US2287349A - Locking slide fastener - Google Patents

Description

June 23, 1942.

R. HIRSCH LOCKING SLIDE FASTENER Filed Sept. 26, 1941 ATTORNEY.

- or free sections of the stringers,

- in that the pin pierces Patented June 23, 1942 Roy Hirsch,

Flushing, N. Y., assignor to Universal Slide Fastener Co. Inc., Long Island City, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application September 26, 1941, Serial No. 412,496

8 Claims.

This invention relates generally to slide fasteners having rows of interlockable elements,

connected to flexible tapes or so-called stringers,

that are adapted to be urged into interlocking engagement by manual actuation-of a slider longitudinally of the stringers, in-one; direction, and disengaged by a similar slider movement in the reverse direction,

come automatically effective in response to the initiation of a self-actuated or; unintentional movement of the slider in the direction of the interlocked elements, to arrestsuch movement and insure the maintenance of the closure, as produced by the interlocked elements, until such time as the slider may disengage them.

As is well known, when the interlockable elements are engaged and the stringers are in mated positionythe slider can be readily shifted or moved by any force effective upon the unmated which tend to spread or separate them laterally, with a resulting disengagement of the interlockable elements and the separation of the matedstringers. To

overcome this disadvantage, various expedients have been proposed, as

a pin carried by' a pull hinged to the slider and designed to enter 'between contiguous elements, when the pulljis dependently parallel to the slider. This entails a separate operation and is further objectionable the stringer fabric and eventually weakens it, while its effectiveness is dependent entirely upon the pull locking position upon the slider. Other looking it tends to produce torsional movement therein, the elements twisting past the projecting surfaces, instead of impinging thereagainst.

Therefore, the primaryobject of this invention isto provide a locking means integral with a slider of a slide fastener assembly, which will I and is more particularly directed to the provision of means that will be-,

be manually actuated to afford greater security against accidental or unintentional separation ofthe interlockable elements, which I shall, hereinafter, term scoops, than any of the locking means now available, and which may be readily incorporated in a of conventional design. i

More specifically, it is the object of this invention to provide a locking means for a slider in a slide fastener assembly, which is adapted to function in conjunction with an engaging scoop to resist dislocation of the slider from a position to which it has been previously adjusted in a remaining in media are formed integral with the slider and comprise prongs constituting inwardly disposed angular continuations of the ends of the rails thereof, notches variously formed on the rails and protuberances on the wing, all'of which are dependent for functioning upon the interposition of the projections, howsoever formed, between adjacent interlockable elements, to block the movement of the elements through the slider. Because of this, these prior locking means are not always immediately effective in arresting movement of the slider in response to a lateral separation of the stringers, so that an ppreciable separation of the interlockable elements may occur before the necessary adjacent elements assume the appropriate positions, relative'to the surfaces with which they must engage, to restrain the slider from further movement. This is especially true,- if the force causing the spreading or lateral separation of the stringers is such that scoop interlocking movement, in response to the lateral separation ofthe opposed stringers, as

other, accidentally or otherwise, the locking means being ineffective in the normal manual movement of the slider longitudinally of the stringers in either direction.

Other objects andadvantages flowing from the practicing of my invention will become apparent as the description proceeds and I would have it understood that I reserve unto myself all rights to the full range of equivalents to which I may be entitled within the purview of the appended claims. V

For the purposes of this disclosure, I have elected to show and describe a preferred embodiment of my invention, which, it will'be understood-may take other formsto meet special requirements of production and use.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a plan viewof a fragment of a slide fastener assembly, embodying my invention.

Figure 2 isa view similar to Figure l, with the slider shown in section. Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective of the slider, illustrating the positions assumed by a scoop as it is traversed by the slider in the normal manual actuation of the latter and as it coacts with the locking means of the slider (shown in dotted lines) and Figure 4 is a plan view of one of the complemental portions of the slider, taken on'the line 44 of the preceding figure.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, .in

the fastener assembly includes a pair of soslider called stringers, comprising the tapes l and rows of spaced and interlockable scoops II and I2 along their opposed longitudinal edges, which are beaded, as at I3, for connecting the scoops thereto, through the medium of their bead-embracing jaws Hi, the scoops being adapted to be successively guided into interlocking position and progressively interlocked by the traversing movementof a slider i5, which may be provided with a pull I6 hinged thereto, for facilitating its manipulation.

