking protrusion is inputted into the fasteners for thereby locking the slider. The locking protrusion can be forced to separate from between the fasteners in such a way to hook a pulling tap on the upper groove of the locking protrusion and to pull forth the same for thereby unlocking the slider.

In addition, the present invention has features in that the locking lever, the locking lever accommodation groove, the fixing cover and the spring structure are improved, by means of which the slider can be more easily manufactured, and the locking lever can be supported stably in place, and the locking operations can be precisely performed, which results in less errors in operations.

BACKGROUND ART

The conventional automatic locking slider fastener has features in that a locking lever is installed by forming a locking lever accommodation part at a guide pillar installed at a central portion of a fastener engaging groove of a slider, and an upper surface of the accommodation part equipped with the locking lever is covered by a cover, and a spring is disposed between the cover and the locking lever. In this state, when a spring pressure is applied to the top of the locking lever, the locking lever moves downward, and the locking protrusion advances into between the fasteners, so the slider is locked. The slider can be unlocked in such a way that the pulling tap is pulled forth, and the locking protrusion is lifted up forcibly, and then the locking protrusion escapes from between the fasteners.

In the above mentioned conventional art construction, the locking lever does not have a stable operation because the locking lever accommodation groove in which to accommodate the locking lever and the support protrusion and the support groove of the locking lever do not fit precisely, and the construction of the locking lever installed on the inner surface of the slider looks complicated, which results in increased cost for molding. Besides the above problems, the support part of the locking lever is loosely engaged. When the slider is forced to move, the locking lever may rattle or may be distorted, which consequently leads to bad locking operations, so errors in operations increase accordingly.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an automatic locking slider for a slide fastener which improves the problems encountered in the conventional art in such a way to improve a locking lever disposed at a slider and a construction configured to support the locking lever.

To achieve the above objects, there is provided an automatic locking slider for a slide fastener which is constituted in such a way that an auxiliary support groove 2b is formed, in parallel to a support groove 2a, at the bottom of a locking lever accommodation groove 2 in which to accommodate a locking lever. An auxiliary support protrusion 3f is formed at an inner side of a support protrusion 3a formed at a rear end of the locking lever 3. An upper end surface 3d is formed at the top of the support protrusion 3a, so a downwardly bent piece 5a formed at a rear end of the cover comes into contact with the upper end surface 3d, so the locking lever can be stably supported in the support groove of the lever accommodation groove. At the inner side of the upper end surface 3d of the support protrusion are parallel formed a plate spring contact part 3e, which is formed in a protrusion shape, and a coil spring contact part 3g which is formed in a concave groove shape. When a plate spring is disposed on the inner surface of the cover, the lower end of the plate spring comes into contact with the plate spring contact part 3e. When a coil spring is disposed on the inner surface of the cover, the lower end of the coil spring comes into contact with the coil spring contact part, by means of which the elastic force of the locking lever can be transferred to the locking protrusion. An expansion part is formed at both sides of the opening part of the locking lever accommodation groove 2, and the cover is disposed between the support walls 2d and 2e formed at both sides of the expansion part, and the top of the support wall is inwardly bent, so the bent parts 2d′ and 2e′ come into close contact with the upper surface of the cover, for thereby fixing the cover. With this, the spring can work smoothly, and less errors in operations, and the assembling performance can be enhanced, and the productivity is also enhanced.

ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS

According to the present invention, besides the support groove 2a, the auxiliary support groove 2b is further formed at the bottom of the locking lever accommodation groove 2, and besides the support protrusion 3a, the auxiliary support protrusion 3f is further formed at the locking lever 3. With this, when the locking lever is inserted into the locking lever accommodation groove, the support protrusion 3a of the locking lever is inserted into the support groove 2a, and the auxiliary support protrusion 3f is inserted into the auxiliary support groove 2b. When the locking lever 3 is inserted into the locking lever accommodation groove, the insertion can be performed without any movements in all directions, so the front end of the locking lever can ascend and descend stable along the support groove 2a. In addition, at the top of the support protrusion 3a of the locking lever is formed the upper end surface 3d whose outer side is higher and whose inner side is lower. The lower end 5a′ of the downwardly bent piece 5a extending in the direction of the accommodation groove from one side of the cover 5 comes into contact, so with this it is possible to prevent the support protrusion from being lifted up in the support groove when the front end of the locking lever ascends. Therefore, the support protrusion 3a of the locking lever can be stably supported in the support groove 2a, so the upward and downward movements can be stable in place without using an additional support shaft. The plate spring 5b is formed at the bottom of the cover 5, so when it comes into contact with the top of the plate spring contact part 3e of the upper surface of the locking lever, the pressurization is performed so that the elastic force is transferred to the locking protrusion, whereby the front end of the locking lever can always keep the elastic force in the direction of the locking protrusion. As the locking protrusion 3b of the front end of the locking lever is inserted into between the fasteners, the elastic force can be maintained, and then the slider can be locked.

