Abstract: A coil-shaped fastener element is sewn to a fastener tape without using a core string. An upper leg portion of the fastener element has a first upper surface continued from a connecting portion and contacting a sewing thread, and a second upper surface extending and sloping upward from the first upper surface via a bent portion. A height dimension between a top end surface and the bent portion of the upper leg portion is 20% or larger of a height dimension of the fastener element. The upper leg portion has a first lower surface which is sloped to be apart from the fastener tape toward a coupling head portion, and the upper leg portion has an element contacting portion in an area of the first lower surface. Thereby, cost reduction of the slide fastener can be attained, and the fastener element can be prevented from passing through the sewing thread and exiting.

Abstract: According to various implementations, a flame-resistant and heat-resistant fastener chain includes a pair of left and right fastener tapes and a pair of left and right continuous fastener elements. Each fastener tape includes a facing tape side edge that faces the facing tape side edge of the other fastener tape. The left continuous fastener element is coupled to the left fastener tape adjacent the facing tape side edge of the left fastener tape and the right continuous fastener element is coupled to the right fastener tape adjacent the facing tape side edge of the right fastener tape. Each continuous fastener element includes a coiled monofilament that includes a high temperature polymer. In some implementations, the continuous fastener element includes a cord around which the coiled monofilament is wrapped.

Abstract: A slide fastener tape member includes a tape body and a core string portion disposed at a tape side edge portion of the tape body along a length direction. The core string portion is formed by fixing a string member at the tape side edge portion along the length direction by machine sewing. The string member is fixed linearly such that at least one thread used for machine sewing crosses while contacting an outer peripheral surface of the string member without being pierced by a needle thread of machine sewing. Thus, since the core string portion can be easily provided by fixing the string member to the tape body having desired properties at a later stage, the value-added tape members can be easily manufactured at a relatively low cost.

Abstract: A rib fixation plate is provided that is can have one or more locking rib hooks that can translate and rotate independently from one another. The one or more locking rib hooks translate and rotate when in an unlocked conformation and are secured from translation and rotation when in a locked conformation. The plate includes a first end and a second end opposite of the first end, the second end having a housing assembly configured to receive a rod. The rod can be secured to a vertebra with a pedicle screw.

Abstract: A bone hook apparatus is provided that includes a base, a rod receptacle disposed on a proximal side of the base, a first hook distally extending from the base and oriented in a first direction, and a second hook distally extending from the base and oriented in a second direction opposing the first direction, the first hook and second hook together configured to receive the bone. Kits and spinal constructs employing the bone hook apparatus are also described.

Abstract: A rotational connector insertable into a surgical incision onto a top of a pedicle screw in a first orientation and rotated into a second orientation to engage a primary fusion rod. The rotational connector may include a revision rod coupled to one end thereof.

Abstract: There is provided a slide fastener. A pair of fastener element rows are respectively sewn to opposing tape side edge portions of a pair of fastener tapes with sewing threads. Each of the fastener element rows has a plurality of fastener elements. A slider is configured to engage and disengage the pair of fastener element rows. The pair of fastener tapes and the pair of fastener element rows are colored in different colors. The slide fastener is used such that the fastener element rows are at a back side. A width dimension of a gap between the pair of fastener tapes is set to be 10 to 25% of a width dimension of the pair of fastener element rows that are engaged with each other. The color of the fastener element rows is visible through the gap from a front side of the slide fastener.

Abstract: The present application discloses an implantable device for spinal treatment or stabilization. The device includes a spinal rod support and gripping jaws. The gripping jaws operate between an opened position and a closed position to grip and release a first spinal rod implanted into a patient. The spinal rod support includes a perimeter structure having an interior cavity and passage to connect a second spinal rod to the device to operably connect the first and second spinal rods through the implantable device to form a spinal stabilization structure.

Abstract: A fastener element for slide fasteners where the color and pattern change diversely with viewing angle. A coiled fastener element for slide fasteners that is to be furnished on a fastener tape, wherein the fastener element is provided with an engagement head, an upper leg, a lower leg, and inverting part for connecting the upper leg with the lower leg; a coating comprising at least one light-transmissive layer is formed on at least the upper leg; and the thickness of the light-permeable layer is formed so as to decrease gradually from the approximate top of the upper leg to the fastener tape side and so that the layer thickness near the top is at most about 50-1500 nm.

Abstract: There is provided a slide fastener. Each of a pair of fastener element rows is a coil-shaped fastener element row made of synthetic resin. Each of fastener elements includes an engaging head section, a first leg section and a second leg section. The first and second leg sections protrude from the engaging head section and extend parallel to each other. The first leg section comes in contact with the corresponding fastener tape and the second leg section does not come in contact with the corresponding fastener tape. The first leg section is colored in a color different from those of the fastener tapes and the second leg section. The color of the first leg section is visible through a gap between the pair of fastener tapes.

