CA1249117A - Method of manufacturing a water-resistant slide fastener stringer - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF DISCLOSURE

A water-resistant slide fastener stringer comprises a water-resistant support tape and a pair of rows of coupling elements mounted opposite on opposite surfaces of the support tape. According to the present invention, in production, the two coupling element rows are attached to one or water-resistant surface of a continuous water-resistant strip in a confronting relation to one another. Then the strip is folded into a pair of superposed strip halves along a longitudinal center line between the opposed coupling element rows. Finally, the confronting inner surfaces of the strip halves are joined to one another in a known manner, e.g. by an adhesive.

Description

hA~GROLJ~ F ~E Il~v~ r ~elated Ap~lication This is a divisional appliCatiOn of the co-pending Canadian Patent A~plication Serial l~o. 443,22~, filed ~ecember 18, 1983.

Field of t~Le Invention The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a water-resistant slide fastener suitable for ski wears, sports bags, camping tents, etc. whicA
require good resistance against rain and snow.
Prior Art A known water-resistant slide rastener stringer, as disclosed in Japanese ~atent ~ublication NO. 4b-17~7b, comprises a su~port tape and a row of coiled coupling elements mounted on one surface of the support tape; tne su~ort tape and tne coupling element row are covered ~y a layer of water-resistant elastomeric material. ~ucn prior slide fastener is not suita~le for sports bays, for example, because confron~ing contact edges o~ tne oppose~
support tapes ten~L to be easily disenga~ed from one another wh0n thrusting force is exerted on tne sup~ort tapes from the interior o~ the bag due to over-packiny, causing inadequate water-tightness.
U.S. Patent l~o. ~,~41,~L51 discloses a wat~r-resistant slide fastener which comprises a pair of opposed sealing members o~ water-resistant elastomeric material, a pair of opposed upper strin~ers attached to the sealing meMbers on respective upper surfaces thereof, and a pair of opposed lower stringers attached to tne sealing members on respective lower surraces thereof.
Although it guarantees ade~uate water-tightness, tne prior slide fastener has a very complex structure and therefore is not suita~le for ski wears, sports bags, campirLg tents 35 Which must ~e n,inlmized in weight. ~`urther, such comple~
slide fastener cannot be produced at low cost.

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U.S. ~atent L~O. 4,211,15~ discloses a met~od of manufacturiny a continuous water-resistant slide fastener stringerO The prior method, however, comprises complicated and hence la~orious ~rocessin~ steps which must be ~erformed meticulously witn a large scale and cornplex apparatus. ~ith this rnethod, it is difficult to coat water-resistant material over botn the support tape and the coupLing elements evenly. qherefore, satis~actory and uni~orm quality water-resistant sliae fasteners cannot be produced.
~Ui~lv~ O~' T~ V~TIO~
It is therefore an ob~ect of tne invention to provide a water-resistant slide ~astener suitable ~or particularly ski wears, s~orts bags, cam~ing tents, etc.
which require yoOa resistance a~ainst rain and snow.
Anotner ob~ect o~ trle invention is to ~rovi~e a durable water-resi~tant slide fastener wnicn is simple in constructivn and hence inexpensive.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a water-resistant slide fastener WlliCh mailltain adequate water-tightness between confrontin~ contact edyes of opposed support tapes even when tnrusting force is exerted on the tapes in eitner ~acewise direction.
A furtner object oi the invention is to a method of manufacturiny such water-resistant stringer easily and inexpensively without using any large scale and complex apparatus.
A still further object of tne invention is to provide a guide for su~portiny a continuous water-resistant strip and a pair 01 rows o~ coup1iny elernents while the latter iq sewn to the stri~ on a sewiny machine.
In yeneral tèrms, the invention ~rovides a metnod of manufacturing a water-resistant slide fastener stringer including a support tape sup~orting ~n op~osite surfaces a 3~2'~
4 _ pair of rows of coupling elements, co~prising the steps of:
(a) providing a continuous water-resistant stri~;
(b) attaching a pair of rows of coupling ele~ents to one surface of the water resistant strip in such a position that the pair of coupling element rows are dis~osed along a lonyitudinal center line of the water~resistant strip, one at each side thereof;
(c) then folding the water-resistant strip over itself, about said longitudinal center line, into a ~air of super~osed strlp nalves to provide the support tape; an~
(d) finally, ~oininy confrontiny inner surfaces o~
the su~erposed ~trip ~lalves togetner.
Many o~her o~jects, features and additional advantages o~ the ~resent invention will ~ecome ~lanifest : 15 to those versed in tne art u~on ~aKing reference to tne detailed description an~ the accompanying sheets of drawings in which preferred structural embodiments incorporating tne principles of the present invention are shown by way of illustrative exam~le.
~RI~F D~:SCRI~rIOl~ OF Th~ ~RAWl-~GS
~:; Fl~. 1 is a fragmentary plan vie~ of a water-resistant slide fastener embodying t~e present invention;
FIG. 2 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken along line II-II of ~IG. 1, showing onl~ one water-resistant fastener stringer;
i'~G~. ~ t~rough 11 are transverse cross-sectional vi~ws showing various Illodifications o~ the water-resistant fastener strinyer of ~I~. 2, each of ~'IG~. b an~ li illustrating the same having been interengaged witn a li~e com~anion stringer;
FIG. 1~ illustrates tne water-resistant stringer of ~IG. 5 as having been interengag~d witn a like companion stringer;

