Including Complementary, Aligning Means Attached To Ends Of Interlocking Surfaces Patents (Class 24/433)
  • Publication number: 20080040901
    Abstract: A slide fastener with a separable bottom end stop, which can be handled easily by everyone and closed or separated easily. The slide fastener with a separable bottom end stop includes a slider through which fastener element rows of a pair of right and left fastener tapes pass; and a separable bottom end stop including a fitting body provided on one of the fastener tapes and a pivot stopper body provided on the other fastener tape and being capable of engaging with the fitting body. The pivot stopper body has a pivot stopper portion which is capable of rotatably engaging with the fitting body by fitting the fitting body in the pivot stopper portion from a side portion of the pivot stopper body and capable of rotatably engaging with the fitting body by inserting the fitting body in the pivot stopper portion through an element guide passage from a shoulder mouth of the slider.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2007
    Publication date: February 21, 2008
    Inventor: Naoyuki Himi
  • Patent number: 7320158
    Abstract: A fastener has a pair of fastener tapes (1a, 1b) and two rows of individual magnetic elements (2a, 2b) mounted on the opposed inner longitudinal edges (7a, 7b) of the two fastener tapes (1a, 1b) at a predetermined interval. Each magnetic element (2a) mounted on one fastener tape (1a) is adapted to be fit between and cling to two mating magnetic elements (2b) mounted on the other fastener tape (1b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsuya Deto, Eiji Gonda, Toshitaka Inohara, Miyuki Kirita, Kosuke Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7210202
    Abstract: A reverse-separating device for a slide fastener, comprises a retainer pin 5, a separable pin 6 both made of metal and a reverse-separating slider 3. Each of the retainer pin 5 and the separable pin 6 is of a U-shaped cross-section and has a slit 18 formed along its front edge. At the lower end of the slit 18, the retainer pin 5 projects rearward beyond the slit 18 to thus provide a loop-like stopper 22 for engagement with the flange 31 of the reverse-separating slider 3. Once the retainer pin 5 is inserted into the reverse-separating slider 3, the retainer pin 5 is firmly retained by three parts of the reverse-separating slider 3. The separable pin 6 has a projecting ledge 28 formed on the upper end the projecting fin 27 so as to project laterally therefrom. The projecting ledge 28 of the separable pin 6 is adapted to abut against the upper end of the projecting fin 25 of the retainer pin 5 and thus prevent the separable pin 6 from moving further into the reverse-separating slider 3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshikazu Hamada
  • Patent number: 7150080
    Abstract: A concealed type slide fastener comprises two fastener tapes having their opposed edges folded thereon; two rows of fastener elements mounted on the folded edges; a top end stop mounted a fastener element row; and a slider movable along the element rows. The slider 1 has a slider body and a guidepost mounted on the body to define therewith a guide channel through which the element rows run. The guidepost has a sliding surface formed on each side and an overhanging element-guiding portion extending from the upper end of the sliding surface. The concealed type slide fastener further includes means for preventing contact between the element-guiding portion and a corner of the top end stop which faces the element-guiding portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2006
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventor: Youhei Kaetsu
  • Patent number: 7137177
    Abstract: Coil-like or zigzag-like linear fastener elements formed of synthetic fiber mono-filaments are attached such that coupling heads project from a side edge of a fastener tape and at least one coupling head thereof located at a top end is moved to the inside of the fastener tape so as to substantially coincide with the side edge. Then, the fastener element is fused to the fastener tape in a state in which an inverted portion project inwardly while the coupling heads are in a non-coupling condition, so as to form a top end stop. The top end stop formed of the linear fastener element includes plasticity and provides an excellent tactile feeling without any burr on the surface thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventors: Osamu Fujii, Minoru Uno
  • Patent number: 7036191
    Abstract: A lower stop of a zipper comprises a male stop formed by a lower portion and a high portion. An upper inner side of the lower portion has a downward hook and an upper top of the hook has a recess. One side of the recess has a stopper. A lower end of the downward hook is formed with an inclined groove; and a female stop has a buckle at an upper portion thereof and a block-like embedded seat at a lower portion thereof. An inner lateral wall of a top of the buckle is an upward protrusion and an upper side of the upward protrusion has cambered slot. An embedded groove penetrates through the embedded seat. An inner lateral wall of the embedded seat has a sliding groove which is communicated with the embedded groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Inventor: Chang-Wen Tsaur
  • Patent number: 6931707
    Abstract: A device is designed to facilitate operation of a separable slide fastener having a pair of stringers, respectively carrying first and second rows of interlocking elements, the rows respectively terminating at a stop member and a lug, the fastener including at least one slider moveable along the first row and having an aperture therethrough alignable with an aperture in the stop member when the slider is disposed in a terminal position. The device includes a handle and retention structure receivable in an aligning position in the apertures when the slider is in or is moved to its terminal position and engageable with the slider and the stop member to hold the slider in its terminal position so that the user does not have to manually do so during insertion of the lug into the apertures to join the stringers. When the lug is inserted it displaces the retention structure from the apertures. Several embodiments of the device are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Inventor: Richard A. Lathrop
