US3149388A

US3149388A - Helical slide fastener

Info

Publication number: US3149388A
Application number: US299557A
Authority: US
Inventors: Wilcken Hugo
Original assignee: Opti Holding AG
Current assignee: Opti Holding AG
Priority date: 1962-08-04
Filing date: 1963-08-02
Publication date: 1964-09-22
Anticipated expiration: 1981-09-22
Also published as: GB1026650A; DE1435841A1

Description

Se t. 22, 1964 H. WILCKEN HELICAL SLIDE FASTENER Filed Aug. 2, 1965 ueo WH CKEN hi: 4 Horne United States Patent 3,149,388 HELICAL SLIDE FASTENER Hugo Wilcken, Curau uher Luheclr, Germany, assignor to Opti-Holding A.G., Glarus, Switzerland, a corporation of Switzerland Filed Aug. 2, 1963, Ser. No. 299,557 Claims priority, application Germany Aug. 4, 1962 4 Claims. (Cl. 24-2651) The invention relates to a helical spring type slide fastener in which two flattened helical springs made of a wire of thermoplastic material are sewed each one sidedly to a carrier ribbon to form an ironing protection on the side remote of the ribbon, said helical springs having coupling surfaces arranged at their opposing face sides which in longitudinal direction of the slide fastener project on both sides beyond the diameter of the wire.

In known helical spring type slide fasteners, as described above, the ironing protection for the helical springs made of wires of thermoplastic material which are one sidedly connected to a carrier ribbon is achieved in such a manner that the free upper surface of the helical spring is covered with a narrow tape or a string which together with the convolutions of the helical spring are connected to the carrier ribbon by sewing stitches. According to another known embodiment the line of convolutions is sewed to the carrier ribbon by a double stitch seam, or a so-called vamping seam, in which the lower thread loops of this scam are covering the free upper surface as an ironing protection. Even if the helical spring is provided with an inner core it cannot be avoided that the tapeor lamellar-like ironing protection is shifted transversely towards one or the other side of the slide fastener, when opening or closing the same, whereby the intended ironing protection is nullified, or at least partly nullified, and besides this, the appearance of the slide fastener is impaired, since the cover extends longitudinally in waves caused by unavoidable transverse displacements.

Therefore the main object of this invention is to provide a slide fastener of the type described in which transverse displacements of the ironing protection cover on the convolutions of the helical spring are avoided.

Another object of this invention is to provide a slide fastener of the type described in which additionally a firm interlocking engagement of the coupling surfaces is obtained without the necessity to provide a core for this purpose.

The first mentioned problem of the invention is solved in that in a helical spring type slide fastener as described above the convolution parts of the helical spring disposed remote of the carrier ribbon are deformed in the middle in an arcuate manner in a direction towards the carrier ribbon, and that the longitudinally extending groove formed by such deformations serves to receive a textile ironing protection.

In this embodiment the helical springs may also, if desired, be additionally provided with a core which, however, must allow the deformation of the convolution portions of the helical spring without exerting an inadmissible resilient restoring force upon the deformed portions.

According to the invention the flattened helical springs are provided at the side remote of the carrier ribbon with a longitudinally extending groove receiving an ironing protection in form of narrow sewed-on tapes or strings, or in form of lower thread loops of a double stitch or vamping seam, or in form of a plurality of parallel backstitch seams, whereby this ironing protection, due to the connecting sewing stitches cannot be displaced transversely of the slide fastener, thus obtaining an unobjectionable ironing protection and an apice pearance of the slide fastener which will always remain constant.

The deformations of the helical spring convolutions forming the groove include another advantage in that without any drawbacks the core, known per se, may be omitted which serves the purpose to maintain the coupling surfaces of the two slide fastener members in a firm interlocking engagement and thus decreasing the danger of breaking the joint.

