Slider cover for slide fastener and slide fastener with slide cover

Abstract

There is provided a slider cover for a slide fastener. An upper member and a lower member are spaced apart from each other in an upward and downward direction and arranged in parallel to each other. A connecting post connects the upper member with the lower member. The upper member includes a receiving portion configured to receive at least a part of an upper blade of a slider.

Claims

1. A slider cover for a slide fastener, comprising: an upper member and a lower member which are spaced apart from each other in an upward and downward direction and arranged in parallel to each other; and a connecting post connecting the upper member with the lower member, wherein the upper member comprises a receiving portion configured to receive at least a part of an upper blade of a slider, wherein the receiving portion is a hole portion penetrating through upper and lower surfaces of the upper member, wherein the receiving portion has an inner surface for defining the hole portion, wherein at least a part of the inner surface receives the upper blade so as to come in contact with at least a part of a side wall of the upper blade, and wherein both sides of the receiving portion of the upper member in a width direction thereof are provided with cover-side flanges protruding downward.

2. The slider cover for the slide fastener according to claim 1, wherein the receiving portion is configured to receive an entire circumference of the upper blade.

3. The slider cover for the slide fastener according to claim 1, wherein the receiving portion is formed to be larger than the upper blade, and wherein in a state where the slider cover is attached to the slider, a gap is formed between the inner surface of the receiving portion and the side wall of the upper blade.

4. The slider cover for the slide fastener according to claim 1, wherein in a state where the slider cover is attached to the slider, an upper surface of the upper member and an upper surface of the upper blade are positioned at the same height.

5. The slider cover for the slide fastener according to claim 1, wherein the slider comprises a pull tab attachment portion provided on an upper surface of the upper blade and a pull tab attached to the pull tab attachment portion, and wherein the pull tab attachment portion and the pull tab are arranged above the upper member.

6. The slider cover for the slide fastener according to claim 1, wherein the cover-side flanges are formed along both right and left side edges of the upper member.

7. The slider cover for the slide fastener according to claim 6, wherein lower end edges of the cover-side flanges are arranged below lower end edges of slider-side flanges which are formed along both right and left side edges of the upper blade to protrude downward.

8. The slider cover for the slide fastener according to claim 1, wherein a recess portion configured to receive at least a part of a lower blade of the slider is formed on the lower member.

9. The slider cover for the slide fastener according to claim 8, wherein the lower member is comprised of a pair of right and left first lower plates extending from the connecting post outward in a width direction thereof and a second lower plate extending from the first lower plates and having an upper surface formed downward below upper surfaces of the first lower plates, and wherein a stepped portion which can come in contact with a side wall of the lower blade is formed between inner surfaces of the first lower plates and an inner surface of the second lower plate.

10. The slider cover for the slide fastener according to claim 9, wherein at least one of the pair of right and left first lower plates extends forward beyond the upper member.

11. The slider cover for the slide fastener according to claim 10, wherein inner surfaces of the first lower plates have an inclined surface inclined forward and downward from a rear end portion of the inner surface.

12. The slider cover for the slide fastener according to claim 1, further comprising a pair of right and left element passages formed between the upper member and the lower member and on both sides of the connecting post and configured to guide fastener element rows of the slide fastener.

13. The slider cover for the slide fastener according to claim 12, wherein at least one of the upper member and the lower member is formed with flanges respectively formed along both right and left side edges thereof and configured to guide the fastener element rows.

14. The slider cover for the slide fastener according to claim 12, wherein a pair of right and left recessed grooves are formed in a lower surface of the lower member along the pair of right and left element passages.

15. The slider cover for the slide fastener according to claim 12, wherein an angle of an entrance edge portion of the element passages with respect to an axis line of the element passages is set to be 90°±20°.

16. The slider cover for the slide fastener according to claim 1, wherein a recess portion configured to receive the lower blade of the slider from a shoulder mouth side end portion thereof to a rear mouth side end portion thereof is formed on the lower member.

17. The slider cover for the slide fastener according to claim 1, wherein the slider cover is formed by engaging a first member which is comprised of at least the upper member with a second member which is comprised of at least the lower member, and wherein the slider cover is connectable by an engaging protrusion portion which is formed on at least one of the first member and the second member and an engaging recess portion which is formed on at least the other of the first member and the second member.

18. A slide fastener with a slider cover, comprising a pair of fastener tapes, a pair of fastener element rows respectively attached to opposing tape side edge portions of the pair of fastener tapes, a slider inserted onto the pair of fastener element rows, and the slider cover configured to be detachably attached to the slider in a state where the slider is inserted onto the pair of fastener element rows, wherein the slider comprises: a body comprising an upper blade and a lower blade which are spaced apart from each other in an upward and downward direction and arranged in parallel to each other, a guide post connecting the upper blade with the lower blade at front end portions thereof, and a pull tab attachment portion provided on the upper blade; and a pull tab attached to the pull tab attachment portion, and wherein the slider cover is the slider cover according to claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a front surface view of a slide fastener in a state where a first embodiment of a slider cover according to the present invention is attached to a slider.

(2) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the slider and the slider cover shown in FIG. 1.

(3) FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the slider cover separated from the slider.

(4) FIG. 4 is a right side view of the slider cover.

(5) FIG. 5 is a rear view of the slider cover.

(6) FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the slider cover attached to the slider.

(7) FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the slider cover attached to the slider, taken along a line A-A in FIG. 5.

(8) FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the slider cover attached to the slider, taken along a line B-B in FIG. 4.

(9) FIG. 9 is a side view explaining a state where the slider cover is being attached to the slider while widening between an upper plate and a lower plate of the slider cover.