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~L29~
, FIG. 13 is a fragmentary transverse cross-sectional vie~ of a guide for su~orting a continuous water-resistant strip and a pair of rows o~
coupliny elements while the latter is sewn to the strip on a sewing r,lacnine (only sewing needles and loo~ers of tne machine are shown);
~ 'IGS. 14 tnrou~h 16 illustrate a method of manufacturing t~le water-resistant fastener stringe~ of each of FI~. 5 11, usiny the guide of ~ . 13;
l~ YlG. 17 is a fragmentary transverse cross-seetional view o~ a modified yuide;
h'I~ lustrates anotner method of manufacturing tne water-resistant ~astener stringer o~
each of ~IG~ 11, using the modified guide of ~I~. 17;
FlG. 19 illustrates the manner in wnich a water-resistant strip with a pair of couplirlg elemerlt rows attached thereto is ~olded on i-tself to ~rovide the water-resistant stringer of FIG. 12;
E'I~. 20 is a fragmentary plan view, partly in cross-section, of a modified water-resistant slide fastener;
FIG. ~ an enlarged transverse cross-sectional view taken along line XXl-XXI of r'lG. ~0, showin~ only one water-resistant fastener stringer;
FIGS. ~ throuyh 26 are transverse cross-sectional views showin~ various ~iodifications of tne water-resistant fastener strin~er of FIG. ~l, onl~ FlG. 2 illustratin~ the same havin~ been interenyaged with a com~anion strinyer;
FIG. 27 illustrates the w~ter-resistant fastener strin~er of FI~. 2~ as haviny been interenyayed witn a li~e companion strinyer;
FI~ 28 iilustrates the water-resistant fastener stringer of FIG. 25 as having been interengacjed with a like companion stringer; and .
, ~ 9 illustrates tne manner in whicn a water-resistant strip with a ~air of coupling element rows attached tnereto is folaed on itself to provide the water~re~is~ant fastener st~inger of k'lv. 2~.
DhTAI~h~ ~rs~krpTIvl~
_ ~ . 1 shows a water resistant slide fastener 1 com~risiny a pair of slide fastener strinyers 2, ~' (nereinafter referre~ to dS "~ater-resistant strin~ers").
~s shown in k'Iv. ~, each water-resistant stringer ~
includes a water-resistant support tape 3 and a ~air of upper and lower rows of coupling elements 4, 5 mounted on opposite surfaces of tne support tape 3 along a longitudinal marginal portion ~a tnereo~, ~he upper and lower coupling element rows 4, 5 ~ein~ enga~-eable witn a pair o~ corresponding coupling element rows 4', 5', respectively, of a like companion stringer ~' across an imayinary center line M of mutual engagementO The marginal yortion ~a of each water-resistant support tape has a contact edge ~b' that is enga~eable with a corresponding contact edge 3b' of the companion strin~er's support tape 3' to effect a water-tiyhtness between such two stringers 2, ~'. 1'he contact ed~e 3b in its free fOLIII
projects beyond tne center line ~1 vy a predetermined distance ~.
~ach row o~ coupliny elements 4, ~ COmpLiSeS a continuous coiled filament of syntnetic resin dttacned to the suppor~ tape ~ by sewn stitches 6 of "dou~le ïocked stitch" passing througn a pair of reinforcement cores ~ and the support tape 3, each reinforcement core 1 extending lon~itudinally throu~n tne successive coiled coupling elements o~ a respective row 4~ 5.
The support taEe 3 comprise~ a continuous core web or strip 11 of cloth covered on its whole surface by a layer 13 of water-resistant material such as natural or synt~letic rubber or otner elastomeric synthetic resin.

