Slide fastener

Abstract

In a slide fastener, a fastener tape is woven with a single-woven structure, and in the fastener tape, a double-woven region woven with a double-woven structure is formed along a tape longitudinal direction. An inner single-woven region and an outer single-woven region of the single-woven structure are formed at a tape inner edge side and a tape outer edge side of the double-woven region. Thus, even if the fastener tape makes contact with ridge line portions on a lower blade side of the slider when the slider is slid, weft yarns arranged in the double-woven region are less likely to be cut.

Claims

1. A slide fastener comprising: a pair of fastener stringers each having an element row attached along a respective tape inner side edge portion of a woven fastener tape and a slider capable of engaging and disengaging the element rows; the slider having upper and lower blades, a guide post connecting between the upper and lower blades, lower flange portions erected along each of a right side edge portion and a left side edge portion of the lower blade, and ridge line portions formed on each of the lower flange portions between an upper surface and an outer side surface of the lower flange portion, wherein each of the fastener tapes has an inner single-woven region formed at the tape inner side edge portion and an outer single-woven region formed at a tape outer side edge portion of a double-woven region, the inner single-woven region and the outer single-woven region woven with a single-woven structure, the double-woven region woven with a double-woven structure and formed between the inner single-woven region and the outer single-woven region so the respective ridge line of the slider passes along the double-woven region; each of the fastener tapes has weft yarns running in a tape width direction in the inner single-woven region, the double-woven region, and the outer single-woven region, each of the double-woven regions includes a first weave portion on a tape upper surface side and a second weave portion on a tape lower surface side, and the weft yarns in the double-woven region are divided into the first weave portion and the second weave portion, and the weft yarns are connected together at an end portion of the inner single-woven region on a side of the double-woven region and at an end portion of the outer single-woven region on a side of the double-woven region respectively.

2. The slide fastener according to claim 1, wherein a boundary between the double-woven region and the inner single-woven region in each of the fastener tapes is arranged between an inner side surface of the lower flange portion of the slider and the-ridge line portion.

3. The slide fastener according to claim 1, wherein the double-woven structure is a hollow weave structure.

4. The slide fastener according to claim 1, wherein a core thread is woven into the tape inner side edge portion of each of the fastener tapes, the element rows each include a plurality of fastener elements attached to the respective tape inner side edge portion, each of the fastener elements includes a pair of leg portions sandwiching the fastener tape or a body portion fixed to the fastener tape, and an end portion of the leg portions or the body portion is located on the inner single-woven region.

5. The slide fastener according to claim 1, wherein each of the fastener tapes includes at least 8 but no more than 12 warp yarns in the double-woven region.

6. The slide fastener according to claim 1, wherein each of the fastener tapes has a core thread portion along the tape inner side edge portion, and the core thread portion has a double-woven structure, is on a side of the inner single-woven region opposite the double-woven region, and holds a core thread.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a slide fastener according to a first embodiment of the invention.

(2) FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a bag that the slide fastener is used.

(3) FIG. 3 is a structure diagram schematically showing a part of weave structure of a fastener tape in the slide fastener.

(4) FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the slide fastener.

(5) FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view showing the slide fastener when a pull tab is pulled and a slider is slid.

(6) FIG. 6 is a principal portion sectional view expanding and showing a principal portion of the slide fastener.

(7) FIG. 7 is a principal portion sectional view expanding and showing a principal portion of the slide fastener when the pull tab is pulled and the slider is slid.

(8) FIG. 8 is a structure diagram schematically showing a weave structure of the fastener tape in the slide fastener according to a modification of the first embodiment.

(9) FIG. 9 is a structure diagram schematically showing a weave structure of the fastener tape in the slide fastener according to another modification of the first embodiment.

(10) FIG. 10 is a structure diagram schematically showing a weave structure of the fastener tape in the slide fastener according to further another modification of the first embodiment.

(11) FIG. 11 is a principal portion sectional view expanding and showing a principal portion of the slide fastener according to a second embodiment of the invention.

(12) FIG. 12 is a sectional view showing a concealed type slide fastener according to a third embodiment of the invention.

(13) FIG. 13 is a sectional view showing a conventional slide fastener.

MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

(14) Preferred embodiments of the invention will be described below in detail by citing examples and referring to drawings. However, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described below and various alterations can be made insofar as the configuration is substantially the same as that of the invention and similar operational effects are achieved.

(15) For example, in each embodiment described below, material and modes of the fastener element composing of an element row are not particularly limited and can be changed arbitrarily. Also, the fastener element may be attached to a tape inner side edge portion of a fastener tape after the fastener tape is woven, and may be attached to the tape inner side edge portion of the fastener tape at the same time as the fastener tape is woven.

(16) First Embodiment

(17) FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a slide fastener according to the first embodiment of the invention and FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a bag that the slide fastener is used. Also, FIG. 3 is a structure diagram schematically showing a part of weave structure of a fastener tape. Further, FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the slide fastener.

(18) In the description described below, a forward and backward direction refers to a longitudinal direction of the fastener tape and is the same direction as a sliding direction of a slider. Particularly, a direction that the slider is slid in a way that the slide fastener is closed by engaging right and left fastener elements is defined as the forward, and a direction that the slider is slid in a way that the slide fastener is opened by disengaging right and left fastener elements is defined as the backward.