  • Patent number: 6865782
    Abstract: A slide fastener in which an insert pin and a box pin of a separable bottom stop assembly made of synthetic resin are molded integrally along side edges of fastener tapes. The insert pin and the box pin have peripheral shapes allowing themselves to be inserted into element row guide grooves of a slider, and are molded integrally such that the entire insert pin and the box pin incline toward rear face sides of the respective tapes from their inner side edges to outer side edges relative to tape planes of the fastener, said rear face sides having no core threads of the core portions. Thus, resin layers having substantially even thickness can be formed on both the front and rear face sides of the core portions so that the resin layers never peel away from rear surfaces of the fastener tapes, and the core portions and their peripheries never become brittle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventors: Shigeyoshi Takazawa, Osamu Igarashi
  • Patent number: 6851162
    Abstract: A reinforcement tape is stuck to an outer front surface of a fastener tape and a fastener element removed portion at a space portion, in which fastener elements are removed and to which the separable bottom end stop of the concealed type slide fastener, for example, a insert pin or the like is attached, by ultrasonic welding. The reinforcement tape may be, for example, a tape whose front surface is made of a thermoplastic elastomer film while its rear surface is made of hot melt adhesive agent. At the same time of the above sticking, an edge portion is formed into a U shape and its surface is reinforced and then, the insert pin or the like is attached to this portion. The fastener tape itself does not come into contact with a diamond of a slider, even if outer face of the U-shaped edge portion comes into sliding contact with the diamond, so the fastener tape is protected from being worn or damaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2005
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Yuki, Osamu Igarashi
  • Patent number: 6826810
    Abstract: The separable bottom end stop assembly has male and female members engageable with and releasable from each other in a front-to-back direction thereof. A slide plate of the male member has an engagement leg portion projected therefrom, while a sliding plate of the female member has an engagement hole. Sliding surfaces are respectively formed at peripheries of the engagement leg portion and the engagement hole of the slide plates. Each of the slide surfaces is formed with steep incline surfaces and a gentle incline surface. With the cam mechanism, when the male member and the female member are pressed from both surfaces thereof, an insert plate disposed at one of the male member and the female member is automatically guided to an inside of the slider held by a holding portion disposed at the other of the male member and the female member, which simultaneously causes the slider to start moving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Ichikawa, Miyako Tamura
  • Patent number: 6826809
    Abstract: A separable bottom end stop for a slide fastener comprising a box, a box pin, and an insert pin. Protruding guide portions which protrude onto respective fastener tapes are integrally molded with respective side faces at tape-sides of the box pin and the insert pin via thin guide portions. The separable bottom end stop is formed of polyacetal resin, and a distance d between each outer side face of the box and each of the protruding guide portions and a protrusion height h of each of the protruding guide portions from a surface of each of the thin guide portions when the box pin and the insert pin are mounted into the box satisfy the equation (I): tan−1(d/h) ≧33°, where d≠0. The separable bottom end stop becomes hard to be broken with having excellent durability, despite using polyacetal resin which allows various coloring achieved easily, but is easy to be broken.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventors: Shigeyoshi Takazawa, Mitsugu Umino, Tomiyoshi Takano
  • Publication number: 20040205942
    Abstract: A lower stop of a zipper comprises a male stop formed by a lower portion and a high portion. An upper inner side of the lower portion has a downward hook and an upper top of the hook has a recess. One side of the recess has a stopper. A lower end of the downward hook is formed with an inclined groove; and a female stop has a buckle at an upper portion thereof and a block-like embedded seat at a lower portion thereof. An inner lateral wall of a top of the buckle is an upward protrusion and an upper side of the upward protrusion has cambered slot. An embedded groove penetrates through the embedded seat. An inner lateral wall of the embedded seat has a sliding groove which is communicated with the embedded groove.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2003
    Publication date: October 21, 2004
    Inventor: Chang-Wen Tsaur
  • Patent number: 6775885
    Abstract: A two way open-end zipper formed of two zipper tapes, left and right top stops, a plug pin and a fixed pin and two slides is disclosed in which the fixed pin has a first upright sidewall, a second upright sidewall, a longitudinal sliding way defined between the first and second upright sidewalls for the passing of the slides during installation of the slides, and a springy hook projected from the first upright side wall into the longitudinal sliding way and adapted to stop the slides in place when the slides moved downwards along the zipper tapes to the lower limit position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Inventor: Lien-Chou Wang