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~ . 3 snows a water~resis~ant stringer ~
according to a secon~ em~odiment in WhiCh the sup~or~ tape 3 comprises a pair ot super~ose~ strips 11, 11 of cloth, each strip ~eing covered on its whole surface ~cept one or inner surface by the water-resistant layer 1~. ln production, each cou~liny element row 4, 5 is mounted on the outer or coverea surface of a respective one of up~er and lower stri~s 11, ll ~y sewn stitches 6. 'l'r,er~ a film 14 of thermoplastic s~lthetic resin is sandwicned between the two stri~s 11, ll an~ is attached at opposite faces tO
the inner or non-covered surfaces of tne two strips 11, 11 in a well known manner such as by applyin~ neat and, pressure. Alternatively, tne inner confrontin~ surfaces of the two strips 11, ll may be bonded to one another by an adhesive.
FIG, 4 snows a tnird embo~iment in which the support tape 3 comprises a single strip of water-resiqtant material such as natural or synthetic rubber or other elastomeric syntnetic resin.
~ ~'IG. 5 shows a fourth embodiment ill which the support tape ~ comprises a continuous core web or strip 11 of cloth folded on itself into a pair o~ superposed strip halves lla, llb and covered on tne whole surface, exce~t inner surface, of edch strip half lla, llb b~ the water-resistant layer 13. ~ach row of couælin~ elements 4, 5 is mounted on tne outer or covered surface of tne res~ective strip halr lla, llb by sewn stitches 6. A ~ilm 14 of thermoplastic synthetic resin is sanawiched between the two strip halves lla, llb and is attacned at op~osite surfaces to tne inner or non-covered surfaces of the two strip halves lla, llb in a well known manner SUC~I as by applying heat and pressure. Alternatively, the inner confronting surfaces of the two strip halves lla, llb may be bonded to ona another by an adhesive. FIG. 12 illustrates the water-resistant stringer 2 of ~'lG. 5 as ; interenyaged with a like companion stringer 2'.

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~ I~. 6 shows a pair of water-resistant strin~ers

2, 2' accordiny to a fi~tn em~odiment in which the su~port tape ~ of each stringer com~rises a core weD or strip 11 of cloth folded Oll itself into ~ pair of superposed stri~
halves lla, llb and covered on the wnole sur~ace, except inner surface, of eacn strip half lla, llb ~y a layer 13 of water-resistant elastomeric material preterably comprising soft polyvinyl cnloride. ~he inner confrontiny surfaces of the two strip halves lla, l1~ may De bonded to one another by an adhesive. 1he support tape ~ has a projection ~c made of hard polyvinyl chloride and formed integ~ally with tne 1ayer 1~ of soft polyvinyl chloride ~y extrusion-molding. When the opposed stringers 2, 2' are interengaged, the projection 3c of one support tape 3 penetrates into the contact edge 3b' of tne otller support tape 3', causing an improved water-tightness between the opposed support tapes ~
E'I~. 7 snows a sixth em~odiment in which the support tape 3 comprises a strip ll of warp-knit fa~ric folded on itself into a pair of superposed strip halves l1a, llb and covered on outer surface of eacn strip na1f l1a, li~ by the water-resistant layer l~, the knit fabric being composea of tricot stitcnes forminc~ on tne inner or non-covered surface o~ each strip half lla, ll~ a plurality of longitudina1 wales lS and interwale grooves 16. The sewn stitches 6 extend throuyh a transver~e recess 17 in t~e upper leg ~ of the individual coupling element 4, ~ and through the warp-knit fabric strip half lla, l1b at interwale grooves l~, causing firm attachment

3~ of the coupling element rows 4, 5. A fillll 14 o~
thermoplastic synthetic resin is sandwiched between tne t~o strip halves lla, 1lb and is attached at opposite surfaces -to the inner or waled surfaces of the two strip halves lla, llb by applyin~ neat and pressure.