(19) The right and left direction refers to a tape width direction of the fastener tape and a direction parallel to the tape surface of the fastener tape and perpendicular to the tape longitudinal direction. In addition, an upward and downward direction refers to a front and back direction of a fastener tape perpendicular to the tape surface of the fastener tape, and especially, a direction of the side on which a pull tab of the slider is arranged with respect to the fastener tape is defined as the upward and a direction of the opposite side thereof is defined as the downward.

(20) A slide fastener 1 according to the first embodiment is configured as a normal-type of slide fastener that an element row 20 is formed on a tape inner side edge portion lib of a band-like fastener tape 11. The slide fastener 1 according to the first embodiment, for example, as shown in FIG. 2, is used by being attached to an opening portion 5a of a main storage part of a bag 5 (shoulder bag) and an opening portion 5b of an outside pocket.

(21) The slide fastener 1 according to the first embodiment includes a pair of fastener stringers 10 on which the element row 20 is formed by a plurality of fastener elements 21 made of metal being attached in a row along the tape inner side edge portion 11b opposite to right and left fastener tapes 11, a first stop 6 (also called a top stop) disposed on a front end portion of each of the fastener stringers 10 and adjacent to the element row 20, a second stop 7 (also called a bottom stop) disposed so as to extend over a rear end portion of a pair of fastener stringers 10 and adjacent to the element row 20, and a slider 30 disposed slidably along the element row 20.

(22) The slide fastener 1 according to the first embodiment is mainly characterized by the fastener tape 11, and as for a fastener element 21, the first stop 6, the second stop 7, and an slider 30, the same as conventional ones are used (especially, as for the first stop, the second stop, and the slider, the ones for the fastener element made of metal).

(23) Specifically, the fastener element 21 made of metal of the first embodiment includes a coupling head 22 and a pair of leg portions 24 branched and extended from the coupling head 22 via a crotch portion 23. Further, a coupling convex portion is projected on a front surface side (forward side surface side of the tape longitudinal direction) of the coupling head 22, and a coupling recess portion, into which the coupling convex portion, an engaging counterpart, is fitted, is recessed on a rear surface side (backward side surface side of the tape longitudinal direction) of the coupling head 22.

(24) The fastener element 21 is attached to the fastener tape 11 at a predetermined interval by caulking both leg portions 24 in an adjacent direction (inside) with each other and sandwiching the fastener tape in a state where the tape inner side edge portion 11b (also called an element attaching portion) including a core thread portion 11c described below of the fastener tape 11 is inserted between a pair of leg portions 24. In this case, an end portion of a tape width direction at the leg portions 24 of the fastener element 21 (an end portion of inward side of the tape opposite to the coupling head 22) is located on an inner single-woven region 14 described below.

(25) The slider 30 of the first embodiment is the slider for a fastener element made of metal and is equipped with a slider body 31 and a pull tab 32 that is rotably held on the slider body 31. The slider body 31 has an upper blade 33, a lower blade 34, a guide post 35 connecting between shoulder-side end portions of the upper blade 33 and the lower blade 34, and a pull tab attaching post 36 which is erected on the upper surface side of the upper blade 33.

(26) The upper blade 33 is equipped with an upper blade body 33a and right and left upper flange portions 33b vertically provided from right and left side edge portions of the upper blade body 33a toward the lower blade 34. The lower blade 34 is equipped with a lower blade body 34a and right and left lower flange portions 34b erected from right and left side edge portions of the lower blade body 34a toward the upper blade 33. Further, a tape insertion gap 37 allowing right and left fastener tapes 11 to be inserted into is formed between the upper flange portion 33b of the upper blade 33 and the lower flange portion 34b of the lower blade 34.

(27) In addition, right and left shoulders sandwiching the guide post 35 are formed at the front end of the slider body 31 and a back opening is formed at the back end of the slider body 31. Also, a substantially Y-shaped element guide passage communicating right and left shoulders and the back opening is formed between the upper blade 33 and the lower blade 34.

(28) The fastener tape 11 of the first embodiment is woven by weft-inserting of the weft yarns 8 as reciprocation of a carrier bar in an opening of warp yarns 9 using weft yarns 8 composed of two-folded yarns and a plurality of warp yarns 9. Incidentally, in the invention, material and fineness of the warp yarns 9 and the weft yarns 8 composing of the fastener tape 11 are not particularly limited, the same yarns as generally-used warp yarns and weft yarns for a conventional slide fastener 1 can be used. Further, the material and the fineness of the warp yarns 9 and the weft yarns 8 can be arbitrarily changed as needed.

(29) The fastener tape 11, as shown in FIG. 3, has a tape main body portion 11a sewn to fastener adhered products such as the bag 5 and a tape inner side edge portion (element attaching portion) 11b that the fastener elements 21 are attached. The core thread portion 11c, into which an expanded core thread 12 is woven, is arranged at the side end edge inside of the fastener tape 11. The core thread portion 11c, as described below, is composed by holding and stabilizing the core thread 12 within the hollow weave structure formed at the side end edge of the fastener tape 11.

(30) Further, the fastener tape 11, for example in a case where the pull tab 32 of the slider 30 is pulled and the slider 30 is slid, as shown in FIG. 5, makes contact with an outside ridge line portion 34c which is arranged by being sandwiched between the upper end surface (an opposed upper surface opposite to the upper flange 33b of the upper blade 33) and the outer side surface (a surface which extend in the upward and downward direction of the fastener tape and is perpendicular to the upper end surface of the lower flange portion 34b) of the lower flange portion 34b in the slider 30. The state, with which the fastener tape 11 and the lower flange portion 34b of the slider 30 is in contact, is maintained while the slider 30 is operated by holding the pull tab 32.