  • Patent number: 6742226
    Abstract: In a slide fastener made of fabric having a stopper portion composed of thermoplastic synthetic resin material, the fastener tape contains a rough-pattern-structure region at least adjacent to a side of the fastener element row on an inner side of the fastener tape. An end portion of the stopper portion on the inner side of the fastener tape is disposed in the rough-pattern-structure region and fused to a foundation structure of the fastener tape in the rough-pattern-structure region. Thus, even if the length of the stopper portion in the tape width direction is short, the stopper portion does not interfere with a sewing machine foot during sewing, so that the sewing line does not meander even at the position near the fastener element row. Further, the end portion of the stopper portion can be fused and fixed to the foundation structure of the rough-pattern-structure region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshio Matsuda, Yoshifumi Nakata
  • Patent number: 6721999
    Abstract: Disclosed is a device for creating a seal which includes an upper seal member, a lower seal member, and a slider, wherein mating surfaces of the upper and lower seal members interlock. A lifting rib on the slider cooperates with a lifting wing on the upper seal member and a closure bar cooperates with a closure bar groove of the lower seal member. By moving the slider in one direction, the lifting rib lifts the upper seal member from its interlocking relationship with the lower seal member. Moving the slider in the opposite direction causes the upper and lower seal members to interlock. Also disclosed is a seal device which includes upper and lower seal members and a cooperating slider and plug. Each of the slider and plug cooperate with first and second mating surfaces of the upper and lower seal members. In addition, the slider and plug have an exterior tongue and groove portion which cooperate to interlock the slider and the plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Absolute Closure Innovations, Inc.
    Inventor: Ben Meager
  • Patent number: 6686005
    Abstract: An end termination for use with a reclosable polymeric bag comprises providing a mixture comprising from about 70 to about 95 wt. % of a polyolefin, from about 5 to about 25 wt. % hydrocarbon, from about 0.01 to about 2 wt. % mold release agent, from about 0.1 to about 1 wt. % primary antioxidant, and at least about 0.06 wt. % secondary antioxidant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Pactiv Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas A. White, Nathan A. Kolovich, Edwin Jackson-Kuofie
  • Patent number: 6663283
    Abstract: A plastic bag comprises opposing body panels fixedly connected to each other along a pair of sides and a bottom bridging the pair of sides. A reclosable zipper extending along a mouth portion formed opposite the sealed bottom of the plastic bag. The zipper is preferably free of graspable upper pull flanges in order to best accommodate a slider and inhibit operation of the zipper without the slider. The slider is mounted to the zipper for movement between a closed position and an open position. The zipper is closed while the slider is in the closed position. The zipper is opened in response to movement of the slider to the open position. To inhibit tampering with the contents of the bag, the bag includes a tamper-evident feature. In one set of embodiments, the tamper-evident feature initially maintains the slider in the closed position and allows the slider to move away from the closed position toward the open position in response to removing or breaking the tamper-evident feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: Pactiv Corporation
    Inventor: Craig E. Cappel
  • Patent number: 6662410
    Abstract: A fastener arrangement includes a fastener, a slider, and an injection-molded end stop. The fastener includes first and second tracks. The first track includes a first profile, and the second track includes a second profile for interlocking with the first profile. The fastener extends between first and second ends. The slider is slidably mounted to the fastener for movement between the first and second ends. The injection-molded end stop is located at at least one of the first and second ends. The end stop terminates the movement of the slider at the one of the first and second ends. The end stop includes interior plastic material disposed in an interior of the fastener between the first and second profiles. The one of the first and second ends includes a cut edge at an angle relative to an axis of the fastener extending between the first and second ends. The end stop may include exterior plastic material along an exterior of the fastener outside the first and second profiles and covering the cut edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: Pactiv Corporation
    Inventors: Nathan A. Kolovich, Russell J. Talbo, Joseph W. Eye, William F. Klepser, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20030213106
    Abstract: The separable bottom end stop assembly has male and female members engageable with and releasable from each other in a front-to-back direction thereof. A slide plate of the male member has an engagement leg portion projected therefrom, while a sliding plate of the female member has an engagement hole. Sliding surfaces are respectively formed at peripheries of the engagement leg portion and the engagement hole of the slide plates. Each of the slide surfaces is formed with steep incline surfaces and a gentle incline surface. With the cam mechanism, when the male member and the female member are pressed from both surfaces thereof, an insert plate disposed at one of the male member and the female member is automatically guided to an inside of the slider held by a holding portion disposed at the other of the male member and the female member, which simultaneously causes the slider to start moving.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2003