Abstract: There is provided a slide fastener. Each of a pair of fastener element rows is a coil-shaped fastener element row made of synthetic resin. Each of fastener elements includes an engaging head section, a first leg section and a second leg section. The first and second leg sections protrude from the engaging head section and extend parallel to each other. The first leg section comes in contact with the corresponding fastener tape and the second leg section does not come in contact with the corresponding fastener tape. The first leg section is colored in a color different from those of the fastener tapes and the second leg section. The color of the first leg section is visible through a gap between the pair of fastener tapes.

Abstract: A double sided nylon sandwich mesh fabric zipper and slider assembly includes coil strips being left handed and right handed plastic coils each having a center cord and a series of interlocking teeth, each tooth having a tooth head and a tooth body so configured that the tooth heads are respectively interlockable with the tooth heads of the teeth of the coil strips at the other zipper tape. The slider has C-shaped guide grooves to guide locking and unlocking positions horizontal movement of the teeth of the upper and lower coil strips, and a balance guide block configured to match with the configuration of the tooth heads, facilitating accurate alignment between the left and right teeth of the upper and lower coil strips and assuring smooth engagement and disengagement of the interlocking teeth.

Abstract: A slide fastener in which a fastener element has first and second leg portions continuously disposed at both ends of the coupling head is folded in half at its center, and the first leg portion is attached to a coupling element attaching portion of a fastener tape by a sewing thread. A vulnerable portion which is cut out into a V is formed on the bent end face of the coupling head.

Abstract: A stretchable fastener stringer for a slide fastener includes a fastener tape having a tape main portion and an element attaching portion and a continuous fastener element which is attached to the element attaching portion. The fastener tape has stretchability due to an elastic yarn being combined by weaving or knitting and the fastener element includes a coupling head, upper and lower leg portions which are extended from the coupling head and a connecting portion which connects the upper and lower leg portions, therebetween of adjacent fastener elements. In this fastener stringer, a value of a bulging ratio which is the ratio between a dimension of the coupling head in the tape longitudinal direction and a dimension of the upper and lower leg portions in the tape longitudinal direction is set to be larger than 1.80 and not larger than 2.33.

Abstract: A coil zipper structure for elongating the life time of the conventional zipper that includes a first coil and a second coil, wherein the first coil and the second coil are respectively formed by linking plural engaging rings, and each engaging ring has a teeth portion for mutual engagement; and a sliding element, mounted between the first coil and the second coil for separating or engaging the engaging rings, wherein the engaging ring has an upper edge portion and a lower edge portion, in which the lower edge portion is fixed on a base cloth and the upper edge portion has a strengthened flat surface. Since the upper edge portion of the engaging ring is the strengthened flat surface, the collision or pulling and dragging between the sliding element and the upper edge portion can be reduced, so as to elongating the life time of the zipper.

Abstract: Both sides of a fastener chain may be reinforced and an attachment object such as a bag or a case may be mounted in a stabilized condition. A reinforcement member, which is molded of thermoplastic resin, thermoplastic elastomer or synthetic rubber in the form of a turned-down U shape in its cross section and has an appropriate plasticity and flexibility, is bonded along both outer sides of a fastener chain with a thermal welding resin film. The reinforcement member has a mounting groove which enables a cloth of the attachment object such as the bag or the case to be mounted and further contains a concave groove for a sewing thread, provided in the surface thereof. The cloth of the attachment object is inserted into the mounting groove and sewed along the concave groove with a sewing thread. Consequently, the reinforcement member can be mounted simply in a stabilized condition and can ensure a long term use.

Abstract: A nylon zipper has two fastener structures. Each fastener structure has a plurality of nylon gripper elements. Each nylon gripper element has at least one side including a concave portion. A seaming wire for seaming the zipper to a cross strip is embedded in the concave portion. Thereby when pulling a pull head, the seaming wire will not rubber the cross strip. Moreover, a threaded rod device of a nylon zipper comprises two parallel threaded rods. Each threaded rod has threads. One of the threaded rod has a plurality of tips arranged in recesses between each two threads for forming concave portions and convex portions on nylon gripper elements of the fastener structures of the nylon zipper at the same time.