(31) In a sliding operation as shown in FIG. 5, when sliding the slider 30 so as to make the fastener element 21 of a pair of right and left fastener stringers 10 engage, the ridge line portion 34c of the lower flange portion 34b, particularly, the part of shoulder side at the ridge line portion 34c makes contact with the fastener tape 11. Further, there is a case where the ridge line portion 34c is continuously formed from the outer side surface to the inner side surface of the lower flange portion 34b at the shoulder side of the lower flange portion 34b. In this case, the ridge line portion 34c presents a part of an inside ridge line portion 34d arranged between the inner side surface and the upper end surface of the lower flange portion 34b described below. The outside ridge line portion 34c shall include a surface part which continues from the outer side surface to the inner side surface of the lower flange portion 34b like the part of the shoulder side.

(32) In this case, in the fastener tape 11, when sliding the slider 30, the tape part which makes or may make contact with the outside ridge line portion 34c of the lower flange portion 34b is specified as a slier contact part. The slider contact part continuously exists along the tape longitudinal direction of the fastener tape 11 over the predetermined region in the tape width direction so as to correspond with a position of the outside ridge line portion 34c of the slider 30.

(33) The above-mentioned slider contact part is an area where makes or may make contact with the outside ridge line portion 34c of the lower flange portion 34b by pulling the slider 30 upward of the fastener tape 11 or by pulling the fastener tape 11 toward the lower flange portion 34b.

(34) Further, as for the slider contact part, for example, since a dimension between the inner side surface and the outer side surface of the lower flange portion 34b of the slider 30 is measured and a position away at a distance of its dimension from the leg portions 24 of the fastener element 21 can be approximated as the slider contact part, it is also possible to identify the above-mentioned approximated position as the slider contact part which is the tape portion corresponding to the position of the outside ridge line portion 34c of the lower flange portion 34b. Namely, it is included that a case where the slider contact part of the fastener tape 11 is likely to make contact with the outside ridge line portion 34c of the lower flange portion 34b, for example, when the slider 30 is pulled strongly, even if the slider contact part of the fastener tape 11 does not make contact with the outside ridge line portion 34c of the lower flange portion 34b under normal use. That is to say, an area of the fastener tape 11 corresponding to the position of the outside ridge line portion 34c is an area intersecting with the surface of the fastener tape 11 when drawing a virtual line in the upward and downward direction which passes through the outside ridge line portion 34c.

(35) Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the fastener tape 11 of the first embodiment is woven with a single-woven structure and has a weave structure in which a predetermined region in the tape width direction is woven with a double-woven structure.

(36) Specifically explained, the fastener tape 11 of the first embodiment has a double-woven region 13 arranged throughout a predetermined region in the tape width direction including the above-mentioned slider contact part, an inner single-woven region 14 arranged adjacent to the tape inner edge side of the double-woven region 13, a core thread holding region 16 arranged at further tape inner edge side of the inner single-woven region 14 and woven with the hollow weave structure so as to hold the core thread 12, an outer single-woven region 15 arranged adjacent to the tape outer edge side of the double-woven region 13, and an ear portion (not shown) which is formed by hanging a next located weft yarn 8 sequentially and connecting a folded end of a loop at the outer side edge portion of the fastener tape 11.

(37) Incidentally, the tape inner edge side of the fastener tape 11 can be expressed as a central side in the tape width direction of a pair of fastener stringers 10 in a state that a pair of fastener stringers 10 are arranged in a parallel fashion. The tape outer edge side can be expressed as the edge side opposite to the edge where the fastener element of the fastener stringer 10 is attached.

(38) In the first embodiment, the double-woven region 13 including the slider contact part is configured with the hollow weave structure using weft yarns 8 composed of two-folded yarns and eight warp yarns 9, and as shown in FIG. 6 and the like, is equipped with a first weave portion 25a disposed on the upper surface side of the tape and a second weave portion 25b disposed on the lower surface side of the tape. In this case, the first weave portion 25a and the second weave portion 25b are formed by separating from each other, and are connected together at the end portion on the side of the double-woven region 13 in the inner single-woven region 14 and at the end portion on the side of the double-woven region 13 in the outer single-woven region 15.

(39) Further, the double-woven region 13 is composed of a 1/3, 3/1 structure in which four warp yarns 9a arranged at the first weave portion 25a run on the lower side of a set of weft yarns 8 and the upper side of three sets of weft yarns 8, and four warp yarns 9b arranged at the second weave portion 25b run on the lower side of three sets of weft yarns 8 and the upper side of a set of weft yarns 8. Furthermore, in the invention, the double-woven region 13, for example, can also be composed of a 1/4, 4/1 structure.

(40) Since the weft yarns 8 which run in the tape width direction are arranged by alternately dividing into the first weave portion 25a and the second weave portion 25b in the double-woven region 13 composed in this manner, a density of the weft yarns 8 arranged to the first weave portion 25a and the second weave portion 25b respectively becomes about half the size of the density of the weft yarns 8 in the inner single-woven region 14 and the outer single-woven region 15.

(41) Therefore, in the double-woven region 13 composed of the 1/3, 3/1 structure of the first embodiment, for example, compared to the conventional case where the region is composed of the single-woven structure, the proportion (or the area) of the weft yarns 8 exposed to the upper surface side of the first weave portion 25a and the lower surface side of the second weave portion 25b is drastically reduced and the proportion (or the area) of the warp yarns 9 exposed to the upper surface side of the first weave portion 25a and the lower surface side of the second weave portion 25b is increased.