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Ichikawa, Miyako Tamura
  • Publication number: 20030213107
    Abstract: A slide fastener having a separable bottom end stop is provided, which comprises a high quality reinforcement piece in which flexibility thereof is improved and there is no stripping or breakage of the reinforcement piece. Reinforcement pieces overhanging on front surfaces of fastener tapes are provided on side faces of the box pin and insert pin. Each reinforcement piece comprises an inclined portion which is formed in a substantially triangular shape overall toward an outer side edge close to a lower end of each fastener tape. An edge portion of the inclined portion is formed as a slope portion, which slopes gently toward a front surface of the fastener tape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2003
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Applicant: YKK Corporation
    Inventors: Hisayoshi Mizuhara, Yukio Sanada, Kiyomasa Segawa, Isamu Kumano
  • Patent number: 6634066
    Abstract: In a upper stopper device for a slide fastener having a cross section of a substantially U shape, which is adapted to be attached continuously to a fastener element row of a stringer capable of being engaged with or separated from each other, an end portion of the upper stopper device opposite to the fastener element row is formed with a widened portion, which abuts against wing plates at a shoulder opening of a slider into which the stringer is inserted so that the slider can stop. Further, a caulking portion is formed in a range between the widened portion and at an end portion side toward the fastener element row. The slider abuts against the widened portion of the upper stopper device attached to the stringer so that it reliably stops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventors: Yozo Okada, Futoshi Kozato, Yusuke Meiwa
  • Patent number: 6630236
    Abstract: In a reinforcing tape for a slide fastener, which comprises a transparent elastomer film and an adhesive layer superposed on the reverse side thereof, an intermediate layer (an anchor coat layer) having a thickness thinner than the thickness of the elastomer film and that of the adhesive layer is interposed between the elastomer film and the adhesive layer. In a preferred embodiment, a polyamide elastomer film or polyester elastomer film is the elastomer film, a polyester anchor coat agent is the intermediate layer, and a polyester hot-melt adhesive is the adhesive layer. The thickness of the intermediate layer is 0.5 to 10 &mgr;m, preferably 2 to 3 &mgr;m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2003
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventors: Kozo Watanabe, Shigeru Funakawa
  • Patent number: 6618911
    Abstract: A bottom open-end type invisible zipper. The zipper includes a first zipper tape and a second zipper tape. The zipper tapes each having a respective series of teeth longitudinally disposed at an inner side for interlocking. A first plug member a second plug member are respectively fixedly fastened to the zipper tapes and longitudinally connected to one end of the series of teeth at the respective zipper tape. A movable bottom-end piece slidably is coupled to the first zipper tape, and the movable bottom-end piece includes a receiving chamber adapted to receive the first plug member and the second plug member in parallel. An escape-preventive structure is adapted to stop the movable bottom-end piece from falling out of the first zipper tape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Inventor: Roger C. Y. Chung
  • Patent number: 6615458
    Abstract: This invention provides a releasable bottom end stop for slide fastener which allows an insert pin thereof to be operated smoothly on being inserted into a semi-automatic/automatic stop slider. A slope for raising a locking pawl of an automatic or a semi-automatic stop mechanism provided on a slider when the insert pin is inserted into an inverse-opening type slider or an ordinary slider is provided obliquely so as to extend from a front end of the surface of an insert pin to a proximal end thereof. Additionally, a concave portion whose inlet is inclined for holding the locking pawl is provided over this slope. The inverse-opening slider is fitted in a stringer on a box pin side and another slider is also fitted such that it comes into contact with a top of the inverse-opening slider. If the insert pin disposed on another stringer is inserted with this condition, the locking pawl is raised by the slope so that the insert pin can be inserted smoothly and held in a stable condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventors: Shigeyoshi Takasawa, Satoshi Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 6604262
    Abstract: A method for 3-D engagement of a fastener, in which fastener teeth of two fastener strips received in different height-level within slider can be engaged together in the same plan by the siding action of slider. The present invention also discloses a separate-type fastener enabling 3-D engagement, comprising first and second fastener strip each of which has a plurality of equi-distance fastener teeth alternately arranged on each of two opposed long substrates respectively so that a plurality of projecting portions and recesses with corresponding shape, which can engage with the recesses and projecting portions of opposite strip, are formed on the side edge walls of fastener teeth on each of first and second fastener strips respectively, a slider having front and rear end wherein inlet ports at high-level and low-level are formed respectively at different heights of the front end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Inventor: Shih-Chang Wang