When the coil spring 6 is disposed at the bottom of the cover 5, the coil spring is disposed between the coil spring contact part 3g of the top of the locking lever 3 and the cover, so the elastic force is kept in the direction of the locking protrusion, whereby the locking protrusion 3b of the front end of the locking lever ascends and descends between the fasteners, for hereby locking the slider. When the locking protrusion of the front end of the locking lever is forcibly lifted up with the pulling tap, the plate spring 5b or the coil spring 6 is contracted, and the locking protrusion 3b of the front end of the locking lever escapes from between the fasteners, by means of which the unlocking operations of the slider can be obtained. When the pulling tap is not lifted up, the locking protrusion of the locking lever is inputted into between the fasteners, so the slider can be automatically locked. In the locking lever accommodation groove, the cover fixing part and the bent piece guide groove are formed in a shape of a cross section of an angle steel, so it is possible to fix the cover whose one end is bent in a shape of a cross section of an angle steel, which results in easier engagements of the cover.

When manufacturing the slider in the present invention, the opening part of the locking lever accommodation groove 2 is opened to its full, so the mould can be manufactured without any obstacle at the inner all, whereby the mould manufacture becomes easier, and the mould product can be cheap, so the manufacture does not cost a lot. The cover 5 can be made from an elastic material, and the downwardly bent piece 5a and the plate spring 5b can be integrated. In this case, the spring is not necessary. The coil 5 can be disposed between the cover and the coil spring contact part 3g of the locking lever 3, which construction helps easily install the cover, and the spring device can work to its full. The spring is disposed between the inner side of the cover and the locking lever for thereby supplying elastic force to the locking lever, so smooth and precise operations can be obtained. In the present invention, errors can be significantly reduced in the middle of the operations of the slide fastener, thus manufacturing the automatic locking slider.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an automatic locking slider for a slide fastener according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a disassembled perspective view illustrating an automatic locking slider for a slide fastener according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of an assembled state of FIG. 2.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are views illustrating operation states of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a plane view partially illustrating a slider according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating an automatic locking slider for a slide fastener according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a disassembled perspective view of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of FIG. 7.

FIGS. 9A and 9B are views illustrating operations state examples.

MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described. There is provided an automatic locking slider for a slide fastener which has features in that side walls 1b and 1c are formed at the heights corresponding to the height of a fastener in an upward direction from an outer surface of the bottom plate so that a Y-shaped fastener engaging groove is formed on an upper surface of a bottom plate 1a of a slider body, and inward wings 1b′ and 1c′ are formed facing each other in inward directions at the tops of the side walls, and a fastener engaging groove is formed so that the fasteners of both sides can be guided by the side walls and the inward wings, and

a locking lever accommodation groove 2 is formed in such a way that a guide pillar 1d extends in an upward direction from the center of the side of an input part of the fastener engaging groove, and its top and inner side portion are open at a central portion of the guide pillar, and a central wing 2e whose tip is sharp protrudes at the same height as the height of an inward wing of the fastener engaging groove in the direction opposite to an advancing direction of the slider at the inner side surface of the guide pillar, and a locking hole 1f is formed vertical in the direction of the fastener engaging groove on the upper surface of the central wing, and the locking lever 3 is inserted into the locking lever accommodation groove 2 of the guide pillar, and the locking lever support protrusion 3a is inserted into the support groove 2a of the locking lever accommodation groove, and a locking lever front end locking protrusion 3b enters into the side of the fastener via a locking hole 1f, and a connection groove 3h is formed at an inner side of the bent part of the locking lever which is exposed from the upper side of the locking hole, and a locking protrusion is manually lifted up with a connection ring 4a the pulling tap 4 and is pun down, and a cover 5 covers the upper side of the locking lever accommodation groove into which to receive the locking lever 3, and a spring is disposed between the cover and the locking lever, so the locking lever receives an elastic force of the spring, and the elastic force is kept in a downward direction, and when the locking protrusion of the locking lever is inputted into between the fasteners, the slider is locked, and the locking protrusion is forcibly escaped from between the fasteners by lifting up the locking protrusion with the pulling tap, so the slider can be unlocked,

the automatic locking slider for a slide fastener comprising:

• • a locking lever 3 which includes:
    • a beak-shaped bent part 3c made from an elastic steel plate with a certain thickness and forming a front end, a locking protrusion 3b formed at a lower side of the bent part;
    • a camel back-shaped support protrusion 3a formed in a locking protrusion direction opposite to where the locking protrusion is formed;
    • an upper surface 3d whose end is slightly lifted up at the top of the support protrusion and whose inner side is formed lower;
    • a plate spring contact part 3e which protrudes in a convex shape from an inner boundary of the upper surface;
    • a spring coil contact part 3g which is formed in a concave groove apart a certain interval from the plate spring contact part; and
    • an auxiliary support protrusion 3f which faces an auxiliary support groove 2b of the locking lever accommodation grove opposite to the coil spring contact part 3g;
  • a locking lever accommodation groove 2 which includes:
    • a support groove 2a which is formed at a central portion of a central wing 1e of a slider and has an insertion groove into which to receive in a vertical direction a locking lever with a width corresponding to the thickness of the locking lever, a support protrusion 3a and an auxiliary support protrusion 3f being inserted into the support groove 2a;
    • an auxiliary support groove 2b;
    • an expansion part 2c which is formed in a vertical direction at both sides of the top of the open part and whose upper surface is flat;
    • support walls 2d and 2e which are formed in upward directions from the outer most portion of the expansion part;
    • a cover fixing part 20 which serves to hide the open part by inserting the cover into between the support walls 2d and 2e;
    • a bent piece guide groove 2g which serves to fix the cover by closely contacting the bent parts 2d′ and 2e′ on the upper surface of the cover by bending inwardly the tops of the support walls which protrude over the upper surface of the cover by disposing the cover 5, the bent piece guide groove 2g being formed toward the support groove 2a from the end of the cover fixing part; and
    • a spring insertion groove 2h which is formed toward the auxiliary support groove 2b from the cover fixing part;
  • a cover 5 which is installed at the cover fixing part 20 and is made from an elastic metallic plate and is laminate-coated on the expansion part 2c of the top of the locking lever accommodation groove 2 and has a certain width long enough to be disposed between the support walls 2d and 2e formed at both sides of the expansion part and is formed in a shape of a cross section of an angle steel which forms the downwardly bent piece 5a toward the support groove 2a from an end portion, the downwardly bent piece being inserted into the bent piece guide groove 2g; and
  • a pressurization spring which is formed of a coil spring 6 provided separately from the cover and disposed between the bottom of the cover 5 and the coil spring contact part 3g of the top of the locking lever 3 and a plate spring 5b which protrudes from the bottom of the cover to be inputted into the locking lever accommodation groove 2 from the central portion of the bottom of the cover, the pressurization spring being selected from the plate springs which come into contact with the plate spring contact part 3e formed at the top of the locking lever,
  • with these the locking protrusion 3b can be manually lifted up or down as the connection ring 4a of the pulling tap 4 is engaged to the connection groove 3h of the inner side of the beak shaped bent part 3c of the front end of the locking lever 3.