(10) FIG. 10 is a front view of the slider cover in a state after widening the upper plate and the lower plate shown in FIG. 9.

(11) FIG. 11 is a longitudinal sectional view explaining a first variant of the slider cover of the first embodiment.

(12) FIG. 12 is a longitudinal sectional view explaining a second variant of the slider cover of the first embodiment.

(13) FIG. 13 is a perspective view explaining a state where a second embodiment of a slider cover according to the present invention is attached to a slider.

(14) FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view of the slider cover shown in FIG. 13.

(15) FIG. 15 is a longitudinal sectional view of the slider cover shown in FIG. 13.

(16) FIG. 16 is a front surface view of a slide fastener in a state where a third embodiment of a slider cover according to the present invention is attached to a slider.

(17) FIG. 17 is a longitudinal sectional view of the slider cover shown in FIG. 16.

(18) FIG. 18 is an exploded perspective view of the slider cover shown in FIG. 16.

(19) FIG. 19 is a top view of the slider cover shown in FIG. 16.

(20) FIG. 20 is an exploded longitudinal sectional view of the slider cover shown in FIG. 17.

(21) FIG. 21 is a top view explaining a state where an insert pin of a separable end stop is being guided into an element guide path of the slider by an inclined surface of a first lower plate thereof.

(22) FIG. 22 is a partially cut-away left side view explaining the state shown in FIG. 21.

(23) FIG. 23 is a top view explaining a state where a fourth embodiment of a slider cover according to the present invention is attached to a slider.

(24) FIG. 24 is a longitudinal sectional view of the slider cover shown in FIG. 23.

(25) FIG. 25 is an exploded perspective view of the slider cover shown in FIG. 23.

EMBODIMENTS OF INVENTION

(26) Hereinafter, each embodiment of a slider cover for a slide fastener according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Meanwhile, in the following description, as for a slide fastener, a front side refers to a near side with respect to the paper surface of FIG. 1, a back side refers to a far side with respect to the paper surface of FIG. 1, an upper side refers to an upper side with respect to the paper surface of FIG. 1, a lower side refers to a lower side with respect to the paper surface of FIG. 1, a left side refers to a left side with respect to the paper surface of FIG. 1, and a right side refers to a right side with respect to the paper surface of FIG. 1. As for a slider and a slider cover, an upper side refers to a near side with respect to the paper surface of FIG. 1, a lower side refers to a far side with respect to the paper surface of FIG. 1, a front side refers to an upper side with respect to the paper surface of FIG. 1, a rear side refers to a lower side with respect to the paper surface of FIG. 1, a right side refers to a right side with respect to the paper surface of FIG. 1, and a left side refers to a left side with respect to the paper surface of FIG. 1. Also, a right and left direction of the slide fastener, the slider and the slider cover is also referred to as a width direction.

First Embodiment

(27) Firstly, a first embodiment of a slider cover for a slide fastener according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 12.

(28) The slider cover 50 of the present embodiment is configured to be detachably attached to a slider 10 for a slide fastener shown in FIGS. 1 to 3. Preferably, the slider cover 50 is configured to be detachably attached to the slider 10, particularly in a state where the slider 10 is inserted onto fastener element rows.

(29) The slider 10 is a slider having an automatic stop function and includes a body 20 and a pull tab 11, which is attached to a pull tab attachment portion 20a on an upper blade 21, as described below, of the body 20. Also, the slider 10 is formed of synthetic resin, metal or the like.

(30) As shown in FIGS. 3, 7 and 8, the body 20 includes the upper blade 21 and a lower blade 22, which are spaced apart from each other in an upward and downward direction and are arranged in parallel to each other, a guide post 23 connecting the upper blade 21 with the lower blade 22 at front end portions thereof, upper flanges (slider-side flanges) 24a formed along both right and left side edges of the upper blade 21 to protrude downward, and lower flanges 24b formed along both right and left side edges of the lower blade 22 to protrude upward. Therefore, on a front portion of the body 20, right and left shoulder mouths 25 which are separated from each other by the guide post 23 are formed, and on a rear portion of the body 20, a rear mouth 26 is formed. Also, a generally Y-shaped element guide path 27 configured to communicate the right and left shoulder mouths 25 with the rear mouth 26 is formed between the upper blade 21 and the lower blade 22, and the element guide path 27 forms a passage through which fastener element rows 31 of the slide fastener 30 are inserted.

(31) The slide fastener 30 includes a pair of right and left fastener tapes 32, a pair of right and left coil-shaped fastener element rows 31 respectively attached to opposing tape side edge portions of the pair of right and left fastener tapes 32, and the slider 10 inserted onto the pair of right and left fastener element rows 31, and is configured to allow the pair of right and left fastener element rows 31 to be engaged to and disengaged from each other by sliding the slider 10. Alternatively, instead of the coil-shaped fastener element rows as described above, the fastener element rows may be, for example, a type in which synthetic resin or metal is directly injected on tape side edge portions of fastener tapes, or a type in which metal elements are crimped and fixed on tape side edge portions of fastener tapes.

(32) As shown in FIGS. 3 to 8, the slider cover 50 includes a upper plate (upper member) 51 and a lower plate (lower member) 52, which are spaced apart from each other in the upward and downward direction and arranged in parallel to each other, and a connecting post 53 connecting the upper plate 51 with the lower plate 52. In addition, the upper plate 51 has a receiving portion 54 configured to receive the upper blade 21 of the slider 10. Also, the upper plate 51, the lower plate 52 and the connecting post 53 are integrally shaped. Further, the slider cover 50 is formed of elastomer or synthetic resin. Further, the connecting post 53 is formed in a circular cross-sectional shape.