,~ , ~ 'IG. ~ snows a seventh el~odiment, the support tape ~ comprises a core weD or strip 11 o~ clotn covered by a layer 13 of water-resistant elastomeric material, and a ~l~rality o~ longitudinal reinforciny tnreads 1 embedded in the water-resistant layer i3.
ln an ei4htn embodiment shown in ~IG. ~, the support tape 3 comprises a core web or strip 11 o~ clotn covered by a layer 13 of water-resistant elastomeric material, and a single lon~itudinal reinforcing thread lh embedded in the water-resistant layer 13 alony tha contact edge ~b.
FI~. 10 shows a ninth embo~iment in which the support tape 3 comprises a core weD or strip 11 of cloth covered by a layer 13 of water-resistant elastomeric material. Tne sewn stitches ~ attaching the upper row OL
coupling elements 4 penetrate through the upper layer halr at 1~, while tile sewn stitches 6 attacning tne lower row of couplin~ elements ~ ~enetrate throug~l tne lower layer half at 2~, tne position 19 being out of ali~nment with 2~ tne position ~0 in a facewise ~irection of tne support tape 3 so as not to allow the penetration of water throu~n tre support tape 3 along the needle threads of the upper and lower sewn stitcnes 6 due to capillarity.
. 11 shows a tenth embodi~ent in wnicn the upper row of coupliny elements 4 is out o~ alignment with the lower row or couplin~ elements 5 in a facewise direction of the support tape 3 and in whicn the support tape 3 has an inclined contact edge 3b complementar~ in sha~e to a corresponding contact edge 3b' of the companion su~port tape 3'. With this arrangement, the contact edges 3b, 3b' of the opposed support tapes ~, 3' are enyageaDle with one another with an improved water~tightness.
l'he water-resistant stringer ~ o~ eacn of FI~
- 10 may be ~ro~uced in tne followiny manner, uslng a guide ~1 (FIG. 13) ~or supporting a continuous water-resistant strip j and a pair o~ rows of continuous coiled couplin~ elements 4, 5 while the latter is sewn to the water-resistant strip on a sewing ~achine (onl~ sewiny needles 21 and loopers 2~ of the machine are illustrated for clarity)~
The guide ~1 comprises an elonyate horizontal lower plate ~3 for supporting on its u~per surface the water-resistant strip ~, and an upper plate 2~ coextensive with and parallel to the lower plate 23, tne upper and lower plate 24, ~ jointly defining therebetween a longitudinal guide passa~e for the water-resistant stri~
3. The lower plate ~3 has in its upper surface a ~air o~
longitudinally extending parallel guide ~rooves ~ 6 ~or receiving a ~2ir of rows of coupling elements 4, ~, respectively, tne two ~uide grooves 25, ~ ~eing separated 'by a partition ~3'. Designated at 1~ is a center line of tne guide ~1. Tne lower plate 2-~ also has a pair of laterally spaced lower apertures 2~, 30 oyening into tne guide ~rooves ~5, 2~, res~ectively, for tne passa~e o~ tne : 20 respective sewiny needles 21. ~''he upper plate ~4 has a pair of laterally spaced upper apertures h7, ~ verticall~
aligned with tne lower apertures ~, 3~, respectiveiy, in the lower plate ~3 for the passa~e of the respective sewing needles 21. T'he two needles 21, 21 are spaced apart from one another ~y a predetermined distance æ.
In FIG. 14, a pair of disengaged rows of coiled coupling elements 4, S is threaded throu~h the pair of guide grooves ~5, ~6, respectively, in the lower plate ~3 in suc-h a position tnat tne coupling heads 7 of one couplin~ element row 4 are dispose~ opposite to those OI
tne other coupling element row 5 witn a predetermined space therebetween~ A continuous water-resistant stri~
i5 placed between the upper and lower plates 23, ~4 in such a position that tne water-resistant surface of tne strip 3 faces downwardly~ 1hen tne pair of rows of , ~-~2~