(42) In addition, in the double-woven region 13, since the warp yarns 9 and the weft yarns 8 are arranged by dividing into the first weave portion 25a on the upper surface side and the second weave portion 25b on the lower surface side, the flexibility is increased and the tape thickness becomes thick compared to the inner single-woven region 14 and the outer single-woven region 15 of the fastener tape 11.

(43) The inner single-woven region 14 of the first embodiment is formed by weft yarns 8 composed of two-folded yarns and two warp yarns 9 and is composed of a plain weave structure (1/1 structure) in which a single warp yarn 9 alternately runs on the upper side of a set of weft yarns 8 and on the lower side of a set of weft yarns 8. As a result, the inner single-woven region 14 has a solid structure, makes the tape thickness in the inner single-woven region 14 thin, and can smoothen the front surface and back surface of the tape in the inner single-woven region 14.

(44) Further, the outer single-woven region 15 is formed between the double-woven region 13 and the ear portion using the weft yarns 8 composed of two-folded yarns and a plurality of warp yarns 9, and is composed of a twill weave structure (2/2 structure) in which a single warp yarn 9 alternately runs on the upper side of two sets of weft yarns 8 and on the lower side of two sets of weft yarns 8.

(45) With the above-mentioned arrangement of the inner single-woven region 14 and outer single-woven region 15 adjacent to the double-woven region 13 so as to sandwich the double-woven region 13, it allows to stabilize a weave structure of the double-woven structure 13 and to prevent a position of the warp yarns 9 arranged in the double-woven region 13 from causing a shift in the weft direction. Further, the inner single-woven region 14 stabilizes a weave structure of the core thread holding region 16 and serves a role to stabilize a position of the core thread 12 held at the core thread holding region 16.

(46) A boundary between the inner single-woven region 14 and the double-woven region 13 is located between a warp yarn 9 on the side of the double-woven region 13 out of two warp yarns 9 arranged in the inner single-woven region 14 (warp yarns which are in contact with all weft yarns) and a warp yarn 9 of the double-woven region 13 adjacent to the above warp yarn 9 (a warp yarn which is in contact with only a weft yarn which forms either of the first weave portion 25a or the second weave portion 25b). In other words, the extent of the inner single-woven region 14 is from a warp yarn 9 adjacent to the core thread portion 11c to a warp yarn 9 adjacent to the double-woven region 13 of the inner single-woven region 14.

(47) Further, a boundary between the outer single-woven region 15 and the double-woven region 13 is located between a warp yarn 9 on the side closest to the double-woven region 13 out of warp yarns 9 (warp yarns which are in contact with all weft yarns) arranged in the outer single-woven region 15 and a warp yarn 9 of the double-woven region 13 adjacent to the above warp yarn 9 (warp yarn which is in contact with only a weft yarn which forms either of the first weave portion 25a or the second weave portion 25b). In other words, the extent of the outer single-woven region 15 is from a warp yarn 9 adjacent to the double-woven region 13 of the outer single-woven region 15 to a warp yarn 9 adjacent to the ear portion.

(48) The core thread holding region 16 of the first embodiment is the similar hollow weave structure to the double-woven region 13, in other words, it is composed of the 1/3, 3/1 structure and the core thread 12 is held between a weave portion disposed on the upper surface side of the tape and a weave portion disposed on the lower surface side of the tape.

(49) Further, in the fastener tape 11 of the first embodiment, the inner single-woven region 14 whose tape thickness is thin is arranged corresponding to the position of the inside ridge line portion 34d arranged between the upper end surface and the inner side surface at the lower flange portion 34b of the slider 30, and the boundary between the inner single-woven region 14 and the double-woven region 13 is formed between a position of the inner side surface at the lower flange portion 34b and a position of the outsider ridge line portion 34c (See FIGS. 4 and 6). In the slide fastener 1 of the first embodiment, the fastener tape 11 is located in a substantially center portion of the tape front and back direction with respect to the fastener element 21 and is inserted into a tape insertion gap 37 of the slider 30.

(50) In this case, since the inner single-woven region 14 of the fastener tape 11 is arranged adjacent to the core thread portion 11c held by the fastener element 21, the inner single-woven region 14 is located in a substantially center portion of the tape front and back direction at the tape insertion gap 37 of the slider 30 from a positional relationship between the fastener element 21 and the slider 30, and is scarcely contact with the lower flange portion 34b or the upper flange portion 33b of the slider 30.

(51) However, for example, with a long-term usage of the slide fastener 1, a repeated sliding operation of the slider 30 causes a repeated collision between the lower flange portion 34b and the fastener element 21. Therefore, the inside ridge line portion 34d at the lower flange portion 34b can be gradually plastically deformed so as to sharpen a tip end portion while extending upward little by little toward the tape insertion gap 37. When the inside ridge line portion 34d which is sharply deformed in this manner makes contact with the fastener tape 11 while extending upward little by little, a failure that the fastener tape 11 is cut occurs when sliding the slider 30.

(52) With respect to such a failure, in the slide fastener 1 of the first embodiment, the inner single-woven region 14 whose tape thickness is thin as mentioned above is arranged corresponding to the position of the inside ridge line portion 34d at the lower flange portion 34b of the slider 30. This makes the deformed inside ridge line portion 34d difficult to contact with the fastener tape 11 even if the inside ridge line portion 34d at the lower flange portion 34b is deformed so as to extend upward as mentioned above, which enables to extend the life of the slide fastener 1 by significantly delaying the time when the fastener tape 11 is cut by the inside ridge line portion 34d of the slider 30.