The slider, as shown, embodies relatively spaced upper and lower wings I! and i8, the side edges of which are flanged to provide the upper and lower spaced rails l9 and 20, which cooperate with the opposite parallel walls of a the V-shaped indented portion 2| to form the diverging sections of the channel for the reception of the aforementioned scoops II and i2, generally defined by said rails, extending from end to end of the slider,

and said V-shaped portion 2|, which functionsv to connect the wings in relatively spaced relationship. For the purposes of this description, the end of the slider, former by the diverging sections of the channel, will be referred to as the tor thereof and the opposite end the bottom.

of the slider, to ultimately interlock'the scoops with the protuberances in an angular position, relatively to the defining walls of the slider channel sections, the distortion of the beaded edges of the stringers, heretofore referred to, in many instances, influencing or generating a twisting movement of the scoops in engagement with the protuberances to augment the security of the interlock in .resisting the' displacement of the slider.

In other words, the aforesaid protuberances 22 and 23, as engaged by a single scoop in each of the diverging channel sections, generate a cammingaction which is most eifective in maintaining an interlocked condition between the slider and the scoops which insures the stringers As is clearly shown in Figure 3 in each of the divergent sections of the channel of the slider, I

provide projecting surfaces of an approximately semiconical contour, as indicated at 22 and 23, the surface having a somewhat flattened profile rather than one of the order of a true cone, for the reasons which will hereinafter be explained. These projections which are designed to function as locking means in engagement with abutting scoops to resist displacement of the slider only when it is in a pro-adjusted scoop-interlocking position, as hereinafter described, are formed on the inner faces of each of the wings and are located in proximity to the upper and lower rails i9 and'20, the axis of each of the semi-conical protuberances being parallel to the adjacent rail, with the base thereof parallel to the edge of the top of the channel section. Obviously, the said projections 22 and 23 may be formed on the inner faces of the respective wings, in any suitable manner and may be hollow or solid or the product of an indentation of the outer surface of each of the wings.

Now, assuming that the slider 15 has been moved or adjusted along the stringers to a posi-' tion in which such traversing movement has efiected the requisite interlocking of the scoop H and I2, to the desired length, .any lateral pull that is exerted upon the stringers, above the' slide and tending to move them outwardly and away from each other, will produce a degree of distortion of the beaded edges within the diverging channel sections of the slider which will cause a canting or tilting of the scoops, adjacent the semi-conical surfaces 22 and 23, in the direction of the rails Iii-and 20.'with which the latter are associated, and in this deviation from their normal path or line of movement through the slider, they will be urged into frictional engagement with the protuberant semi-conical surfaces 22 and 23, thejaw ends of the scoops initially engaging with the protuberances in the region of the apex of each thereof, in response to the initiationof the pull or stringer separating movement, to create a frictional resistance to relative movement of the scoop and slider, the intensity of which increases in proportion to the progression of the scoop along the wedge-like surfaces of the protuberances, towards the top against 'even partial separation in response to a pull exerted thereon above the slider, when the latter i in a preadjusted scoop-interlocking position. The relatively long gradual slope of the softly flattened surfaces of the semi-conical protuberances not only contribute to the attainment of this objective, as described, but have those characteristics that tend to make them wear resistant, so that the dependability of the locking means is insured for a long period of service.

In the normal movement of the slider, along the stringers, in either direction, to effect the engagement or disengagement of the opposed rows of scoops II and I2, as the case may be, the aforesaid projections 22 and 23 are ineffective, the slider being freely movable along the stringers, without the scoops making contact therewith. In this connection, it may be pointed out that in the normal manual actuation of the slider, the stringers are not subject to any distorting influences, as isthe case when a separating force is applied thereto beyond or above the slider, and the relatively stiffened beads thereof maintain an alignment of the scoops with respect to the channel of the slider, that tends to, project them toward the inside walls of the diverging channel sections, so that adequate clearance is provided between the jaw ends of the scoops and the protuberances 22 and 23, for the scoops to enter and exit from the top of the slider, without making contact therewith.