coupling elements 4, 5 is sewn to tne water-resi~tant surface of tne stri~ 3 on a sewing machine as shown in ~lG. 15, durin~ wnicn time tne sewin4 needles ~ 1 (each carrying a needle thread) are moved toward and away Lrom tne corresponding loopers 22, 2~ (eacn carrying a looper tnread~ through tne upper and lower apertures 27, 2~; 2~, 30 to form sewn stitches b, such as double locked stitches, with the needle and looper t~reads. I'nus t~le needle thread of each sewn stitches & extend throu~n the strip ~ and tnen tnrouyh the space between adjacent coupling elements o~ a res~ective row 4, ~, and are interloo~ed with tne looper thread wnicn extends over the upper legs ~ of tne successive coupling elements of the respective row 4, ~. ~ith tne pair of coupling element rows 4, 5 mounted on its lower or water-resistant sur~ace, the strip 3 is ~olded on ltself into a pair of superposed ~trip nalves alony a longitudinal center line ~ (~IG.
to form a longitudinal contact edge 3b centrally between the two coupliny element rows 4, ~. ~inally, the oppose~
strip Aalves are joined together at their confronting element-free surfaces by ap~lyin~ neat and pressure, witn a film 14 of thermoplastic synthetic resin san~wiched between the two strip halves. Alternatively, the confrontin~ surfaces o~ tne two strip halves may De ~on~ed to one anotner by an adhesi~e. >
'Ihus the water-resistant stringer ~ of eac}l of FIGS. 5 - 10 can be produced with an improved rate of production, in part because the water-resistant sup~ort tape 3 per se can be provided easily and inexpensively without any large scale and complex apparatus and in ~art because the attaching of the coupliny element rows ~, ~
can ~e performed on a conventional orainar~ sewin~ machine with tne use of tne yuide ~1 wnich is very si~llple in construction and hence inexpensive. lnis method also gua~antees niyn and uniform ~uality strin~ers ~or water~resistant slide fasteners.

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3~7 Usiny a guide ~2 shown in Fl~. 17 and 1~, the water-resistant stringer 2 o~ each of ~IG~. 5 - 1~ may also ~e produced in an alternative method described as follows.
The guide ~ comprises an elongate norizontal lower plate ~3' for supporting on its upper surface tne water~resistant strip 3, and an upper plate ~4' coextensive with and parallel to the lower pl.ate 23', tne upper ancl lower plates ~4 ', 2~' jointly defininy 1~ therebetween a longitudinal guide passage for the water-resistant strip 3 Tne lower plate ~' has in its upper surface a first longitudinal guide ~roove ~' for receivin~ a ~air o~ interen~aged rows of couplln~ elements

4, ~. Tne lower plate 2.~' also has a pair of laterall~
spaced lower apertures 2~', 30' o~enin~ into the first guide ~roove ~ or tne passa~e o~ tne resyective sewiny needles ~1, 21. 'rhe two needles ~1, 21 are spaced apart from one another by a predetermining distance ~'. Tne ~upper plate 24' has a pair of laterally spaced upper 20 apertures 27', 2~' vertically aligned with tne lower apertures 29', ~0', respectively, in the lower plate 23' for the passag~ of the respective sewin~ naedles ~1, ~1.
The upper plate ~4' also has a downwardly facing second longitudinal guide groove 31 disposed between tne up~er apertures ~7', 28' and in concronting relation to the first ~uide groove 25' of tne lower plate ~3'. A liner 32 extends longitudinally through the second ~uide groove of the upper plate 24' so as to define therewith a lonyitudinal of inverted U-snaped cross section.
In F~ , a pair of interengayed rows of coiled couplin~ elements 4. 5 is threa~ed tnrou~l the first yuide yroove ~S' in tne lower plate 2~'. ~ continuous water-resistant strip 3 is placed ~etween the upper and lower plates 24', ~3' in sucn a position tnat the water-resiatant surface of the strip 3 faces ~ownwardl~, ' ~

1249~

with a longitudinaily extendin~ central portion 3d of tne strip 3 t'nreaded tnrough tne cnannel defined in the second guide groove 31. Thus the central portion ~d of the strip 3 is received in the second guide yroove 31 in a curved