(53) In the slide fastener 1 of the first embodiment having above configuration, for example, when the slider 30 is not operated, right and left fastener tapes 11, as mentioned above, are held at the substantially center portion of the tape insertion gap 37 of the slider 30 and are in a state of not contacting with either the lower flange portion 34b or the upper flange portion 33b of the slider 30 (See FIGS. 4 and 6).

(54) Meanwhile, for example in a case where the pull tab 32 is pulled and the slider 30 is slid, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, the slider 30 receives a tensile force from the pull tab 32 and is slid while being pulled obliquely upward. At this time, since the fastener tape 11 is curved so as to be inclined downward in the tape width direction from the tape inner side edge portion 11b toward the tape outer side edge portion, the slider 30 is slid along the element row 20 in a state where the outside ridge line portion 34c, which is arranged between the upper end surface and the outer side surface of the lower flange portion 34b, contacts with the double-woven region 13 of the fastener tape 11. Further, in a case where the slider 30 of the slide fastener 1 attached to a bag is slid, it becomes more prominent that the slider 30 is slid while being pulled obliquely upward because a sliding operation is carried out in a state where the bag is being put on a shoulder.

(55) In this case, in the fastener tape 11 of the first embodiment, as mentioned above, an area of the weft yarns 8 exposed to the lower surface side of the second weave portion 25b of the double-woven region 13 is drastically reduced and an area of the warp yarns 9 exposed to the lower surface side of the second weave portion 25b is increased. Therefore, the weft yarns 8 themselves are less likely to directly contact with the lower flange portion 34b of the slider 30, and the slider 30 mainly makes contact with the warp yarns 9 exposed to the lower surface side of the second weave portion 25b, which allows to minimize the extent of damage of weft yarns 8 received from the slider 30. Accordingly, even if the double-woven region 13 of the fastener tape 11 directly makes contact with the lower flange portion 34b of the slider 30 when sliding the slider 30, the weft yarns 8 arranged in the double-woven region 13 are less likely to be cut.

(56) In addition, in a case where the fastener tape 11 is curved so as to be inclined downward from the tape inner side edge portion 11b toward the tape outer side edge portion as mentioned above when sliding the slider 30, in the double-woven region 13, the first weave portion 25a arranged at the upper surface side of the tape is elongated and supports a curvature of the fastener tape 11, and the second weave portion 25b arranged at the lower surface side of the tape is kept in a state of slightly loosening in the tape width direction by only the part arranged more inside circular arc than the first weave portion 25a.

(57) At this time, at the second weave portion 25b which makes contact with the lower flange portion 34b of the slider 30, the degree of freedom capable of moving in the tape width direction is larger than the first weave portion 25a. Therefore, even if the second weave portion 25b makes contact with the lower flange portion 34b of the slider 30 and is subjected to stress, it is possible to disperse the stress effectively throughout the second weave portion 25b without focusing the stress only on a few warp yarns 9. This allows to effectively prevent a position of each warp yarn 9 from causing a shift in the tape width direction on the second weave portion 25b and to prevent an occurrence of shift of warp yarns 9 on the second weave portion 25b.

(58) Accordingly, in the slide fastener 1 of the first embodiment, even if the slider 30 is repeatedly slid, it allows to extremely reduce the possibility that the weft yarns 8 are cut by a contact of the slider 30 and to further extend the life of the slide fastener 1 because the weft yarns 8 are not exposed to the second weave portion 25b of the double-woven region 13 for a long time due to a shift of warp yarns 9.

(59) In addition, in the double-woven region 13 of the fastener tape 11 of the first embodiment, as mentioned above, flexibility is increased and the tape thickness becomes thick compared to the inner single-woven region 14 and the outer single-woven region 15. Due to high flexibility of the double-woven region 13, it allows a small movement of each fastener element 21 when engaging and disengaging the element row 20 by sliding the slider 30 and enables to cause the fastener tape 11 to be easily curved along an element guide passage. As a result, slidability and operability of the slider 30 are significantly improved, and it is possible to carry out a sliding operation of the slider 30 smoothly with a light force.

(60) Further, since the double-woven region 13 which passes through the tape insertion gap 37 of the slider 30 is formed thick, a space part of the tape insertion gap 37 is filled widely by the double-woven region 13. Therefore, when sliding the slider 30, it is possible to effectively prevent other members such as fabric other than the slide fastener 1 from being caught in the tape insertion gap 37 of the slider 30 and to carry out a sliding operation of the slider 30 more smoothly and stably.

(61) Furthermore, in the invention, material and modes of the fastener element can be changed arbitrarily as mentioned above. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, it is possible to attach a fastener element 21a to a tape inner side edge portion 17b of a fastener tape 17. In this case, the fastener element 21a is formed by an injection molding of synthetic resin and has a body portion fixed to the fastener tape 17, a neck portion extending outward from the body portion and having a constricted form so that the dimension of the tape longitudinal direction makes narrow, and a coupling head which further extend outward from the neck portion. In this case, the end portion in the tape width direction of the body portion of the fastener element 21a (end portion of the tape inner side opposite to the coupling head) is located on an inner single-woven region 14a described below.

