A zip fastener (10) comprises two opposed sets of teeth (14) which are shaped such that those on one set (12a) can fit between those on the other set (12b). At least some adjacent teeth of opposed sets (12a, 12b) have facing surfaces (17a, 17b) shaped so as engage and to inhibit lateral separation of the sets, and such that each tooth can undergo at least limited angular movement relative to the adjacent tooth. The teeth (14) within a set (12) are held at a predetermined spacing along the set by linking strips (16) aligned generally along the center line of the set (12). Each tooth (14) defines a strip location (20) facing the opposed set of teeth, such that the linking strip (16) on one set (12a) fits in the strip location (20) on the other set (12b). Since the tooth spacing is set by the linking strips (16), the sets (12) of teeth (14) can lie on a curved path.

The invention relates to a zipper with automatic coupling, which comprises a part fixed to the clothing (1, 1, 4) and an exchangeable part (2, 2, 3), the fixed part comprising first joining elements (1, 1) solidly joined to a garment (4) by one of the sides thereof and which can be joined on the opposite side to the exchangeable part. According to the invention, the exchangeable part comprises second joining elements (2, 2) disposed longitudinally, in parallel with respect to a zipper closure (3) and fixed to said zipper closure (3), the first joining elements (1, 1) and the second joining elements (2, 2) together forming a male-female joint or clip joint.

A fly shield for a garment such as, for example, a pair of jeans. The fly shield includes a material folded and stitched to form a mitered corner. The mitered corner is defined by a fly shield seam and the fly shield has an approximate trapezoid shape defining two approximate right angles, a first acute angle, and an obtuse angle. The fly shield seam extends towards a vertex of the obtuse angle; and the fly shield defines a bottom folded edge that extends between the vertex of the obtuse angle and a vertex of the first acute angle. The fly shield seam and the bottom folded edge intersect to form a second acute angle, which is a portion of the obtuse angle.

A method for preparing discontinuous zipper chain for use in apparel manufacturing includes: programming a teeth-securing machine to secure zipper teeth at specified intervals along an edge of each of a pair of zipper tapes; feeding the pair of zipper tapes into the teeth-securing machine so as to secure interlocking zipper teeth to the zipper tapes at the specified intervals, thereby forming a discontinuous zipper chain having successive toothed sections positioned along a length thereof and spaced apart from one another by gap sections without zipper teeth; and spooling or packaging the discontinuous zipper chain for use in apparel manufacturing.

There is provided an article with a slide fastener affixed thereto. Each of a pair of element members has a plurality of single elements made of a synthetic resin and fixedly integrated and connected to at least one flexible connecting string-shaped member at an equal interval. A slider is formed with an element guide path between upper and lower blades. A fastener-attached member forms an opening and closing part of the article. The pair of element members are directly sewn to a first surface of the fastener-attached member by sewing threads. The element members and the fastener-attached member are inserted into the element guide path of the slider.

There is provided an article with a slide fastener affixed thereto. Each of a pair of element members has a plurality of single elements made of a synthetic resin and fixedly integrated and connected to at least one flexible connecting string-shaped member at an equal interval. A slider is formed with an element guide path between upper and lower blades. A fastener-attached member forms an opening and closing part of the article. The pair of element members are directly sewn to a first surface of the fastener-attached member by sewing threads. The element members and the fastener-attached member are inserted into the element guide path of the slider.

It is disclosed a method for producing garments comprising separable portions and at least a zipper sewn onto said separable portions of the garment, wherein said garment undergoes shrinkage, preferably by washing, showing a wavy appearance near the zipper before shrinkage and showing a substantially plane appearance after shrinkage. Said method comprising the steps of providing an elastically stretchable zipper, said zipper in its initial un-stretched condition has the length required for the zipper in the final garment; making a garment having separable portions; stretching said zipper; sewing the stretched zipper onto said separable portions of said garment, and shrinking said garment preferably by washing, wherein after said shrinking step, said zipper is in a substantially un-stretched condition. A garment obtainable according to the steps as above is also disclosed.