5 form to constitute a slack portion bul~iny from tne stri~
3 in an opposite direction to the coupling element rows 4, S.
Tnen the pair o~ interengaged rows of cou~lin~
elements 4, S i5 sewn to the water-resistant surface of the strip ~ at opposite sides of tne slac~ central ~ortion ~d in the manner descri~ed above in connection witn ~
14 and 15~ 'rhe o~posed couplin~ element rows 4, 3 are disenga~ed and, at the same time, tAe slack portion ~d o~
the strip 3 is tautened. '~nus a semi-product of ~I~. lg ~nas been provided.
With tne opposed coupling element rows 4~ ~
mounted on tne water-resistant surface of tne strip ~ witr-a predetermined space bet~een the two coupliny element rows 4, 5, the strip 3 is folded on itseli into a pair of superposed strip halves along the longitudinal center line L (FIG. 19) to form a longitudinal contact edge 3b centrally between the op~osed coupling element rows 4, 5.
Finally, the opposed strip halves are joined toyetner at their confronting element-free surfaces in the manner described above.
'rO produce tne water-resistant strin~er of ~IG.
11, tne strip 3 of the semi-product shown in Fl~ is folded on itself along a longitudinal oIf-center line ~ so as to ~orm a longitudinal inclined contact ed~e 3D ~etween the opposed coupling element rows 4, 5.
FIG. 20 shows a pair o~ water-resistant strin~ers 102, 10~' accordlng to an eleventh embodiment, eacn stringer haviny a pair of rows of discontinuous couplirlg scoops 104, 105 (made ot metal or syntnetic resin) mounted on opposite surfaces o~ a water-resistant support tape a~4~

10~. ~s shown in FI~. ~1, the support tape 103 comprises a stri~ of water-resistant material such as natural or syntnetic rubber or other elastomeric syntnetic resin.
Tne water-resistant strip lu3 has on opposite $urfaces a pair of longitudinal lugs lUU, 1~ extendin4 along a mar~inal portion lO~a of the strip 1~ ~ach row of coupling scoops 104, 1~5 is secured to a respective one of the lugs 100 at uni~or~ distances therealong.
FlG. ~2 snows a twelftn em~odimellt in whicn tne support tape lU comprises a contirluous core ~e~ or stri~
111 of cloth covered on its wnole surface ~y a 7a~er 11 of water-resistant elastomeric material.
Accordin~ to a thirteenth embodiment of r'l~. ~3, the support tape lu~ comprises a continuous core we~ or strip 111 of cloth folded on itself into a pair of superposed strip halves llla, lllb an~ covered on the whole surface, except inner sùrface, of eacn strip nalf llla, lllb by the water-resistant layer 11~. ~ach row o~
coupling scoops 104, 105 is mounted on the outer or covered surface of the respective stri~ nalf llla, lllb.
A film 14 of thermoplastic synthetic resin is sandwicned between the two stri~ halves llla, 111~ and is attached at opposite sur~aces to the inner or non-covered surfaces of tne two strip halves llla, lllb in a well known manner ~5 sucn as by applyin~ heat and æressure. hlternatively, the inner confronting surfaces o~ the two stri~ nalves llla, lllb may be bonded to one anotner by an adnesive. FI~. ~7 illustrates tne ~ater resistarlt stringer 1~ of ~1~. 2~ ~s having ~een interen~aged witn a li~e companion strin~er 102'.
FiG. 24 showa a ~ourteenth embodiment in ~hich tne support tape 10~ comprises a pair o~ su~erposed strips 111, 111 mad~ of water-resistant elastomeric material. In production, each row of couplin~ scoops 104, 105 is mounted on the outer surface of a respective one of tne :.
.

~Z~ L'7 upper and lower strips lll, 111. Tnen a film 114 of thermoplastic syntnetic resin is sandwiched between the two strips 111, 111 and is attached at opposite faces to the inner confronting surtaces of t~le two strips 111, 111 in a well kno~n manner such as by applying heat ana pressure. Alternatively, the inner confrorltiny surfaces of the two strips 111, 111 may be bonded to one anotner by an adnesive.
FIG. ~ shows a fifteentn embodiment in whlcn tne 1~ support tape lU3 has on opposite sur~aces a pair of longitudinal lugs lU~, 10~ that is out of alignment with one another in a facewise direction of tne su~port tape 103. Thus the upper and lower coupling scoop rows 1~4, 105 are out of alignment with one another in a facewise direction of the support tape lO~. ~ith this arrangement, as shown in FIG. 2~, it is possible to provide the suppo~t tape lU3 with a wide contact ed~e surface 1~3D wnich is engageable with a corresponding wide contact edge surface 1~3b' of a like companion sup~ort tape 10~' in order to ~ effect an improved water-tiyntness between tne two support tapes 1~
According to a sixteentn embodiment o~ k'IG. 26, tne support tape 1~3 comprises a pair of su~erposed strips 111, 111 Ol clotn, each strip being covered on its whole ~5 sur~ace, except one or inner surface, ~y tne water-resistant layer 11~. ln production, eacn row of cou~ling scoops 104, 105 is mounted on the outer or covered surface of a respective one of upper and lower strips 111, 111. Then a film 114 of tnermoplastic synthetic resin is sand~iched ~etween tne two strips 111, 111 and is attached at opposite faces to tne imler or non-covered surfaces of the two strips 1l1, lll in a KIlOWn manner such as by applying heat and pressure.
Alternatively, the inner confronting surfaces of the two 35 strips 111, 111 may be bonded to one anotner by all - ,'~", ' :