(62) In addition, in the invention, if the inner single-woven region and the outer single-woven region of the fastener tape are respectively formed with a single-woven structure, the specific weave structure is not particularly limited. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, it is possible to configure the fastener tape 17 by changing the weave structure of the inner single-woven region 14a from the plain weave structure (1/1 structure) to the twill weave structure (2/2 structure) in which a single warp yarn 9 alternately runs on the upper side of two sets of weft yarns 8 and on the lower side of two sets of weft yarns 8.

(63) By configuring the inner single-woven region 14a with the 2/2 structure in this manner, flexibility of the inner single-woven region 14a is increased. Therefore, it is possible to further improve the slidability and operability of the slider 30. In addition, in a case where the inner single-woven region 14a is the 2/2 structure, the tape thickness of the inner single-woven region 14a is thicker than the case of the 1/1 structure.

(64) By making the thickness of the inner single-woven region 14a of the fastener tape 17 thick, in a case where the fastener element 21a is formed by an injection molding of synthetic resin as mentioned above, it is possible to perform injection molding in a state where the fastener tape 17 is stably sandwiched between molding dies. Therefore, it is possible to stably form the fastener element 21a at a predetermined position of the fastener tape 17, and to prevent an occurrence of molten metal leakage during injection molding more effectively.

(65) Further, in the invention, depending on the intended use of the slide fastener 1, it is possible to arbitrarily change the number of warp yarns 9 arranged to each region of the fastener tape. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, it enables to increase the number of warp yarns 9 arranged in the inner single-woven region 14b of the fastener tape 18 to four, and then as shown in FIG. 10, it enables to set the number of warp yarns 9 arranged in a double-woven region 13a of a fastener tape 19 to 12.

(66) In this case, it is preferable that the number of warp yarns 9 arranged in the double-woven region 13 and 13a of the invention is set especially to eight or more but not exceeding 12 yarns. Setting eight or more warp yarns 9 to be arranged in the double-woven region 13 and 13a enables to reliably configure a predetermined area including the slider contact part of the fastener tape 11 with the double-woven structure. Further, setting warp yarns 9 arranged in the double-woven region 13 and 13a not more than 12 can prevent a width dimension of the double-woven region 13 and 13a from becoming too large, and prevent the fastener tape 11, 17, and 18 from being deformed by the first weave portion 25a and the second weave portion 25b being separated.

(67) Second Embodiment

(68) FIG. 11 is a principal portion sectional view expanding and showing a principal portion of the slide fastener according to the second embodiment of the invention.

(69) The slide fastener 2 according to the second embodiment is configured as a normal-type of slide fastener, and has a pair of fastener stringers 40 in which a coil-shaped fastener element 51 is sewn along the inner side edge portion opposite to right and left fastener tapes 41, a first stop (not shown)and a second stop (not shown) disposed on a front end portion and on a rear end portion of each of the fastener stringers 40, and a slider 60 disposed slidably along a continuous element row of the fastener stringer 40.

(70) In the slide fastener 2 of the second embodiment, the fastener element 51 has a similar configuration to a conventional coil-shaped fastener element, and the first stop, the second stop, and the slider 60 have a similar configuration to the conventional first stop, second stop and slider used for the coil-shaped fastener element.

(71) Specifically, the coil-shaped fastener element 51 of the second embodiment has a coupling head 52, an upper leg portion 53 and a lower leg portion 54 disposed so as to extend in the tape width direction from the coupling head 52, and a connection portion 55 which connects between the upper leg portion 53 of the fastener element 51 and the lower leg portion 54 of the adjacent next located fastener element 51. The fastener element 51 forms the continuous element row by being sewn to the fastener tape 41 with double chain stitching using a sewing yarn 57 in a state where a core thread 56 is inserted between the upper leg portion 53 and the lower leg portion 54.

(72) The slider 60 of the second embodiment is a slider for the coil-shaped fastener element 51, and is equipped with a slider body 61 and a pull tab (not shown) that is rotably held on the slider body 61. The slider body 61 has an upper blade 63, a lower blade 64, a guide post (not shown) connecting between shoulder-side end portions of the upper blade 63 and the lower blade 64, and a pull tab attaching post (not shown) which is erected on the upper surface side of the upper blade 63.

(73) The upper blade 63 is equipped with an upper blade body 63a and right and left upper flange portions 63b vertically provided from right and left side edge portions of the upper blade body 63a toward the lower blade 64. Further, the lower blade 64 is formed flat and the lower flange portion is not provided at right and left side edge portions of the lower blade 64. In this case, a tape insertion gap 67 which inserts the fastener tape 41 is formed between the upper flange portion 63b of the upper blade 63 and right and left side edge portions of the lower blade 64.

(74) The fastener tape 41 of the second embodiment is woven using weft yarns 8 composed of two-folded yarns and a plurality of warp yarns 9, and has a tape main body portion and a tape inner side edge portion (element attaching portion) that the fastener element 51 is attached. Further, in the fastener tape 41, in a case where a pull tab of the slider 60 is pulled and the slider 60 is slid, a slider contact part, which makes contact with a ridge line portion 64a arranged by being sandwiched between an upper surface (an opposed upper surface opposite to the upper blade 63) and an outer side surface (a surface which extends in the upward and downward direction of the fastener tape and is perpendicular to the upper surface of the lower blade 64) of the lower blade 64 of the slider 60, exists continuously along the tape longitudinal direction.