(33) The upper plate 51 has a upper surface and a lower surface, and the receiving portion 54 is a hole portion penetrating through the upper and lower surfaces of the upper plate 51 and having an elliptical shape as viewed from the upper side and is formed to receive the entire circumference of the upper blade 21. Also, the receiving portion 54 has an inner surface 54a for defining the hole portion, and a part of the inner surface 54a receives the upper blade 21 so as to come in contact with a part of a side wall 21a of the upper blade 21. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2, the side wall 21a of the upper blade 21 is surrounded by the inner surface 54a of the receiving portion 54 and thus the slider cover 50 is held on the slider 10.

(34) Also, in a state where the slider cover 50 is held on the slider 10, the upper surface of the upper plate 51 and an upper surface of the upper blade 21 are positioned at approximately the same height. Therefore, the pull tab attachment portion 20a provided on the upper surface of the upper blade 21 and the pull tab 11 attached to the pull tab attachment portion 20a are arranged above the upper plate 51 and thus the pull tab 11 can be operated above the upper plate 51. Accordingly, when sliding the slider 10, the inner surface 54a of the receiving portion 54 of the slider cover 50 comes in contact with the side wall 21a of the upper blade 21 only by operating the pull tab 11, and thus the slider cover 50 can be moved to correspond to movement of the slider 10.

(35) In addition, the receiving portion 54 is formed to be larger than the upper blade 21, and as shown in FIG. 1, a gap S is formed between the inner surface 54a of the receiving portion 54 and the side wall 21a of the upper blade 21 in a state where the slider cover 50 is attached to the slider 10. Also, the gap S is particularly formed to be larger in a width direction of the slider 10 so that the slider 10 can be easily received in the receiving portion 54 of the slider cover 50.

(36) Also, the slider cover 50 has cover-side flanges 55 formed along both right and left side edges of the upper plate 51 to protrude downward. More specifically, the cover-side flanges 55 are provided on both sides of the receiving portion 54 in a width direction thereof and extend from the lower surface of the upper plate 51 toward the lower plate 52. Also, inner surfaces of the cover-side flanges 55 are the same surface as the inner surface 54a of the receiving portion 54, and the cover-side flanges 55 are formed to extend from a front end to a rear end of the upper plate 51. In addition, as shown in FIG. 7, in the state where the slider cover 50 is held on the slider 10, lower end edges of the cover-side flanges 55 are arranged below lower end edges of the upper flanges 24a of the slider 10.

(37) Further, the slider cover 50 has a pair of right and left element passages 56 formed between the upper plate 51 and the lower plate 52 and also on both sides of the connecting post 53 and configured to guide the fastener element rows 31 of the slide fastener 30. More specifically, the element passages 56 are sections defined by the lower surface of the upper plate 51, an upper surface of the lower plate 52, right and left cover-side flanges 55 and side surfaces of the connecting post 53. Also, the element passages 56 are formed to be continued to the element guide path 27 of the slider 10 in the state where the slider cover 50 is held on the slider 10.

(38) In addition, as shown in FIG. 8, an angle θ of an entrance edge portion 56a of the element passages 56 with respect to an axis line L1 of the element passages 56 is set to be 90°±20°. Herein, the axis line L1 is defined as an extension line extending along a direction in which an inner surface of the cover-side flanges 55 extends. Also, by setting the angle θ to 90°±20°, jamming of a fabric can be reduced. Meanwhile, if the angle θ is set to be smaller than 70°, the fabric is likely to be guided into the element passages 56 and thus the fabric is likely to be jammed into the slider 10 or the slider cover 50. In contrast, if the angle θ is set to be larger than 110°, sliding ability of the slider is poor. Also, although in FIG. 8, the axis line L1 is based on the right element passage 56, an axis line based on the left element passage 56 is bilateral-symmetry to the axis line L1.

(39) Further, as shown in FIG. 7, a recess portion 53a is formed on a rear end side of the connecting post 53 to reduce a thickness of the connecting post 53 in a front and rear direction thereof, and the recess portion 53a is formed between the upper plate 51 and the lower plate 52. In addition, when the slider cover 50 is attached to the slider 10, as shown in FIG. 9, a gap between the upper plate 51 and the lower plate 52 can be easily widened due to the recess portion 53a.

(40) Also, as shown in FIG. 5, a recess portion 52a configured to receive a front portion of the lower blade 22 of the slider 10 is formed on the upper surface of the lower plate 52. In addition, as shown in FIG. 6, a pair of right and left recessed grooves 52b are formed in a lower surface of the lower plate 52 along the pair of right and left element passages 56.

(41) Also, as shown in FIGS. 3, 5 and 7, the lower plate 52 is comprised of a pair of right and left first lower plates 52c extending from the connecting post 53 outward in the width direction and a second lower plate 52d extending from the pair of right and left first lower plates 52c and having an upper surface formed downward below upper surfaces of the pair of right and left first lower plates 52c, and a stepped portion 52e, which can come in contact with the side wall 22a of the lower blade 22, is formed between inner surfaces of the first lower plates 52c and an inner surface of the second lower plate 52d.

(42) Next, as for a method of attaching the slider cover 50 to the slider 10, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the gap between the upper plate 51 and the lower plate 52 of the slider cover 50 is widened, and then the slider cover 50 is attached to the slider 10 from the front thereof so that slider 10 enters the widened gap. Also, as for another attaching method, upon assembling of the slide fastener 30, the slider 10 is fitted into the receiving portion 54 of the slider cover 50 from the upper side thereof (see FIG. 2), and then the slider cover 50 together with the slider 10 is mounted on the slide fastener 30.