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adhesive.
rl'ne water-resistant strin~er 1~2 ot ~'iG. 2~ lS
produced in tne followin~ ~nanner. ~ pair of disen-Ja~ed rows ~f coupling scoo~s 1~}, 1~5 is mounted on one or water-resistant surface o~ tne stri~ lU3 alon~ the reqpectiYe lollyitudinal lugs lUU, 1~ thereof. lnen the strip 103 is folded on itself into a pair o~ su~erposed strip halves along a longitudinal center line ~ (YlG. 29) to form a lon4itudinal contact ed4e lO~b centrally between 10 the two couplin~ scoop rows 104, 1~5. E'inally~ the opposed strip halves are joined together al their confronting scoop-free surfaces by applying heat and pressure, with a film 114 of thermoplastic syntnetic resin sandwiched between tne t~o strip halves. ~lternatively, the confronting surfaces of the two strip halves may ~e bonded to one another by an auhesive.
To provide an inclined contact edge 1~3b, tne strip 103 of the semi-produc-t shown in ~1~. 29 is $olded on itself along a lon~itudinal off-center line k ~etween tne opposea coupling scoo~ row lu4, 1~5.
in any one of tne embcdimellts descriDed a~ove, slnce the water-resistant stringer ~, iO~ has a pair of rows of cou~lin4 elements 4, 5; 104, 1~5 mounted on opposite surfaces of a water-reslstant support ta~e ~, 103, the contact edge 3b, 10J~ of tne support ta~e ~
is en~ayeable With a correspondin~ contact ed~e 3~ 3~' of a like companion strin4er's supyort tape ~ ' witn improved wa~er-tightness as the op~osed ~trin~ers 2, ~';
102, 102' are coupled to~etner. ~urtner, ~ecause or tnis double-coupllny construction, the water-resistant slide fastener of the present invention can maintain an ade~uate degree of water-ti~htness even when thrusting force is exerted on the slide fastener from eitner facewise direction.
Altnough various minor modifications may be sugyested by those verse~ in the art, it snoul~ ~e un~erstood tnat we Wi911 to embod~ witnin the scope OI the patent which may issue hereon, all such embodin~ents as reasond~ly an-l properly come wlth1n t~le scope of our contribution to tne art.

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Claims (4)

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive right or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A method of manufacturing a water-resistant slide fastener stringer including a support tape supporting on opposite surfaces a pair of rows of coupling elements, comprising the steps of:
(a) providing a continuous water-resistant strip;
(b) attaching a pair of rows of coupling elements to one surface of the water-resistant strip in such a position that the pair of coupling element rows are disposed along a longitudinal center line of the water-resistant strip, one at each side thereof;
(c) then folding the water-resistant strip over itself, about said longitudinal center line, into a pair of superposed strip halves to provide the support tape; and (d) finally, joining confronting inner surfaces or the superposed strip halves together.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said attaching step is performed in such a manner that said pair of coupling element rows are disposed in confronting relation to each other and spaced apart from said center line by the same distance.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein said attaching step is performed in such a manner that said pair of coupling element rows are disposed in confronting relation to each other and spaced apart from said longitudinal center line by different distances.

4. A method according to claim 1, said pair of coupling element rows to be attached to the strip are interengaged, said method further including the steps of forming a slack portion in the water-resistant strip along the longitudinal center line thereof prior to said attaching step, said slack portion projecting from the other surface of the water-resistant strip, and disengaging the opposed coupling element rows subsequent to said attaching step and, at the same time, tautening the slack portion of the water-resistant strip.