For the same purpose the deformations of the helical spring convolutions are, according to the invention, shaped in such a way that they form an interior profiled spaced into which always the coupling surfaces of the opposed helical spring convolutions interfit, whereby the coupling surfaces of the one helical spring member are firmly urged towards the coupling surfaces of the other helical spring member by the resiliency of the deformed convolution portions.

Now, if such row of links formed by the helical spring made of a suitable wire of thermoplastic material, for example polyamide, polyurethane, polyester, or the like having resilient characteristics are connected by sewing them to one side of a carrier ribbon the threads tend to draw the longer convolution portions of the helical spring opposed to each other together, whereby the profile of the interior space of the convolutions disposed in front of the coupling surfaces is reduced somewhat. Whenever a pair of slide fastener members of this type is drawn together by a slide the enlarged coupling surfaces projecting beyond both sides of the wire are engaging these interior convolution spaces and try to expand the respective convolution space somewhat again, in other words the corresponding portions of the deformations facing the coupling surfaces resiliently urge the coupling surfaces of the pair of slide fastener members together, so that the coupling surface cannot be decoupled. This means that no relative transverse displacements of the pair of slide fastener members can take place, and thus the safety against breaking the connection is assured. The coupling surfaces may be formed in any suitable manner either with plane or concave surfaces, as it is known per se. Now the invention shall be described in connection with the attached drawing showing several embodiments by way of example.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a pmtial top view of a helical spring type slide fastener in which the slide fastener members are in their interlocked positions,

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view along the line 11-11 of FIG. 1 on a strongly enlarged scale,

FIG. 3 is a partial longitudinal section along line IHIH of FIG. 2, and

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of a slide fastener member of a somewhat altered embodiment of the convolutions of the helical spring, also shown in a strongly enlarged scale.

According to the embodiments shown by way of example the pair of interlocking link rows of a slide fastener consists of flattened helical springs 1 and 2 each being sewed close to the edge of a carrier ribbon 3 and 4. The convolutions of the flattened helical springs are provided with

coupling surfaces

5 and 6 lockably interengaging each other. The coupling surfaces may be plane or concave as is known per se.

In accordance with the invention the convolutions of the slide fastener interlocking link rows are, according to the example shown in FIGS. 1-3, provided with

armate deformations

1a and 2a at the side remote of the carrier ribbons. These deformations may be bent downwardly to such an extent that the upper convolution portions approach those convolution portions having contacting engagement with the carrier ribbons 3 and 4, or

a, 1 as, sea

1 3 even overlap these convolution portions. By means of

.ddese deformations

1a and 2a longitudinally extending {grooves are formed in the interlocking link rows of the helical springs. The depth of the deformations may be :selected at liberty, so that narrow tapes or strings of texwtile material may be introduced when sewing the interlocking link rows of the helical springs to the carrier ribbons. The inserted narrow tapes or strings are sewed to the carrier ribbons 3 and 4 together with the convolutions of the helical springs by sewing stitches 7a. In the right hand half of FIG. 2 the insertion in the groove consists of a string! which may be formed in such a way that not only the groove but also the adjacent portions of the individual convolutions of the helical spring are covered. In the left hand half of FIG. 2 the connection I with the carrier ribbon 3 is accomplished by a plurality of parallel seams 8, in which the sewing threads, contrary tfhe illustrated embodiment, may be'chosen with such a ahickness that the finished seam will also form an ironing protection for the helical spring consisting of thermoplastic material. Also double backs't'i'tch scams or vamping seams may be used for connecting the link row with the carrier ribbon, in which the lower thread loops of these seams are filling, or at least nearly filling the grooves formed .by the deformations.

According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 the deformations 1a may not only be provided in the upper convolution portions of the helical spring but also in the convolution portions adjacent the carrier ribbon, so that the convolutions in a cross-sectional view will have substantially the form of a lying eight. In this case also ahe sewing of'the link rows of the helical springs to the :carrier ribbons is accomplished in the same manner as described in connection with FIGS. 1-3. The groove :formed by the deformations is filled with a textile ironing protection. If merely an ironing protection is to be obtained, which is safeguarded against transverse shifting by engaging the groove, the inner space of the convolutions of the helical spring may also be provided with a filler core,-which is knownper se, serving the purpose to maintain the coupling surfaces of the two fastener membersywhen brought into engagement, in interengaging surface contact.