  • Publication number: 20030140465
    Abstract: A reinforcement tape is stuck to an outer front surface of a fastener tape and a fastener element removed portion at a space portion, in which fastener elements are removed and to which the separable bottom end stop of the concealed type slide fastener, for example, a insert pin or the like is attached, by ultrasonic welding. The reinforcement tape may be, for example, a tape whose front surface is made of a thermoplastic elastomer film while its rear surface is made of hot melt adhesive agent. At the same time of the above sticking, an edge portion is formed into a U shape and its surface is reinforced and then, the insert pin or the like is attached to this portion. The fastener tape itself does not come into contact with a diamond of a slider, even if outer face of the U-shaped edge portion comes into sliding contact with the diamond, so the fastener tape is protected from being worn or damaged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2003
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventors: Kenji Yuki, Osamu Igarashi
  • Patent number: 6591464
    Abstract: A zipper slide is constructed to include a slide, the slide having a front recessed hole, a rear through hole, and stop means in the front recessed hole, a hook plate, the hook plate having a front fulcrum positioned in the front recessed hole and a wedged rear hook for inserting into the rear through hole to engage the interlocking teeth of zipper tapes to which the slide is fastened, a elastic member adapted to force the hook plate into the front through hole, a pull-tab coupled to the hook plate, and a locating plate stamped into the front recessed hole to hold the elastic member and the hook plate in place, the locating plate having protruded portions engaged with the stop means of the slide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Inventor: Yu-Pau Lin
  • Publication number: 20030115725
    Abstract: A separable bottom end stop for a concealed slide fastener, wherein reinforcement portions for reinforcing bent edge portions of a fastener tape are molded integrally with a box pin and a separable pin using resin, such that the reinforcement portions are swollen from a top surface of the tape, while the reinforcement portion on the box pin side is formed such that a bottom end thereof is in the same plane as the box pin. A front end of the reinforcement portion on the separable pin side has a protruded portion being protruded in parallel to the separable pin and a box has an L-shaped engaging portion and a contact portion provided on a surface thereof. When the box pin is inserted into and fixed to the box and the separable pin is inserted into the box, the protruded portion makes contact with the engaging portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2002
    Publication date: June 26, 2003
    Inventors: Satoshi Matsumoto, Kenji Yuki, Shigeyoshi Takazawa, Youhei Kaetsu
  • Patent number: 6519826
    Abstract: A water-tight and gas-tight zip fastener with a sealing port and a method for forming the same provides a zip fastener made of plastic in which preferably spirals in a spiral zip fastener are injection molded with a thermoplastic elastomer which forms a continuously contoured coating, bearing directly on the contiguous edges of the zip fastener strips, and when the zip fastener is closed, the coatings are under compression and form a contiguous seal with each other and to the zip fastener slide to prevent undesirable gas and water penetration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Inventor: Hartmut Ortlieb
  • Patent number: 6510595
    Abstract: A concave row and a convex row of a meshing slide fastener are molded of resin having plasticity. The convex row has a terminal end where slider guide portions for guiding a slider are removed. A convex-row-meshing portion of the convex row is inserted through a side of the slider so as to be engaged with a concave-row-meshing portion of the concave row. An engaging device including a female fastening member and a male fastening member is attached to terminal ends of the concave row and the convex row. In operation, the female fastening member of the engaging device on a side of the convex row is engaged with the male fastening member of the engaging device on the side of the concave row.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventors: Hideyuki Matsushima, Hiroshi Mori
  • Patent number: 6502285
    Abstract: An immobile and aligned closure system with nine embodiments comprises two elongated coupling elements (62, 62L) and (76, 76I), a self-locking slider (40, 42, 42S, 42D), a socket member (50), and a male interlocking plug member (60, 60D, 61, 84). A locking member on the slider aligns and arrests the movement of the slider, so as to couple the closure system dependably, traditionally or laterally, without movement in the slider. Embodiments include a dead person's locking pull tab (42L, 43L), a locking tab holder (44), a locking pull tab (40T), additional molding (40M, 40E 42M), locking flanges (42R, 42F, 42), and a releasable, interlocking rigid buckle for instantly coupling the closure system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Inventor: Alice Mary Kiely
  • Patent number: 6481068
    Abstract: An inclined slope face portion is formed on a top face of a box member. This slope face portion has a downward gradient from a side wall of a box-pin-insertion hole up to a side wall of an insert-pin-insertion hole. The insert pin is inserted into the box member in which the box pin is inserted and fixed in a box-pin-insertion hole thereof. Then, when a rear end portion of a slider is brought into contact with the box member, the slider is inclined relative to the box member. Although conventionally, the insert pin was inserted into the insert-pin-insertion hole of the box member from just above the box member, this invention allows the insert pin to be inserted obliquely from above the box member. Therefore, the insertion operation can be carried out smoothly and easily. Thus, the slider is disposed in an inclined posture relative to a box member of the separable bottom stop assembly so as to achieve a smooth operation for inserting the insert pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventor: Shigeyoshi Takasawa