Abstract: There is provided a knit-in slide fastener in which a continuous fastener element row is knitted simultaneously with the knitting of a warp knitted fastener tape at a fastener element mounting portion on a longitudinal side edge portion of the fastener tape. Since a yarn composed of ordinary long fibers, or a textured yarn is employed as a fixing knitting yarn for the fastener element mounting portion, even if a sewing needle is pierced into the textured yarn, the fixing knitting yarn is never cut off because the sewing needle passes through a number of fibers which compose the textured yarn. Further, even when part of the fibers are cut off, no fraying occurs in the yarns, so that the fastener element row at the cut off portions does not separate from the fastener tape.

Abstract: A zipper with multiple and alternate colors comprises a core and a plurality of zipper teeth. The core has multiple and alternate colors by printing, color transferring or color coverage. The pigmented core is subjected to a color fixing process.

Abstract: A zipper with multiple and alternate colors comprises a core and a plurality of zipper teeth. The core has multiple and alternate colors by printing, color transferring or color coverage. The pigmented core is subjected to a color fixing process.

Abstract: String core-free invisible zipper structure including a pair of zipper belts and zipper teeth windingly extended and continuously lengthwise sewn along the inward folded edge of each zipper belt. Each zipper tooth has an upper and a lower leg sections and a head section. The gap between the upper and lower leg sections of the zipper tooth is gradually converged from the head section of the zipper tooth to the heels of the upper and lower leg sections, whereby the extensible tolerance of the connecting section between the upper and lower leg sections of adjacent zipper teeth is reduced and the deformation of the zipper teeth caused by lateral pull is reduced. Therefore, the zipper teeth have sufficient buckling strength and the possibility of disengagement of the zipper teeth is minimized. Therefore, the string core passing through the zipper teeth is no more necessary for reinforcing the anti-pull strength of the zipper teeth.

Abstract: String core-free invisible zipper structure including a pair of zipper belts and zipper teeth windingly extended and continuously lengthwise sewn along the inward folded edge of each zipper belt. Each zipper tooth has an upper and a lower leg sections and a head section. The gap between the upper and lower leg sections of the zipper tooth is gradually converged from the head section of the zipper tooth to the heels of the upper and lower leg sections, whereby the extensible tolerance of the connecting section between the upper and lower leg sections of adjacent zipper teeth is reduced and the deformation of the zipper teeth caused by lateral pull is reduced. Therefore, the zipper teeth have sufficient buckling strength and the possibility of disengagement of the zipper teeth is minimized. Therefore, the string core passing through the zipper teeth is no more necessary for reinforcing the anti-pull strength of the zipper teeth.

Abstract: A coil-shaped fastener element is comprised of a coupling head bulging to both sides, upper/lower leg portions adjacent the coupling head and a connecting portion for connecting the upper and lower leg portions. With providing a stepped portion in a center of the upper leg portion, a portion of the fastener element on a side of the coupling head is formed thick while a portion thereof on a side of the connecting portion is formed thin. A coupling space is provided between the upper and lower leg portions. A protruded portion protruded into the coupling space is provided in a back of the stepped portion of the upper leg portion. A slope portion is formed such that the coupling space is expanded from an inside of an upper portion of the coupling head to a base portion of the protruded portion.

Abstract: A fluidtight zip fastener includes a pair of fluidtight zip fastener carrying tapes each having a base tape with a soft covering layer. Sewn to each carrying tape is in an offset position a continuous coupling member row. A zip fastener slider is provided for transferring the zip fastener carrying tapes into an open and closed position. The slider has lower and upper plates and a slider wedge interconnecting the plates. A guide border is shaped in a central area of the slider wedge. For increasing the sealing action of the zip fastener in an end position of the slider, the interconnected two ends of the zip fastener carrying tapes are provided with a dimensionally more confined and consequently an overpressing-ensuring elastomer guiding the slider over its guide border shaped onto the slider wedge.

Abstract: A double-layer water-proof zipper in which the slide has an additional second interlocking unit moved with the slide to close a water-proof layer so as not to let rain pass through the interlocked teeth of the zipper tape unit of the zipper. The water-proof layer includes two water-proof tapes, the water-proof tapes each having two longitudinally extended parallel grooves and two longitudinally extended protruding portions respectively raised along said parallel grooves at one side for interlocking.

Abstract: A zip-fastener in which the hollow lower face of each of the interlocking teeth, which are directly molded on the zipper tapes, has two recessed retaining portions at two opposite vertical lateral sides, top and bottom transverse thread grooves disposed at top and bottom sides and respectively connected between the recessed retaining portions, and stitches are sewn on zipper tapes around the recessed retaining portions and transverse thread grooves of each tooth to fixedly secure the teeth to the zipper tapes.