As pointed out, in the functioning of my locking means, the wing-carried protuberances coact with the juxtaposed surface of a scoop that is in abutting position, when the separating force is communicated to the stringers and the locking effort immediately becomes effective in anchoring the slider to the stringers, whereas in prior devices the prongs or notchesor semi-spherical projections are to become effective in contributing to the locking of the slider to the stringers, must enter between two adjacent scoops, or locking elements. Obviously, this does not insure the requisite degree of security against a partial i separation, at least, of the stringers, when they -are pulled apart above the slider in its preadjusted scoop-interlocking position, since the scoops may be so poised within the channel of the slider, with relation to the stops, that under the impetus of the pull, several scoops may ride past them, before they are engaged by adjacent scoops. Also, a possible twisting movement of the stringer portions within the slider channel, instead of contributing to the interlocking of the slider and scoops as herein described, may tend to move the scoops of the prior devices out of position for effective engagement with the coacting'suri'aces of the sliders, in the various forms described.

While I have described my invention more or less in detail, with respect-to the form shown herein, it will be manifest that changes in de-- tails of the structure involved, may be made without departing from, the spirit and scope thereof. For example, the protuberances 22 and 23 may be otherwise disposed on the inner surfaces of the wings, or they may be incorporated in the make-up of one wing only, or upon the rails, if found expedient or desirable; Likewise, the formation of the wings may be varied and the method of effecting their jointure the reception of the scoops.

I claim:

1; A slide fastener assembly, including a pair of stringers carrying rows of spaced scoops their adjacent longitudinal edges and a chanalong neled slider bordered by rails reciprocable upon said stringers" to effect the engagement and disengagement of said scoops, means for locking said slider against movement from a preadjusted scoop-interlocking position in response to the application to said stringers of a force tending to separate them laterally, said means including elongated curved-surface projections of progressively increasing cross-section, located internally of said slider, conformed for engagement by surfaces of an adjacent scoop which are normally parallel to the rails of the slider, when the movement of such scoop is initiated by a concurrent movement of the stringers edges.

including a pair aration along their longitudinal 2. Aslide fastener assembly,

- of stringers carrying rows ofspaced scoops along their adjacent longitudinal edges and a channeled slider bordered by rails reciprocable upon said' stringers to effect the engagement and disengagement of said scoops and means for locking said slider against dislocation from a preadjusted scoop-interlocking position on said stringers, in response to the application to the stringers of a force tending to separate them laterally, said means including elongated curved-surface pro-' jections of progressively increasing cross-section, disposed within the scoop-receiving channels in proximity to and parallel to the rails of the slider,

said surfaces being conformed for progressive frictional engagement by surfaces of an adjacent scoop which are normally parallel to the slider rails, when movement of such scoop is induced by a concurrent movement of the stringers directed to their separation along their longitudinal edges, the projections being spaced from the inner walls of the slider channels to permit the scoops to traverse such channels without making contact therewith, in the normal reciprocation of the slider along said stringers.

3. A slide fastener assembly, including a pair of stringers carrying rows of spaced scoops along their adjacent longitudinal edges and a channeled slider reciprocable upon said stringers to effect the engagement and disengagement of said scoops and means for locking said slider against displacement from a preadjusted scoop-interlocking position on said stringers, in response to the application to the stringers of a force tending to separate them laterally, said means including protuberances disposed within the scoop-receiving channels of the slider having surfaces of a profile of progressively increasing cross-section adapted to be engaged by the jaw end of a scoop for inducing a frictional camming action of a progressively increasing intensity, as the scoop is urged into engagement with such surfaces in-response to movement thereof initiated by the application of a force to the stringersdirected to their lateral separation, beyond the interlocked position of 1 the scoops.

to provide for 4. A slider adapted to form a component of a slide fastener assembly, including upper and lower wings embodying dependent rail-forming portions, said wings being interconnected intermediate said rails in spaced relationship to provide a pair of diverging scoop-camming channels, said wings having protuberances of an approximately semi-conical contour formed on the inner faces thereof in proximity to said rails, the axis of each of said protuberances being parallel to the adjacent rail, said protuberances being adapted to coact with surfaces of slide fastener scoops designed for entry within said channels to produce a camming action to interlock such scoops with said slider under certain conditions 'in the use of the slide fastener.