  • Publication number: 20020129470
    Abstract: An immobile and aligned closure system with nine embodiments comprises two elongated coupling elements (62, 62L) and (76, 76I), a self-locking slider (40, 42, 42S, 42D), a socket member (50), and a male interlocking plug member (60, 60D, 61, 84). A locking member on the slider aligns and arrests the movement of the slider, so as to couple the closure system dependably, traditionally or laterally, without movement in the slider. Embodiments include a dead person's locking pull tab (42L, 43L), a locking tab holder (44), a locking pull tab (40T), additional molding (40M, 40E 42M), locking flanges (42R, 42F, 42), and a releasable, interlocking rigid buckle for instantly coupling the closure system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2001
    Publication date: September 19, 2002
    Inventor: Alice Mary Kiely
  • Patent number: 6442804
    Abstract: A reclosable fastener assembly includes first and second elongated closure elements that are engageable to form a seal. A slider is slidable relative to the closure elements between an open position and a closed position and is adapted (i) to engage the closure elements to one another when moved across the closure elements toward the closed position and (ii) to disengage the closure elements from one another when moved across the closure elements toward the open position. The slider carries a first partial indicator. A second partial indicator is located relative to the closure elements so as to complement the first partial indicator to form a visual indicator when the slider is in the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: S. C. Johnson Home Storage, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert R. Turvey, Douglas A. Soller, Jeffrey J. Christensen, Douglas P. Gundlach
  • Publication number: 20020116798
    Abstract: In a upper stopper device for a slide fastener having a cross section of a substantially U shape, which is adapted to be attached continuously to a fastener element row of a stringer capable of being engaged with or separated from each other, an end portion of the upper stopper device opposite to the fastener element row is formed with a widened portion, which abuts against wing plates at a shoulder opening of a slider into which the stringer is inserted so that the slider can stop. Further, a caulking portion is formed in a range between the widened portion and at an end portion side toward the fastener element row. The slider abuts against the widened portion of the upper stopper device attached to the stringer so that it reliably stops.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2002
    Publication date: August 29, 2002
    Applicant: YKK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yozo Okada, Futoshi Kozato, Yusuke Meiwa
  • Patent number: 6438806
    Abstract: A slide structure for zipper comprises a slide body and a tab. The slide body has a top plate and a bottom plate, and the top plate and the bottom plate are connected by a connection part. Two sliding grooves are formed between the top plate and the bottom plate and on both sides of the connection part. The top plate of the slide body has two pivotal stages arranged along the lengthwise direction. The pivotal stage each has a pivotal groove at the center part thereof and the pivotal stage has a clamping cover. The pivotal end of the tab is engaged into the pivotal stage and clamped by the clamping cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Inventor: Yu-Pau Lin
  • Patent number: 6427295
    Abstract: According to the fastener chain, method and apparatus for forming ends thereof, coil-shaped fastener elements as linear fastener elements are attached and sewed to side edge portions of a pair of fastener tapes with sewing yarns as fixing yarns while a core thread is inserted through the fastener elements. The coil-shaped fastener elements are cut off at leg portions, each of which is in contact with the fastener tape, at ends of the fastener elements, so that cut end portions are formed. These cut end portions are pushed inward of the side edge portions, and then, the leg portions and inverted portions thereof are fused to the fastener tapes by heating. As a result, a form of each end of the fastener elements is stabilized, so that the resultant slide fastener is good in safety.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: Ykk Corporation
    Inventors: Masao Matsumoto, Kazuki Kuse, Hideo Shimai, Mitsuru Yamakawa
  • Patent number: 6421887
    Abstract: This invention provides a bottom end stop for a slide fastener in which an engaging/disengaging operation can be achieved easily and quickly without an interruption by a slider pull tab while engaging/disengaging the bottom end stop. A joining piece is attached to the bottom of one stringer and a fitting piece is attached to the bottom of the other stringer. The joining piece includes a holding portion that includes an insertion concave groove, a base portion formed on the holding portion, and a male engaging portion comprising a pair of elastically deformable leg portions provided on the base portion. The fitting piece includes a insertion portion which can be fit into the insertion concave groove of the joining piece, a base portion provided on the insertion portion, and a female engaging portion comprising a hole portion, in which the leg portions of the male engaging portion can be fit, provided on the base portion of the fitting piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Oda, Koji Yamagishi