(43) In the slider cover 50 configured as described above, the fabric on the periphery of the slider 10 is separated into right and left sides of the slider cover 50 by a side surface of the upper plate 51 and a side surface of the lower plate 52 of the slider cover 50 upon sliding of the slider 10. Therefore, the fabric on the periphery of the slider 10 is prevented from entering the element guide path 27 of the slider 10, thereby preventing jamming of the fabric due to the slider 10.

(44) As described above, according to the slider cover 50 of the present embodiment, the slider cover 50 includes the upper plate 51 and the lower plate 52, which are spaced apart from each other in the upward and downward direction and arranged in parallel to each other, and the connecting post 53 connecting the upper plate 51 with the lower plate 52, and the upper plate 51 has the receiving portion 54 configured to receive the upper blade 21 of the slider 10. Accordingly, the slider cover 50 can be simply attached to the slider 10 without performing a processing to the slider 10 and the fabric on the periphery of the slider 10 can be prevented from being jammed into the slider 10.

(45) Also, according to the slider cover 50 of the present embodiment, the lower end edges of the cover-side flanges 55 of the slider cover 50 are arranged below the lower end edges of the upper flanges 24a of the slider 10. Accordingly, a gap between upper and lower flanges 24a and 24b of the slider 10 can be narrowed, so that the fabric on the periphery of the slider 10 can be further prevented from being jammed into the slider 10

(46) Further, according to the slider cover 50 of the present embodiment, because the recess portion 52a configured to receive the front portion of the lower blade 22 of the slider 10 is formed on the upper surface of the lower plate 52, the slider 10 can be more securely held. Also, because a plate thickness of the lower plate 52 is reduced due to the recess portion 52a, the lower plate 52 can be easily deformed when the slider cover 50 is attached to the slider 10, thereby allowing the slider cover 50 to be further simply attached to the slider 10.

(47) Further, according to the slider cover 50 of the present embodiment, the pair of right and left recessed grooves 52b are formed in the lower surface of the lower plate 52, thereby reducing the plate thickness of the lower plate 52. Accordingly, the lower plate 52 can be easily deformed when the slider cover 50 is attached to the slider 10, thereby allowing the slider cover 50 to be further simply attached to the slider 10.

(48) In addition, according to the slider cover 50 of the present embodiment, because the angle θ of the entrance edge portion 56a of the element passages 56 with respect to the axis line L1 of the element passages 56 is set to be 90°±20°, the entrances of the element passages 56 can have the minimum width necessary. Therefore, it is difficult for the fabric on the periphery of the slider 10 to enter the element passages 56, thereby further preventing jamming of the fabric due to the slider 10.

(49) Alternatively, as a first variant of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11, the connecting post 53 of the slider cover 50 may be divided into two upper and lower parts so that when the slider cover 50 is attached to the slider 10, the upper and lower parts of the connecting post 53 are bonded by adhesion, welding or the like. In this case, even if the slider cover 50 is made of hard synthetic resin, the slider cover 50 can be easily attached to the slider 10 of the slide fastener 30 after assembling. Also, in the present variant, a recess portion 53a is formed on a lower surface of the upper part of the divided connecting post 53 and a protrusion portion 53b to be fitted into the recess portion 53a is formed on an upper surface of the lower part of the divided connecting post 53. Alternatively, the recess portion 53a and the protrusion portion 53b may be reversely arranged. In addition, as for a method of bonding the upper and lower parts of the connecting post 53, instead of adhesion or welding as described above, for example, as shown in second to fourth embodiments described below, an engaging protrusion portion may be provided on one side thereof and an engaging recess portion may be provided on the other side so that they may be snapped and engaged to each other.

(50) Alternatively, as a second variant of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12, the lower plate 52 may be extended rearward and a receiving portion 57 configured to receive the lower blade 22 of the slider 10 may be formed on the lower plate 52, in addition to the receiving portion 54 of the upper plate 51. Like the receiving portion 54, the receiving portion 57 has an elliptical shape as viewed from the upper side and is formed to receive the entire circumference of the lower blade 22. According to the present variant, because the receiving portions 54 and 57 are respectively formed on the upper plate 51 and the lower plate 52, the slider 10 can be more securely held.

(51) Alternatively, the slider cover 50 of the present embodiment may be used in other then the slider 10 in which the upper flange 24a is formed on the upper blade 21. For example, the slider cover may be also used in a slider of a slide fastener of a type in which fastener element rows are attached on back surfaces of fastener tapes, i.e., a slider in which a flange is formed on a lower blade. In this case, the cover-side flanges 55 to be formed on the slider cover 50 are not formed on the upper plate 51, but on the lower plate 52. Namely, the element passages 56 become sections defined by the lower surface of the upper plate 51, the upper surface of the lower plate 52, right and left cover-side flanges 55 extending from the lower plate 52 and side surfaces of the connecting post 53.

Second Embodiment

(52) Next, a second embodiment of a slider cover for a slide fastener according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 13 to 15. Meanwhile, components identical or similar to those of the first embodiment are indicated by identical reference numerals in the figures, and the descriptions thereof will be omitted or simplified.

(53) As shown in FIGS. 13 to 15, the slider cover 60 of the present embodiment includes a upper plate (upper member, first member) 61 and a lower plate (lower member, second member) 62, which are spaced apart from each other in the upward and downward direction and arranged in parallel to each other, and a connecting post 63 connecting the upper plate 61 with the lower plate 62. In addition, the upper plate 61 has a receiving portion 64 configured to receive an upper blade 21 of a slider 10. Also, the connecting post 63 is formed to extend downward from a front end of the upper plate 61 and to be connected to the lower plate 62. Further, the slider cover 60 is formed of elastomer or synthetic resin. Meanwhile, the slider 10 of the present embodiment is a slider, which does not have an automatic stop function.