According "to another embodiment of the invention in which a :iiller core is to be omitted the procedure for obtaining the same effect is such that the

deformations

1a, and 2a, or the deformations of the convolution portti'ens disposed in front of the

coupling surfaces

5 and 6 respectively, will form a profiled inner space 9, or respectively, of the helical spring convolutions into which the coupling surfaces of the opposed helical spring convolutions fit in such a manner that, due to the resiliency of the deformed convolution portions facing the coupling surfaces, the coupling surfaces of the one helical spring are maintained in contacting engagement with the coupling surfaces of the other helical spring. Advantageously the procedure, when connecting the helical springs to the carrier ribbons 3 and 4, is such that the connecting seams 7a will cause the opposed convolution portions to approach each other to such an extent that the profile of the inner spaces 9 and 10 is somewhat reduced. Now, if the coupling surfaces, upon drawing together the link rows of the slide fastener by means of a slide, are brought into interlocking engagement the profiles of the inner spaces 9 and 10 are elastically expanded again somewhat, whereby the coupling surfaces are constantly urged into resilient mutual contacting engagement. The embodiment shown in FIGS. 13 as well as the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 may be formed in such a way.

. In accordance with the above described procedure an ironing protection for the link rows of the helical springs consisting of thermoplastic material is obtained and in addition the coupling surfaces of the slide fastener members are constantly urged into interlocki contacting engagement without the necessity to provid a filler core being resilient in transverse direction. Thus transverse shifting of the locking links relative to one another in a transverse direction is also prevented whereby the safety against unintentional tearing the slide fastener members apart is assured.

What I claim is:

1. A helical spring type fastener, comprising two carrier ribbons extending in parallel relation; two flattened helical springs formed by a wire of thermoplastic material and being disposed each adjacent the facing edges of each of said carrier ribbon extending longitudinally along one side thereof; arcuate, inwardly directed deformations formed'in the middle of one 'of the flattened convolution portions of said helical springs, said deformations forming a longitudinally extending groove at the side of said helical spring which is facing away from said carrier ribbon, a textile ironing protection accommodated and extending within said groove projecting with its upper surface beyond the adjacent crests of said deformed convolution portions, a seam of sewing stitches extending along said groove formed by said deformations, and embracing each convolution holding them spaced apart in uniform spacings corresponding substantially to the cross sectional dimension of said wire, and coupling surfaces provided at each of the convolution portions of the helical springs which are facing each other, said coupling surfaces being formed by widened portions of said wire projecting beyond both sides thereof.

2. A helical spring type fastener, comprising two carrier ribbons extending in parallel relation; two flattened helical springs formed by a wire of thermoplastic material and being disposed each adjacent the facing edges of each of said carrier ribbon extending longitudinally along one side thereof; arcuate, inwardly directed deformations formed in the middle of one of the flattened convolution portions of said helical springs, said deformations forming a longitudinally extending groove at the side of said helical spring which is facing away from said carrier ribbon, a textile ironing protection accommodated and extending within said groove projecting with its upper surface beyondthe adjacent crests of said deformed convolution portions, a seam of sewing stitches extending along said groove formed by said deformations, and embracing each convolution holding them spaced apart in uniform spacings corresponding subtsantially to the cross sectional dimensions of said wire, and coupling surfaces provided at each of the convolution portions of the helical springs which are facing each other, said coupling surfaces being formed by widened portions of said wire projecting beyond both sides thereof, profiled inner spaces being formed by said deformed convolution portions being contoured so as to resiliently act upon the interengaging coupling surfaces urging them into mutual contacting engagement when coupled and thereby preventing relative transverse shifting of said helical springs.