  • Publication number: 20020088097
    Abstract: A slide structure for zipper comprises a slide body and a tab. The slide body has a top plate and a bottom plate, and the top plate and the bottom plate are connected by a connection part. Two sliding grooves are formed between the top plate and the bottom plate and on both sides of the connection part. The top plate of the slide body has two pivotal stages arranged along the lengthwise direction. The pivotal stage each has a pivotal groove at the center part thereof and the pivotal stage has a clamping cover. The pivotal end of the tab is engaged into the pivotal stage and clamped by the clamping cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2001
    Publication date: July 11, 2002
    Inventor: Yu-Pau Lin
  • Publication number: 20020050031
    Abstract: This invention provides a releasable bottom end stop for slide fastener which allows an insert pin thereof to be operated smoothly on being inserted into a semi-automatic/automatic stop slider. A slope for raising a locking pawl of an automatic or a semi-automatic stop mechanism provided on a slider when the insert pin is inserted into an inverse-opening type slider or an ordinary slider is provided obliquely so as to extend from a front end of the surface of an insert pin to a proximal end thereof. Additionally, a concave portion whose inlet is inclined for holding the locking pawl is provided over this slope. The inverse-opening slider is fitted in a stringer on a box pin side and another slider is also fitted such that it comes into contact with a top of the inverse-opening slider. If the insert pin disposed on another stringer is inserted with this condition, the locking pawl is raised by the slope so that the insert pin can be inserted smoothly and held in a stable condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2001
    Publication date: May 2, 2002
    Applicant: YKK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shigeyoshi Takasawa, Satoshi Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 6378176
    Abstract: A slide fastener system and method for attaching two articles at selectively adjustable relative positions. The slide fastener system includes two zipper tracks, each track having a fabric tape adapted for attachment to one of the articles and a row of teeth mounted on the tape. The teeth on one track are interengageable with the teeth on the other track. A slider on at least one of the tracks is slidably moveable therealong to selectively engage and disengage the teeth of the two tracks and thereby attach and detach the articles. A bracket is configured for holding the two zipper tracks in close proximity and in a generally parallel arrangement so that when the slider is at an unlock position wherein no teeth are engaged, the tracks and respective tapes are slidable relative to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Assignee: American Recreation Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Scherer
  • Publication number: 20010047574
    Abstract: A concave row and a convex row of a meshing slide fastener are molded of resin having plasticity. The convex row has a terminal end where slider guide portions for guiding a slider are removed. A convex-row-meshing portion of the convex row is inserted through a side of the slider so as to be engaged with a concave-row-meshing portion of the concave row. An engaging device including a female fastening member and a male fastening member is attached to terminal ends of the concave row and the convex row. In operation, the female fastening member of the engaging device on a side of the convex row is engaged with the male fastening member of the engaging device on the side of the concave row.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2001
    Publication date: December 6, 2001
    Applicant: YKK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideyuki Matsushima, Hiroshi Mori
  • Patent number: 6205626
    Abstract: By fusing reinforcing tapes with bottom end attaching portions of fastener tapes by pressurizing heating means with different pressures (i.e., high and low), thus weakening of attaching portions can be prevented. Core threads are fitted to side edges of fastener tapes to form core portions. Reinforcing tapes formed of thermoplastic elastomer film or thermoplastic resin film are fused to wrap tape end portions including the core portions so as to form the bottom end attaching portions. The reinforcing tapes fused the core portions and vicinity portions to the fastener tapes with a low pressure and at tape main body portions to the fastener tapes with a high pressure, thereby making the core portions and the vicinity portions flexible and thick and making the tape main body portions stiff and thin to form stepped portions. The stepped portions are positioned outside flanges of a slider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventors: Kozo Watanabe, Kazuki Kuse
  • Patent number: 6131250
    Abstract: A lower catch for invisible zippers is provided. The lower catch includes a closure block (20) having an attachment slot (201) and an insertion hole (202). An attachment border (103) of a first tooth strip (10) is fixedly secured within slot (201) and a second attachment border (113) of a second tooth strip (11) is fixedly secured to a catch pin (30). When a zipper slider. (50) contacts the closure block (20) and the catch pin (30) is received within the insertion hole (202), the catch pin (30) is held in a fixed position by a guide surface (5041) of slider (50) in order to prevent misalignment of the zipper teeth (40).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Inventor: Jeeng-Neng Fan
  • Patent number: 6112376