Abstract: An improved water resistant slide fastener and method of producing a water resistant zippered seam is disclosed. A thin and flexible water resistant coating is employed on the inside and outside surfaces of the stringer tapes of the slide fastener to eliminate water penetration therethrough. Once the slide fastener is attached to a garment or other article, a water resistant seam sealing tape employing a compatible adhesive is then installed over the attachment means of the stringer tape to protect further against water penetration. The zipper of the present invention is flexible and comfortable to wear, while being fully effective at preventing unwanted water penetration without the need for costly and cumbersome additional barrier layers.

Abstract: The present invention provides fastener elements for use in a slide fastener in which, regardless of the quality of material, a metallic coating layer having an excellent adhesiveness and 0.001 to 1.0 .mu.m in thickness is simply and easily formed on the surface of a fastener element member so that the surface thereof gives out the luster of metal. The surface of the metallic coating layer may further be formed at least thereon with a finishing coat layer. In the present invention, there is further provided a slide fastener having a light weight and flexibility in which such a fastener element member as being made synthetic resin having the luster of metal on the surface thereof.

Abstract: A sliding clasp fastener having woven supporting tapes and woven-in prefabricated rows of interlocking members each formed helically from a plastics monofilament, in which the interlocking members, seen in a projection on the plane of the sliding clasp fastener, have limbs superimposed on at least the interlock side, interlocking heads protruding beyond the edges of the supporting tapes, an inserted core and attachment sections. Each row of interlocking members is attached to the top face of its supporting tape by binding chain threads engaging the interlock side of each interlocking member and at least one wrapping thread engaging the attachment sections and the core and attaching them to the supporting tapes. The binding chain threads are crossed over between successive interlocking members. The wrapping threads pass around the binding chain threads in a loop between successive interlocking members.

Abstract: A slide fastener comprises a reinforcement strip fixed to at least one surface of each stringer tape of nonwoven sheet material along its one longitudinal edge to which a row of coupling elements is attached by sewing stitches. The stringer tape is made of thermoplastic synthetic resin, and the reinforcement strip comprises a film of thermoplastic synthetic resin fused with or otherwise bonded to the stringer tape so as to form a reinforced longitudinal edge of the stringer tape. The reinforced longitudinal edge has an increased mechanical strength for protection against forces tending to tear apart the stringer tape along the sewing stitches. The reinforcement strips jointly have a transverse width larger than the width of a slider to protect the stringer tape from being worn away due to frictional engagement with a slider during use of the slide fastener.

Abstract: A sliding clasp fastener comprising a pair of support tapes carrying rows of coupling elements thereon and a slider adapted to couple and uncouple the rows of elements. The elements are formed from a plastic monofilament into a continuous spiral or meander formation. The monofilament is provided with a multiplicity of indents arranged to extend longitudinally thereof, the indents being filled with a lubricative agent.

Abstract: A fluid-tight slide fastener comprises a pair of slide fastener halves each including a support tape, a row of continuous coupling elements extending longitudinally along the inner edge of the tape on one side thereof, and an elastomeric sealing member overlying the other side of the tape. The tape has a longitudinal ridge substantially defining the inner edge and supporting the row of coupling elements laterally longitudinally by means of stitching threads. A portion of the threads is disposed adjacent to the ridge to prevent the latter from moving remotely from the coupling elements row for thereby supporting the ridge intimately enough to ensure the abuttment of opposed sealing edges of the tapes when the fastener halves are coupled together.

Abstract: A separable slide fastener comprises a pair of stringer tapes each carrying on its inner longitudinal margins a row of coiled filamentary coupling elements sewn to the respective inner tape margin with a core thread extending through each of the coiled coupling element rows, and a separable bottom-end-stop assembly mounted adjacent to the bottom ends of the opposed tapes. The bottom-end-stop assembly includes a pair of separate pin members attached by clinching to the respective inner tape margins at bottom end portions thereof, which portions are devoid of coupling elements, and a socket member secured to one of the pin members and having a bore for receiving a portion of the other pin member. Each of the other pin member has a longitudinal channel receiving the element-free bottom end portion of the respective inner tape-margin. Before attachment of the pin members, the bottom end portion of each inner tape-margin is trimmed or shaped along its inner edge that projects inwardly from the core thread.

Abstract: A separable slide fastener comprises a pair of stringer tapes, a pair of rows of continuous coupling elements of thermoplastic synthetic resin sewn to the tapes, along respective inner longitudinal edges, and a separable terminal assembly located at a lower end of the coupling element rows. Connectors of the endmost ones of the coupling elements located adjacent to pins of the terminal assembly are fused with the respective stringer tapes, the pins each having a pair of opposite plates disposed one on each side of the respective stringer tapes. In order to prevent the displacement of the endmost coupling elements, one of the plates extends beyond the other plate to overlie each said fused endmost connector, the other plate terminating short of the fused endmost connector.