(75) Further, the fastener tape 41 of the second embodiment has a double-woven region 43 arranged throughout a predetermined region in the tape width direction including the slider contact part, an inner single-woven region 44 arranged adjacent to the tape inner edge side of the double-woven region 43, an outer single-woven region 45 arranged adjacent to the tape outer edge side of the double-woven region 43, and an ear portion (not shown) which is formed by hanging a next located weft yarn 8 sequentially and connecting a folded end of a loop at an outer side edge portion of the fastener tape 41. In this case, the fastener element 51 is located on the inner single-woven region 44.

(76) Further, each weave structure of the double-woven region 43, the inner single-woven region 44, and the outer single-woven region 45 in the second embodiment is configured in the same way as the double-woven region 13, the inner single-woven region 14, and the outer single-woven region 15 of the fastener tape 11 in the above-mentioned first embodiment.

(77) In the slide fastener 2 of the second embodiment as mentioned above, for example when a pull tab is pulled and the slider 60 is slid, weft yarns 8 arranged in the double-woven region 43 are less likely to be cut as is the case in the slide fastener 1 of the above-mentioned first embodiment even though the double-woven region 43 of the fastener tape 41 makes contact with the ridge line portion 64a on the side of the lower blade 64 of the slider 60. Further, even if the slider 60 is repeatedly slid, it is possible to prevent an occurrence of a shift of warp yarns 9 at the second weave portion 25b in the double-woven region 43, to extremely reduce the possibility that weft yarns 8 are cut, and to further extend the life of the slide fastener 2.

(78) Further, even in the slide fastener 2 of the second embodiment, since the double-woven region 43 is arranged in a predetermined region of the fastener tape 41, flexibility in the double-woven region 43 is increased and the tape thickness becomes thick. Therefore, the effect that slidability and operability of the slider 60 are improved can be obtained and it is possible to effectively prevent other members from being caught in the tape insertion gap 67 of the slider 60.

(79) Further, in the slider 60 of the second embodiment, right and left lower flange portions erected from right and left side edge portions of the lower blade 64 toward the upper blade 63 may be equipped. In this case, the lower flange portion is smaller than the dimension in the upward and downward direction of the upper flange portion 63b. Then, the tape insertion gap that inserts right and left fastener tapes 11 is formed between the upper flange portion 63b of the upper blade 63 and the lower flange portion of the lower blade 64. In the slider, the ridge line portion is arranged between the upper end surface (an opposed upper surface) opposite to the upper blade 63 of the lower flange portion and the outer side surface of the lower flange portion (a surface which extends in the upward and downward direction of the fastener tape and is perpendicular to the upper end surface of the lower flange portion).

(80) Third Embodiment

(81) FIG. 12 is a sectional view showing a concealed type slide fastener according to the third embodiment of the invention.

(82) The concealed type slide fastener 3 according to the third embodiment has a pair of concealed type fastener stringers 70, a first stop (not shown) and a second stop (not shown) disposed on a front end portion and on a rear end portion of each of the fastener stringers 70, and a slider 90 arranged slidably along a continuous element row of the fastener stringer 70.

(83) The concealed type fastener stringer 70 of the third embodiment has a fastener tape 71 and a continuous element row arranged along an element attaching portion 71c of the fastener tape 71. The fastener tape 71 is equipped with a tape main body portion 71a, a folded tape portion 71b which is extended from one side edge of the tape main body portion 71a and which is folded into the U-shape, and an element attaching portion 71c which is further extended from the folded tape portion 71b.

(84) The continuous element row is configured by being sewn to the fastener tape 71 with double chain stitching using a sewing yarn 87 in a state where a coil-shaped fastener element 81 inserts through a core thread 86 between an upper leg portion 83 and a lower leg portion 84. Each of the fastener element 81 is attached to the element attaching portion 71c so as to project a coupling head 82 outward from the folded tape portion 71b of the fastener tape 71. In this case, the fastener tape 71 is configured in a way that the folded tape portions 71b of right and left fastener tapes 71 contact with each other when engaging right and left continuous element rows.

(85) The slider 90 of the third embodiment is a slider for the concealed type slide fastener, and is equipped with a slider body 91 and a pull tab 92 that is rotably held on the slider body 91. The slider body 91 has an upper blade 93, a lower blade 94, a guide post 95 which connects between shoulder-side end portions of the upper blade 93 and the lower blade 94, and a pull tab attaching post 96 which is erected on the upper surface of the upper blade 93.

(86) The upper blade 93 is formed flat and the upper flange portion is not provided at right and left side edge portions of the upper blade 93. Further, the lower blade 94 is equipped with a lower blade body 94a and right and left lower flange portions 94b which are erected from right and left edges of the lower blade body 94a toward the upper blade 93. In this case, a tape insertion gap 97 which inserts the fastener tape 71 is formed between right and left side edge portions of the upper blade 93 and the lower flange portion 94b of the lower blade 94.

(87) In the third embodiment, the fastener tape 71 is woven using weft yarns composed of two-folded yarns and a plurality of warp yarns. Further, in the fastener tape 71, in a case where the pull tab 92 of the slider 90 is pulled and the slider 90 is slid, a slider contact part which makes contact with the upper end edge (tip edge) at the lower flange portion 94b of the slider 90, in particular, which makes contact with an outside ridge line portion 94c between the upper end surface and the outer side surface at the lower flange portion 94b, exists continuously along the tape longitudinal direction.