3. A helical spring type slide fastener, comprising two carrier ribbons extending in parallel relation, two flattened helical springs formed by a wire of thermoplastic material and being disposed each adjacent the facing edges of each of said carrier ribbons extending longitudinally along one side thereof, arcuate inwardly directed deformations formed in the middle of the diametrically opposed flattened convolution portions of said helical springs, said row of deformations facing away from said carrier ribbon forming a longitudinally extending groove, a textile ironing protection accommodated and extending within said groove projecting with its upper surface beyond the adjacent crests of said deformed convolution portions, a seam of sewing stitches extending along said groove formed by said deformations, and embracing each convolution holding them spaced apart in uniform spacings corresponding substantially to the cross sectional dimension of said wire, and coupling surfaces provided at each of the convolution portions of both helical springs which are facing each other, said coupling surfaces being formed by widened portions of said wire projecting beyond both sides thereof.

4. A helical spring type slide fastener, comprising two carrier ribbons extending in parallel relation, two flattened helical springs formed by a wire of thermoplastic material and being disposed each adjacent the facing edges of each of said carrier ribbons extending longitudinally along one side thereof, arcuate inwardly directed deformations formed in the middle of the diametrically opposed flattened convolution portions of said helical springs, said row of deformations facing away from said carrier ribbon forming a longitudinally extending groove, a textile ironing protection accommodated and extending within said groove projecting with its upper surface beyond the adjacent crests of said deformed convolution portions, a seam of sewing stitches extending along said groove formed by said deformations, and embracing each convolution holding them spaced apart in uniform spacings corresponding substantially to the cross sectional dimension of said wire, and coupling surfaces provided at each of the convolution portions of both helical springs which are facing each other, said coupling surfaces being formed by widened portions of said wire projecting beyond both sides thereof, profiled inner spaces being formed by said deformed convolution portions being contoured so as to resiliently act upon the interengaging coupling surfaces urging them into mutual contacting engagement when coupled and thereby preventing relative transverse shiftin of said helical springs.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,022,803 Berberich Feb. 27, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,232,000 France Oct. 4, 1960

Claims

1. A HELICAL SPRING TYPE FASTENER, COMPRISING TWO CARRIER RIBBONS EXTENDING IN PARALLEL RELATION; TWO FLATTENED HELICAL SPRINGS FORMED BY A WIRE OF THERMOPLASTIC MATERIAL AND BEING DISPOSED EACH ADJACENT THE FACING EDGES OF EACH OF SAID CARRIER RIBBON EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY ALONG ONE SIDE THEREOF; ARCUATE, INWARDLY DIRECTED DEFORMATIONS FORMED IN THE MIDDLE OF ONE OF THE FLATTENED CONVOLUTION PORTIONS OF SAID HELICAL SPRINGS, SAID DEFORMATIONS FORMING A LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING GROOVE AT THE SIDE OF SAID HELICAL SPRING WHICH IS FACING AWAY FROM SAID CARRIER RIBBON, A TEXTILE IRONING PROTECTION ACCOMMODATED AND EXTENDING WITHIN SAID GROOVE PROJECTING WITH ITS UPPER SURFACE BEYOND THE ADJACENT CRESTS OF SAID DEFORMED CONVOLUTION PORTIONS, A SEAM OF SEWING STITCHES EXTENDING ALONG SAID GROOVE FORMED BY SAID DEFORMATIONS, AND EMBRACING EACH CONVOLUTION HOLDING THEM SPACED APART IN UNIFORM SPACINGS CORRESPONDING SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE CROSS SECTIONAL DIMENSION OF SAID WIRE, AND COUPLING SURFACES PROVIDED AT EACH OF THE CONVOLUTION PORTIONS OF THE HELICAL SPRINGS WHICH ARE FACING EACH OTHER, SAID COUPLING SURFACES BEING FORMED BY WIDENED PORTIONS OF SAID WIRE PROJECTING BEYOND BOTH SIDES THEREOF.