Claims

1. An automatic locking slider for a slide fastener which has features in that side walls 1b and 1c are formed at the heights corresponding to the height of a fastener in an upward direction from an outer surface of the bottom plate so that a Y-shaped fastener engaging groove is formed on an upper surface of a bottom plate 1a of a slider body, and inward wings 1b′ and 1c′ are formed facing each other in inward directions at the tops of the side walls, and a fastener engaging groove is formed so that the fasteners of both sides can be guided by the side walls and the inward wings, and a locking lever accommodation groove 2 is formed in such a way that a guide pillar 1d extends in an upward direction from the center of the side of an input part of the fastener engaging groove, and its top and inner side portion are open at a central portion of the guide pillar, and a central wing 2e whose tip is sharp protrudes at the same height as the height of an inward wing of the fastener engaging groove in the direction opposite to an advancing direction of the slider at the inner side surface of the guide pillar, and a locking hole 1f is formed vertical in the direction of the fastener engaging groove on the upper surface of the central wing, and the locking lever 3 is inserted into the locking lever accommodation groove 2 of the guide pillar, and the locking lever support protrusion 3a is inserted into the support groove 2a of the locking lever accommodation groove, and a locking lever front end locking protrusion 3b enters into the side of the fastener via a locking hole 1f, and a connection groove 3h is formed at an inner side of the bent part of the locking lever which is exposed from the upper side of the locking hole, and a locking protrusion is manually lifted up with a connection ring 4a the pulling tap 4 and is pun down, and a cover 5 covers the upper side of the locking lever accommodation groove into which to receive the locking lever 3, and a spring is disposed between the cover and the locking lever, so the locking lever receives an elastic force of the spring, and the elastic force is kept in a downward direction, and when the locking protrusion of the locking lever is inputted into between the fasteners, the slider is locked, and the locking protrusion is forcibly escaped from between the fasteners by lifting up the locking protrusion with the pulling tap, so the slider can be unlocked, comprising:

a locking lever 3 which includes: a beak-shaped bent part 3c made from an elastic steel plate with a certain thickness and forming a front end, a locking protrusion 3b formed at a lower side of the bent part; a camel back-shaped support protrusion 3a formed in a locking protrusion direction opposite to where the locking protrusion is formed; an upper surface 3d whose end is slightly lifted up at the top of the support protrusion and whose inner side is formed lower; a plate spring contact part 3e which protrudes in a convex shape from an inner boundary of the upper surface; a spring coil contact part 3g which is formed in a concave groove apart a certain interval from the plate spring contact part; and an auxiliary support protrusion 3f which faces an auxiliary support groove 2b of the locking lever accommodation grove opposite to the coil spring contact part 3g;

a locking lever accommodation groove 2 which includes: a support groove 2a which is formed at a central portion of a central wing 1e of a slider and has an insertion groove into which to receive in a vertical direction a locking lever with a width corresponding to the thickness of the locking lever, a support protrusion 3a and an auxiliary support protrusion 3f being inserted into the support groove 2a; an auxiliary support groove 2b; an expansion part 2c which is formed in a vertical direction at both sides of the top of the open part and whose upper surface is flat; support walls 2d and 2e which are formed in upward directions from the outer most portion of the expansion part; a cover fixing part 20 which serves to hide the open part by inserting the cover into between the support walls 2d and 2e; a bent piece guide groove 2g which serves to fix the cover by closely contacting the bent parts 2d′ and 2e′ on the upper surface of the cover by bending inwardly the tops of the support walls which protrude over the upper surface of the cover by disposing the cover 5, the bent piece guide groove 2g being formed toward the support groove 2a from the end of the cover fixing part; and a spring insertion groove 2h which is formed toward the auxiliary support groove 2b from the cover fixing part;

a cover 5 which is installed at the cover fixing part 20 and is made from to an elastic metallic plate and is laminate-coated on the expansion part 2c of the top of the locking lever accommodation groove 2 and has a certain width long enough to be disposed between the support walls 2d and 2e formed at both sides of the expansion part and is formed in a shape of a cross section of an angle steel which forms the downwardly bent piece 5a toward the support is groove 2a from an end portion, the downwardly bent piece being inserted into the bent piece guide groove 2g; and

a pressurization spring which is formed of a coil spring 6 provided separately from the cover and disposed between the bottom of the cover 5 and the coil spring contact part 3g of the top of the locking lever 3 and a plate spring 5b which protrudes from the bottom of the cover to be inputted into the locking lever accommodation groove 2 from the central portion of the bottom of the cover, the pressurization spring being selected from the plate springs which come into contact with the plate spring contact part 3e formed at the top of the locking lever, with these the locking protrusion 3b can be manually lifted up or down as the connection ring 4a of the pulling tap 4 is engaged to the connection groove 3h of the inner side of the beak shaped bent part 3c of the front end of the locking lever 3.