(88) Further, although an illustration is omitted, the fastener tape 71 of the third embodiment has a double-woven region arranged throughout a predetermined region in the tape width direction including the slider contact part, an inner single-woven region arranged adjacent to the tape inner edge side of the double-woven region, an outer single-woven region arranged adjacent to the tape outer edge side of the double-woven region, and an ear portion formed by hanging a next located weft yarn sequentially and connecting a folded end of a loop at an outer side edge portion of the fastener tape 71.

(89) In this case, each weave structure of the double-woven region, the inner single-woven region, and the outer single-woven region of the third embodiment is configured in the same way as the fastener tape 11, 41 of the above-mentioned first and second embodiments. In other words, the double-woven region of the third embodiment is configured with the hollow weave structure of which the number of warp yarns 9 is set to eight or more but not exceeding 12 yarns, and is equipped with the first weave portion arranged on the side of the first surface (tape outer surface) of the tape, a tape surface on the side to which the fastener element is attached, and the second weave portion arranged on the side of the second surface (tape inner surface) of the tape which contacts with the lower flange portion 94b of the slider 90.

(90) Further, in the fastener tape 71 of the third embodiment, a boundary between the inner single-woven region and the double-woven region is formed between a position of an inner side surface and an outside position of the ridge line portion 94c at the lower flange portion 94b of the slider 90. The inner single-woven region whose tape thickness is thin is arranged corresponding to a position of the inside ridge line portion arranged between an upper end surface and the inner side surface at the lower flange portion 94b of the slider 90.

(91) In the above-mentioned concealed type slide fastener 3 of the third embodiment, as is the case with the normal-type of slide faster 1, 2 of the first and second embodiments, in the double-woven region, an area of the weft yarns exposed to the side of the tape second surface of the second weave portion is drastically reduced, and an area of the warp yarns exposed to the side of the tape second surface is increased.

(92) Therefore, the weft yarns of the second weave portion at the double-woven region are less likely to directly contact with the outside ridge line portion 94c at the lower flange portion 94b of the slider 90, and it is possible to minimize the extent of damage of weft yarns received from the slider 90. Accordingly, even if the double-woven region of the fastener tape 71 makes contact with the outside ridge line portion 94c at the lower flange portion 94b of the slider 90 when sliding the slider 90, the weft yarns arranged in the double-woven region are less likely to be cut.

(93) In addition, in the concealed type slide faster 3, in the double-woven region formed at the folded tape portion 71b, the first weave portion arranged on the side of the tape first surface is elongated and supports bent shape of the fastener tape 71, and the second weave portion arranged on the side of tape second surface is kept in a state of slightly loosening in the tape width direction by only the part arranged more inside than the first weave portion.

(94) At this time, at the second weave portion which contacts with the outside ridge line portion 94c of the slider 90 at the folded tape portion 71b, the degree of freedom capable of moving in the tape width direction is larger than the first weave portion. Therefore, even if the second weave portion makes contact with the outside ridge line portion 94c of the slider 90 and is subjected to stress, it is possible to disperse the stress effectively throughout the second weave portion. This allows to effectively prevent a position of each of warp yarns from causing a shift in the tape width direction and to prevent an occurrence of shift of warp yarns on the second weave portion.

(95) Accordingly, in the concealed type slide faster 3 of the third embodiment, even if the slider 90 is repeatedly slid, it allows to extremely reduce the possibility that the weft yarns are cut by a contact of the slider 90 and to further extend the life of the concealed type slide fastener 3 because the weft yarns are not exposed to the double-woven region of the fastener tape 71 for a long time due to a shift of warp yarns.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

(96) 1, 2 Slide fastener 3 Concealed type slide fastener 5 Bag (shoulder bag) 5a, 5b Opening portion 6 First stop 7 Second stop 8 Weft yarn 9, 9a, 9b Warp yarn 10 Fastener stringer 11 Fastener tape 11a Tape main body portion 11b Tape inner side edge portion (element attaching portion) 11c Core thread portion 12 Core thread 13, 13a Double-woven region 14 Inner single-woven region 14a, 14b Inner single-woven region 15 Outer single-woven region 16 Core thread holding region 17 Fastener tape 17b Tape inner side edge portion 18 Fastener tape 19 Fastener tape 20 Element row 21, 21a Fastener element 22 Coupling head 23 Crotch portion 24 Leg portion 25a First weave portion 25b Second weave portion 30 Slider 31 Slider body 32 Pull tab 33 Upper blade 33a Upper blade body 33b Upper flange portion 34 Lower blade 34a Lower blade body 34b Lower flange portion 34c Outside ridge line portion 34d Inside ridge line portion 35 Guide post 36 Pull tab attaching post 37 Tape insertion gap 40 Fastener stringer 41 Fastener tape 43 Double-woven region 44 Inner single-woven region 45 Outer single-woven region 51 Fastener Element 52 Coupling head 53 Upper leg portion 54 Lower leg portion 55 Connection portion 56 Core thread 57 Sewing yarn 60 Slider 61 Slider body 63 Upper blade 63a Upper blade body 63b Upper flange portion 64 Lower blade 64a Ridge line portion 67 Tape insertion gap 70 Fastener stringer 71 Fastener tape 71a Tape main body portion 71b Folded tape portion 71c Element attaching portion 81 Fastener element 82 Coupling head 83 Upper leg portion 84 Lower leg portion 86 Core thread 87 Sewing yarn 90 Slider 91 Slider body 92 Pull tab 93 Upper blade 94 Lower blade 94a Lower blade body 94b Lower flange portion 94c Ridge line portion 95 Guide post 96 Pull tab attaching post 97 Tape insertion gap