(54) The upper plate 61 has a upper surface and a lower surface, and the receiving portion 64 is a hole portion penetrating through the upper and lower surfaces of the upper plate 61 and is formed to receive the entire circumference of the upper blade 21. Also, the receiving portion 64 has an inner surface 64a for defining the hole portion, and the inner surface 54a receives the upper blade 21 so as to come in contact with the entire circumference of a side wall 21a of the upper blade 21. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 15, the entire circumference of the side wall 21a of the upper blade 21 is surrounded by the inner surface 64a of the receiving portion 64 and thus the slider cover 60 is held on the slider 10.

(55) Also, in a state where the slider cover 60 is held on the slider 10, the upper surface of the upper plate 61 and an upper surface of the upper blade 21 are positioned at approximately the same height. Therefore, the pull tab attachment portion 20a provided on the upper surface of the upper blade 21 and the pull tab 11 attached to the pull tab attachment portion 20a are arranged above the upper plate 61 and thus the pull tab 11 can be operated above the upper plate 61. Accordingly, when sliding the slider 10, the inner surface 64a of the receiving portion 64 of the slider cover 60 comes in contact with the side wall 21a of the upper blade 21 only by operating the pull tab 11, and thus the slider cover 60 can be moved to correspond to movement of the slider 10.

(56) Also, on a front end portion of the receiving portion 64, a pair of right and left plate portions 61a configured to come in contact with the upper surface of the upper blade 21 of the slider 10 is integrally formed with the upper plate 61. In addition, a recess portion 61b, into which a base portion of the pull tab attachment portion 20a of the slider 10 is fitted, is formed between the pair of right and left plate portions 61a.

(57) The lower plate 62 is formed in a generally ship shape and has on the upper surface thereof a recess portion 62a formed configured to receive the lower blade 22 of the slider 10. Also, the lower plate 62 is provided with a connecting hole (engaging recess portion) 62b configured to connect with the connecting post 63 and having a generally rectangular shape as viewed from the upper side.

(58) The connecting post 63 is formed in a generally rectangular cross-sectional shape to be inserted into the connecting hole 62b of the lower plate 62. In addition, as shown in FIG. 15, a restriction portion 63a configured to be inserted into the connecting hole 62b of the lower plate 62 and thus to restrict a relative rotation between the upper plate 61 and the lower plate 62 is formed on a front portion of a lower end of the connecting post 63. Also, an engaging portion (engaging protrusion portion) 63b configured to be inserted into the connecting hole 62b of the lower plate 62 and thus to be snapped and engaged in the connecting hole 62b of the lower plate 62 is formed on a rear portion of the lower end of the connecting post 63.

(59) Also, a receiving recess portion 62c configured to receive the restriction portion 63a and the engaging portion 63b is formed on the lower surface of the lower plate 62. In addition, due to the receiving recess portion 62c, the restriction member 63a and the engaging portion 63b are configured not to protrude below the lower surface of the lower plate 62.

(60) Further, the slider cover 60 has cover-side flanges 65 formed along both right and left side edges of the upper plate 61 to protrude downward. In addition, as shown in FIG. 15, lower end edges of the cover-side flanges 65 are arranged below lower end edges of the upper flanges 24a of the slider 10.

(61) Next, as for a method of attaching the slider cover 60 to the slider 10, as shown in FIG. 14, after the upper plate 61 and the lower plate 62 are arranged on top of one another with the slider 10 interposed therebetween, the connecting post 63 of the upper plate 61 is inserted into the connecting hole 62b of the lower plate 62 and then the engaging portion 63b of the connecting post 63 is snapped and engaged into the connecting hole 62b, thereby attaching the slider cover 60 to the slider 10.

(62) In the slider cover 60 configured as described above, a fabric on the periphery of the slider 10 is separated into right and left sides of the slider cover 60 by a side surface of the upper plate 61 and a side surface of the lower plate 62 of the slider cover 60 upon sliding of the slider 10. Therefore, the fabric on the periphery of the slider 10 is prevented from entering the element guide path 27 of the slider 10, thereby preventing jamming of the fabric due to the slider 10.

(63) As described above, according to the slider cover 60 of the present embodiment, the slider cover 60 includes the upper plate 61 and the lower plate 62, which are spaced apart from each other in the upward and downward direction and arranged in parallel to each other, and the connecting post 63 connecting the upper plate 61 with the lower plate 62, and the upper plate 61 has the receiving portion 64 configured to receive the upper blade 21 of the slider 10. Accordingly, the slider cover 60 can be simply attached to the slider 10 without performing a processing to the slider 10 and the fabric on the periphery of the slider 10 can be prevented from being jammed into the slider 10.

(64) Also, according to the slider cover 60 of the present embodiment, the lower end edges of the cover-side flanges 65 of the slider cover 60 are arranged below the lower end edges of the upper flanges 24a of the slider 10. Accordingly, a gap between upper and lower flanges 24a and 24b of the slider 10 can be narrowed, so that the fabric on the periphery of the slider 10 can be further prevented from being jammed into the slider 10.

(65) The other configurations and the effects thereof are identical to those of the first embodiment.

(66) In the foregoing, as the first and second embodiments, the slider cover 50 having a function of preventing jamming of a fabric in order to impart an additional function to the slider 10 has been described. Meanwhile, the second embodiment has also a cool feeling prevention function as described below, in addition to the jamming prevention function. Particularly, when the slider 10 is made of metal and the slide fastener is used in flies of clothes or the like, a user is likely to feel a cool feeling if a back surface of the metal slider 10 is touched to a human skin. However, because the slider cover 50 is attached to the slider 10 to cover a part or all of the guide post 23 or the lower blade 22 of the slider 10, it is possible to prevent the metal part of the slider 10 from being touched to the human skin.