    Abstract: In a separable bottom stop assembly of a concealed slide fastener, U-shaped guide portions are respectively connected continuously to ends of inner side edge of a box pin and a separable pin both in a shape of a prism for guiding flanges of the box having at a front face thereof an opening portion. Flat support portions are connected continuously to outsides of the guide portions, and the guide portions and the support portions made of thermoplastic resin are integrally molded to bottom ends of fastener stringer tapes. The guide portions and the support portions connected continuously to the box pin and the separable pin are thin at their portions where the box is disposed and thick at their portions outside the thin portions. The thick portions of the support portions extend to one-side faces of the fastener tapes. The box pin can be inserted into and fixed to a box-pin-insertion hole of the box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Assignee: YKK Corpration
    Inventors: Shunji Akashi, Shigeyoshi Takasawa
  • Patent number: 6088888
    Abstract: The present invention provides a separable bottom stop assembly which can be easily operated by children or people who are handicapped with one of their hands. A coupling member and a locking member respectively provided at lower ends of left and right fastener stringers are rotatably coupled together by fitting resilient leg portions of a coupling base portion of the coupling member into a hole portion of a coupling base portion of the locking member. Then, by pulling down a slider, a lower end portion of the slider urges a pivotal abutting portion of the coupling member to pivotally move a lateral-inserting fitting portion of the coupling member to a position where the slider can be pulled up. A locking projecting portion of the coupling member climbs over a projecting portion of the locking member to be locked so as to prevent separation of the coupling member in a horizontal direction. Therefore, it is possible to easily pull up the slider by a single hand to couple and close a slide fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventor: Kiyoshi Oda
  • Patent number: 6079085
    Abstract: An invisible zip fastener having a male slide and a female slide pulled to close/open interlocking teeth at two zipper tapes, wherein a male end connector and a female end connector are respectively mounted on the zipper tapes at one end of the interlocking teeth and arranged facing each other, the male end connector and the female end connector each having a longitudinally extended clamping(groove respectively fixedly fastened to the zipper tapes, the male end connector having a coupling tongue facing the female end connector, and a protruding tooth, which is forced into engagement with one tooth at one end of the opposed zipper tape when the interlocking teeth at the zipper tapes are closed, the female end connector having a coupling groove, which receives the coupling tongue of the male end connector when the interlocking teeth at the zipper tapes are closed, and a projecting rear block, which stops the male slide in place when the male slide is pulled to one end to close the interlocking teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2000
    Inventor: Roger C. Y. Chung
  • Patent number: 6070306
    Abstract: A top stop and zipper teeth arrangement for a zipper in which the top stop has a sloping bottom edge smoothly curved inwards and sloping downwardly backwards and terminating in a downward bottom projection, the sloping bottom edge defining with the topmost edge of the first tooth of the row of teeth on the longitudinal side rib of the zipper tape a gap through which the slide of the zipper is insert into engagement with the zipper tape; the first tooth having a stop wall portion at a top side of a neck thereof for preventing an inside partition wall of the slide from being moved into engagement with the neck of the first tooth when the slide is pulled downwards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Inventor: Wallace Wang
  • Patent number: 6026547
    Abstract: A zipper system comprises two elongated coupling elements (38) and (40) each having a row of interlocking elements (42) and (44) mounted on and along their respective inner edges. The zipper provides arresting female members (22Z, 22', 22, 36, 36', 23, 23') including a female arresting slider (22Z, 22', 22) slidably connected to one of two elongated coupling elements (38, 40). The arresting female members (22Z, 22', 22, 36, 36', 23, 23') are adapted to unite with each other (differently in various embodiments) to form a coupled female unit (22F) with a planar surface for coupling and uncoupling with a male interlocking element (26, 26', 32, 34, 26E-26N, 80-90). The zipper also comprises intergarment plates (50, 52) with thumbholds (54, 56), strap holders (94), a two-way zipper (23, 23') and resilient locking assemblies (28, 30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2000
    Inventor: Alice Mary O'Donnell Kiely
  • Patent number: 6009602
    Abstract: A bottom end stop and a slider with a locking mechanism of a slide fastener chain which can be used for both the right side arrangement and the left side arrangement are provided. The slider includes a leaf spring showing a substantially U-shaped profile and having an end rigidly secured to a front part of the slider body, and the other end having a locking pawl arranged near the center thereof. The locking pawl resiliently projects into a guide groove for the engaging member located in the slider body. The bottom end stop includes an insert pin having a beveled escape area produced by cutting an edge of an upper outer surface of the insert pin facing the locking pawl, a groove formed on a surface facing a box pin of a box so as to engage with a ridge portion of the box pin when the insert pin is inserted into the box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2000
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventor: Yasuharu Terada