' fastener, including directed to theirsepstringers, tending 5. In combination with the stringers of a slide interlockable scoops and a slider having wings bordered by rails to define camming channels adapted to manual actuation along said stringers in one direction, to urge such scoops into interlocking engagement and in 1 the opposite direction to effect the disengagement of the scoops, means on saidslider formed to cooperate with said scoops to retain the slider in a preadjusted scoop-interlocking condition on said stringers, in opposition to forces applied to the to separate them laterally, said means consisting of of the wings of the slider, sections of the camming channel thereof, and, in proximity to the slider rails, each of said projections originating adjacent the outer end of the channel section in which it is located, and having the conformation of a softly rounded surface of an appreciable thickness, and extending in the direction of the inner end of the channel sec, tion, in graduallydiminishing thickness, to merge into the wing face.

6. The combination with the stringers of a slide fastener, carrying interlockable scoops projecting from their matable longitudinal edges, of a slider having wings bordered by rails to define camming channels manually movable in one direction along said stringers to bring them together and interlock said scoops and inthe reverse direction to effect the disengagement of said scoops, having means adapted to coact with certain of said scoops for locking said slider against movement relatively to said stringers, when in a pre-adjusted scoop-interlocking position thereon, in opposition to forces communicated thereto, tending to render it self-actuatable, and generated by a pull exerted on the stringers to separate them laterally, said means comprising projections of an approximately semi-conical shape formed on the wings, within the diverging sections of the camming'channel of the slider, in proximity to the rails thereof, the axes of the projections being parallel to the rails, with the vertices merging into the face of the wing upon which the respective projections are produced.

7. A slide fastener, including stringers carrying interlockable scoops projecting from their matable longitudinal edges, and a slider having upper and lower wings and rails defining a channel, having diverging branches leading to a converging branch .for the reception of thescoops, said slider being manually movable in one direction along the stringers to cam said scoops into interlocking engagement and in the reverse direction to effect their disengagement, means on projections on the inner faces within the diverging said slider adapted to coact with certain of said scoops within the diverging branches of said channel, when the slider is in a preadjusted scoop-interlocking position on said stringers, to lock said slider against self-actuation for displacement and scoop disengagement in response to the communication'thereto of a potential activating force created by a lateral separating movement of the stringers, said means taking the form of approximately semi-conical projections located adjacent the rails of the slider, within at least one of the diverging branches of the camming channel thereof, so disposed that their axes parallel said rails, said projections being of gradually increasing cross-section along their axes adapted for progressive engagement by a surface of a scoop jaw, for the generation of frictional locking effort, the engagement of the scoop with the projections effecting a canting movement of the former within the channel branch, the degree of which changes with the tion along the stringers to cam said scoops into interlocking engagement and, inthe reverse direction to effect their disengagement, means on certain of said scoops within the diverging branches of said channel, when the slider is in a preadjusted scoop-interlocking position on said stringers, to lock said slider against self-actuation for displacement and scoop disengagement in response to the communication thereto of a potential activating force created by a lateral separating movement of the stringers, said means taking the form of approximately semi-conical projections located adjacent the rails of the slider, within the diverging branches of the camming channel thereof, said projections extending longitudinally within the camming channel and having their greatest cross-section at the free end of said progression of the scoop along the projections,

with a concomitant increase in the intensity of the frictional effort that is exerted in opposing the aforesaid potential slider displacing force.

8. A slide fastener, including stringers carrying inter-lockable scoops projecting from their matable longitudinal edges, and a slider having upper and lower wings and rails defining a channel, having diverging branches leading to a converging branch for the reception of the scoops, said slider being manually movable in one direcchannel, so disposed that their axes parallel said rails, said projections being adapted for progressive engagement by a surface of a scoop jaw, other than the top or bottom thereof, for the generation of frictional" locking effort, the engagement of the scoop with the projections effecting a canting movement of the former within the channel branches, the degree of which changes with the progression of the scoop along the projections, with a concomitant increase in the intensity of the frictional effort that is exerted in opposing the aforesaid potential slider displacing force.

ROY HIRSCH.

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