Third Embodiment

(67) Next, a third embodiment of a slider cover for a slide fastener according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 16 to 22. Meanwhile, components identical or similar to those of the first embodiment are indicated by identical reference numerals in the figures, and the descriptions thereof will be omitted or simplified.

(68) As shown in FIGS. 16 to 19, the slider cover 70 includes a upper plate (upper member, first member) 71 and a lower plate (lower member, second member) 72, which are spaced apart from each other in the upward and downward direction and arranged in parallel to each other, and a connecting post 73 connecting the upper plate 71 with the lower plate 72. In addition, the upper plate 71 has a receiving portion 74 configured to receive an upper blade 21 of a slider 10. Also, the connecting post 73 is formed to extend downward from a front end of the upper plate 71 and to be connected to the lower plate 72. Further, the slider cover 70 is formed of elastomer or synthetic resin.

(69) Meanwhile, the slider cover 70 is used in a slide fastener 30A having a separable end stop as shown in FIG. 16. The separable end stop 34 of the slide fastener 30A includes a box pin 34a and a box body 34b attached to an end of one fastener element row 31 and an insert pin 34c attached to an end of the other fastener element row 31. Also, the insert pin 34c can be inserted into the box body 34b, and right and left fastener element rows 31 are engaged with each other by pulling up the slider 10 in a state where the insert pin 34 has been inserted in the box body 34b. Also, reinforcing films 33 are affixed to right and left fastener tapes 32 on both sides of the separable end stop 34.

(70) The upper plate 71 has a upper surface and a lower surface, and the receiving portion 74 is a hole portion penetrating through the upper and lower surfaces of the upper plate 71 and having an elliptical shape as viewed from the upper side and is formed to receive the entire circumference of the upper blade 21. Also, the receiving portion 74 has an inner surface 74a for defining the hole portion, and a part of the inner surface 74a receives the upper blade 21 so as to come in contact with a part of a side wall 21a of the upper blade 21. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 16, the side wall 21a of the upper blade 21 is surrounded by the inner surface 74a of the receiving portion 74 and thus the slider cover 70 is held on the slider 10.

(71) Also, in a state where the slider cover 70 is held on the slider 10, the upper surface of the upper plate 71 and an upper surface of the upper blade 21 are positioned at approximately the same height. Therefore, the pull tab attachment portion 20a provided on the upper surface of the upper blade 21 and the pull tab 11 attached to the pull tab attachment portion 20a are arranged above the upper plate 71 and thus the pull tab 11 can be operated above the upper plate 51. Accordingly, when sliding the slider 10, the inner surface 74a of the receiving portion 74 of the slider cover 70 comes in contact with the side wall 21a of the upper blade 21 only by operating the pull tab 11, and thus the slider cover 70 can be moved to correspond to movement of the slider 10.

(72) In addition, the receiving portion 74 is formed to be larger than the upper blade 21, and as shown in FIG. 16, a gap S is formed between the inner surface 74a of the receiving portion 74 and the side wall 21a of the upper blade 21 in a state where the slider cover 70 is attached to the slider 10. Also, the gap S is particularly formed to be larger in a width direction of the slider 10 so that the slider 10 can be easily received in the receiving portion 74 of the slider cover 70.

(73) Also, as shown in FIGS. 18 and 19, the slider cover 70 includes a pair of right and left cut-out portions 71 formed on right and left sides of a front portion of the upper plate 71 with the connecting post 73 interposed therebetween, and cover-side flanges 75 formed along both right and left side edges of the upper plate 71 to protrude downward. More specifically, the cover-side flanges 75 are provided on both sides of the receiving portion 74 in a width direction thereof and extend from the lower surface of the upper plate 71 toward the lower plate 72. Also, inner surfaces of the cover-side flanges 75 are the same surface as the inner surface 74a of the receiving portion 74, and the cover-side flanges 75 are formed to extend from a front end to a rear end of the upper plate 71.

(74) Further, as shown in FIG. 18, a recess portion 72a configured to receive a part of the lower blade 22 of the slider 10 is formed on the upper surface of the lower plate 72. In addition, a connection portion 76 having a connecting hole (engaging recess portion) 77 configured to connect with the connecting post 73 is formed on a front end of the lower plate 72.

(75) Also, as shown in FIG. 18, the lower plate 72 is comprised of a pair of right and left first lower plates 72c extending from the connecting post 73 outward in the width direction and a second lower plate 72d extending from the pair of right and left first lower plates 72c and having an upper surface formed downward below upper surfaces of the pair of right and left first lower plates 72c, and a stepped portion 72e, which can come in contact with the side wall 22a of the lower blade 22, is formed between inner surfaces of the first lower plates 72c and an inner surface of the second lower plate 72d.

(76) Further, as shown in FIG. 19, each of the pair of right and left first lower plate 72c is formed to extend forward beyond the upper plate 71. Namely, front ends of the first lower plates 72c are located forward beyond a front end of the upper plate 71. In addition, as shown in FIG. 18, inner surfaces of the pair of right and left first lower plates 72c have an inclined surface 72f inclined forward and downward from a rear end portion of the inner surface.

(77) The connecting post 73 is of a generally elliptical cross-sectional shape, and as shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, a pair of front and rear engaging portions (engaging protrusion portions) 73a configured to be inserted into the connecting hole 77 of the connection portion 76 and thus to be respectively snapped and engaged to front and rear engaging protrusions 77a inside the connecting hole 77 is formed on a lower end of the connecting post 73.

(78) Next, as for a method of attaching the slider cover 70 to the slider 10, as shown in FIG. 20, the upper plate 71 and the lower plate 72 are arranged on top of one another with the slider 10 interposed therebetween, and then the engaging portions 73a of the connecting post 73 of the upper plate 71 are snapped and engaged to the engaging protrusions 77a of the connecting hole 77 of the lower plate 72, thereby attaching the slider cover 70 to the slider 10.

(79) In this case, attaching the slider cover 70 to the slider 10 may be performed before the slider 10 is inserted onto the pair of fastener element rows 31, but preferably after the slider 10 has inserted onto the pair of fastener element rows 31, more preferably after the slide fastener 30A has been attached to an attached body, such as clothes. Thus, the slider cover 70 does not hinder inserting of the slider or attaching to the attached body. Meanwhile, it is noted that this effect is the same in all embodiments of the present invention.

(80) In the slider cover 70 configured as described above, as shown in FIGS. 21 and 22, when the insert pin 34c of the separable end stop 34 is inserted into the box body 34b, the insert pin 34c is guided into the element guide path 27 of the slider 10 by the inclined surface 72f of the left first lower plate 72c of the lower plate 72 of the slider cover 70. Thus, the insert pin 34c of the separable end stop 34 can be easily inserted into the box body 34b.

(81) In this case, a color scheme of portions of the first lower plates 72c, which are extended forward beyond the upper plate 71, may be configured to have a color different from those of a color scheme of the slide fastener 30A or the slider cover 70 except the extended first lower plates 72c, preferably to have a more brilliant color, such as fluorescent colors. Thus, aged or partially-sighted people can easily guide the insert pin 34c into the element guide path 27 of the slider 10.

(82) As described above, according to the slider cover 70 of the present embodiment, the slider cover 70 includes the upper plate 71 and the lower plate 72, which are spaced apart from each other in the upward and downward direction and arranged in parallel to each other, and the connecting post 73 connecting the upper plate 71 with the lower plate 72, and the upper plate 71 has the receiving portion 74 configured to receive the upper blade 21 of the slider 10. Accordingly, the slider cover 70 can be simply attached to the slider 10 without performing a processing to the slider 10 and also the insert pin 34c of the separable end stop 34 can be easily inserted into the box body 34b.

(83) Alternatively, although in the present embodiment, the lower plate 72 is provided with the pair of right and left first lower plates 72c, the present invention is not limited to that, and the first lower plate 72c may be provided on either one of right and left sides if a side, into which the insert pin 34c is to be inserted, has been determined.

(84) The other configurations and the effects thereof are identical to those of the first embodiment.

(85) In the foregoing, as the third embodiment, the slider cover 70 having a function of guiding the insert pin in order to impart an additional function to the slider 10 has been described. Meanwhile, like the first embodiment, the third embodiment has also a cool feeling prevention function as described below, in addition to the function of guiding the insert pin.

Fourth Embodiment

(86) Next, a fourth embodiment of a slider cover for a slide fastener according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 23 to 25. Meanwhile, components identical or similar to those of the first embodiment are indicated by identical reference numerals in the figures, and the descriptions thereof will be omitted or simplified.

(87) As shown in FIGS. 22 to 25, the slider cover 80 includes a upper plate (upper member, first member) 81 and a lower plate (lower member, second member) 82, which are spaced apart from each other in the upward and downward direction and arranged in parallel to each other, and a connecting post 83 connecting the upper plate 81 with the lower plate 82. In addition, the upper plate 81 has a receiving portion 84 configured to receive an upper blade 21 of a slider 10. Also, the connecting post 83 is formed to extend downward from a front end of the upper plate 81 and to be connected to the lower plate 82. Further, the slider cover 80 is formed of elastomer or synthetic resin. In the present embodiment, the slider 10 is made of metal.

(88) The upper plate 81 has a upper surface and a lower surface, and the receiving portion 84 is a hole portion penetrating through the upper and lower surfaces of the upper plate 81 and having an elliptical shape as viewed from the upper side and is formed to receive the entire circumference of the upper blade 21. Also, the receiving portion 84 has an inner surface 84a for defining the hole portion, and a part of the inner surface 84a receives the upper blade 21 so as to come in contact with a part of a side wall 21a of the upper blade 21. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 23, the side wall 21a of the upper blade 21 is surrounded by the inner surface 84a of the receiving portion 84 and thus the slider cover 80 is held on the slider 10.

(89) Also, in a state where the slider cover 80 is held on the slider 10, the upper surface of the upper plate 81 and an upper surface of the upper blade 21 are positioned at approximately the same height. Therefore, the pull tab attachment portion 20a provided on the upper surface of the upper blade 21 and the pull tab 11 attached to the pull tab attachment portion 20a are arranged above the upper plate 81 and thus the pull tab 11 can be operated above the upper plate 81. Accordingly, when sliding the slider 10, the inner surface 84a of the receiving portion 84 of the slider cover 80 comes in contact with the side wall 21a of the upper blade 21 only by operating the pull tab 11, and thus the slider cover 80 can be moved to correspond to movement of the slider 10.

(90) In addition, the receiving portion 84 is formed to be larger than the upper blade 21, and as shown in FIG. 23, a gap S is formed between the inner surface 84a of the receiving portion 84 and the side wall 21a of the upper blade 21 in a state where the slider cover 80 is attached to the slider 10. Also, the gap S is particularly formed to be larger in a width direction of the slider 10 so that the slider 10 can be easily received in the receiving portion 84 of the slider cover 80.

(91) Also, as shown in FIG. 25, the slider cover 80 includes cover-side flanges 85 formed along both right and left side edges of the upper plate 81 to protrude downward. More specifically, the cover-side flanges 85 are provided on both sides of the receiving portion 84 in a width direction thereof and extend from the lower surface of the upper plate 81 toward the lower plate 82. Also, inner surfaces of the cover-side flanges 85 are the same surface as the inner surface 84a of the receiving portion 84, and the cover-side flanges 85 are formed to extend from a front end to a rear end of the upper plate 81.

(92) Further, as shown in FIGS. 24 and 25, a recess portion 82a configured to receive the lower blade 22 of the slider 10 from a shoulder mouth 25-side end portion thereof to a rear mouth 26-side end portion thereof is formed on an upper surface of the lower plate 82. Thus, a lower surface of the lower blade 22 of the slider 10 is covered with the lower plate 82. In addition, a connection portion 86 having a connecting hole (engaging recess portion) 87 configured to connect with the connecting post 83 is formed on a front end of the lower plate 82.

(93) Also, as shown in FIG. 25, the lower plate 82 is comprised of a pair of right and left first lower plates 82c extending from the connecting post 83 outward in the width direction and a second lower plate 82d extending from the pair of right and left first lower plates 82c and having an upper surface formed downward below upper surfaces of the pair of right and left first lower plates 82c, and a stepped portion 82e, which can come in contact with the side wall 22a of the lower blade 22, is formed between inner surfaces of the first lower plates 82c and an inner surface of the second lower plate 82d.

(94) The connecting post 83 is of a generally elliptical cross-sectional shape, and as shown in FIGS. 24 and 25, a pair of front and rear engaging portions (engaging protrusion portions) 83a configured to be inserted into the connecting hole 87 of the connection portion 86 and thus to be respectively snapped and engaged to front and rear engaging protrusions 87a inside the connecting hole 87 is formed on a lower end of the connecting post 83.

(95) Next, as for a method of attaching the slider cover 80 to the slider 10, the upper plate 81 and the lower plate 82 are arranged on top of one another with the slider 10 interposed therebetween and then the engaging portions 83a of the connecting post 83 of the upper plate 81 are snapped and engaged to the engaging protrusions 87a of the connecting hole 87 of the lower plate 82, thereby attaching the slider cover 80 to the slider 10.

(96) In the slider cover 80 configured as described above, because the lower surface of the lower blade 22 of the slider 10 is covered with the lower plate 82 of the slider cover 80 made of synthetic resin, the lower blade 22 does not come in contact with a user, thereby preventing the lower blade 22 from giving a cool feeling to the user. Alternatively, so long as a function of preventing giving a cool feeling is imparted, it is not necessary to cover all of the lower blade 22 with the lower plate 82, and for example, as described in the first embodiment and the third embodiment, at least a part of the lower blade 22 may be covered. In addition, if at least a part of the lower blade 22 is covered, a possibility that the slider 10 comes directly in contact with a skin of the user is reduced.

(97) As described above, according to the slider cover 80 of the present embodiment, the slider cover 80 includes the upper plate 81 and the lower plate 82, which are spaced apart from each other in the upward and downward direction and arranged in parallel to each other, and the connecting post 83 connecting the upper plate 81 with the lower plate 82, and the upper plate 81 has the receiving portion 84 configured to receive the upper blade 21 of the slider 10. Accordingly, the slider cover 80 can be simply attached to the slider 10 without performing a processing to the slider 10 and also the lower blade 22 can be prevented from giving a cool feeling to the user.

(98) Alternatively, although in the present embodiment, the entire lower surface of the lower blade 22 is covered with the lower plate 82 of the slider cover 80, the present invention is not limited to that, and a protrusion portion protruding downward from the lower plate 82 may be provided to prevent the lower blade 22 from coming in contact with the user, and in this case, the entire lower surface of the lower blade 22 may not be covered with the lower plate 82.

(99) The other configurations and the effects thereof are identical to those of the first embodiment.

(100) In the foregoing, as the fourth embodiment, the slider cover 80 having a cool feeling prevention function in order to impart an additional function to the slider 10 has been described.

(101) In the foregoing, even if the sliders used in the first to fourth embodiments are sliders to which special functions are not imparted, the slider cover, which is the prevent invention, can be used to provide a slide fastener having various functions. Therefore, there is no need to manage inventories of sliders for each function as in a conventional case, and thus a highly versatile slide fastener can be provided.

(102) Meanwhile, the present invention is not limited to those that were illustrated in the foregoing embodiments but can be suitably changed without departing from the concept of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

(103) 10 Slider for Slide Fastener 11 Pull Tab 20 Body 20a Pull Tab Attachment Portion 21 Upper Blade 21a Side Wall 22 Lower Blade 22a Side Wall 23 Guide Post 24a Upper Flange (Slider-Side Flange) 25 Shoulder Mouth 26 Rear Mouth 30 Slide Fastener 31 Fastener Element Row 32 Fastener Tape 50, 60, 70, 80 Slider Cover 51, 61, 71, 81 Upper Plate (Upper Member) 52, 62, 72, 82 Lower Plate (Lower Member) 52a, 62a, 72a, 82a Recess Portion 52b Recessed Groove 52c, 72c, 82c First Lower Plate 52d, 72d, 82d Second Lower Plate 52e, 72e, 82e Stepped Portion 53, 63, 73, 83 Connecting Post 54, 64, 74, 84 Receiving Portion 54a, 64a, 74a, 84a Inner Surface S Gap 55, 65, 75, 85 Cover-Side Flange 56 Element Passage 56a Entrance Edge Portion L1 Axis Line of Element Passage θ Angle 63b, 73a, 83a Engaging Portion (Engaging Protrusion portion) 62b, 77, 87 Connecting Hole (Engaging Recess Portion) 72f Inclined Surface