US2799070A - Sliders for sliding clasp fasteners - Google Patents

Description

July 16, 1957 v. WEBER SLIDERS FOR SLIDING CLASP FASTENERS 4 Shets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 2, 1954 Inventor fife U140 WEJEK Z- Attorney July 16, 1957 Filed Feb. 2, 1954 V. WEBER SLIDERS F OR SLIDING CLASP FASTENERS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor av- V53 2 A Home y July 16, 1957 v WEBER 2,799,070

SLIDERS FOR SLIDING CLASP FASTENERS Filed Feb. 2, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Inventor Win-slau- #EJEZ A ttbrn e y July 16, 1957 v WE R 2,799,070

SLIDERS FOR SLIDING CLASP FASTENERS Filed Feb. 2, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 243 a 4 II I III L /h| |H| I m 1 /30 720 I I 24) I 1 I l l V I I I [45 I I I I34 F/G 8 Inventor 7m: 4 0- 7/525? Attorney Unite taes 2,7 99,070 SLIDERS FOR SLIDING CLASP FASTENERS Application February 2, 1954, Serial No. 407,733

Claims priority, application Great Britain February 18, 1953 19 Claims. (Cl. 24-20514) The present invention relates to locking sliders for sliding clasp fasteners, and more specifically to a locking slider which comprises two pull members, one at each side of the slider, the slider when locked in position on a sliding clasp fastener being releasable and displaceable for opening or closing the sliding clasp fastener carrying the slider by operating one or the other of the two pull members at will. Such sliders are known per se and commonly called reversible sliders.

It is a general object of the invention to provide an improved reversible locking slider.

More specifically, it is an object of the invention to provide a reversible locking slider, which is easyto manufacture and to assemble and which is yet reliable in use.

i It is another object of the invention to provide a reversible locking slider, which comprises only five separate pieces to be assembled.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a reversible locking slider which locks fully automatically, no matter which of the two pull members of the slider has been actuated.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a reversible locking slider in which any loose springs are avoided.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description when read with reference to the appended drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a front plan view of a portion of a sliding clasp fastener provided with a slider of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a rear plan view of the slider of Fig. 1;

.Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the slider of.

Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a side view of the slider of Fig. 1 in its lock-- I ing state;

Fig. 5 illustrates a longitudinal section through the slider of Fig. 1 in its released state, the release being effected by actuating one of the pull members of the slider;

Fig. 6 is a section similar to that of Fig. 5, the release of the slider being, however, effected by actuatingv the other pull member of the slider;

Fig. 7 is a side view, partly in section, of a modified slider;

Fig. 8 is a side view, partly in section of another modified slider;

Fig. 9 is a side view, partly in section of a further modified slider; and

Fig. 10 is a side view, other modified slider.

The present invention consists in a locking slider for a sliding clasp fastener, comprising two. shields joined together in spaced relationship from each other by a neck portion, an attaching member being provided on one of the shields and carrying a pull operatively linked to a spring-loaded locking finger for locking the slider in its position on the slidingzclasp fastener and for re leasing the slider when the said pull member is operated partly in section, of still an-- 2,799,070 Patented July 16, 1957 for actuating the slider to open or close the sliding clasp fastener, an auxiliary attaching member carrying an auxiliary pull member being provided in fixed position on the other shield of the slider, the auxiliary pull member, when operated for actuating the slider to open or close the sliding clasp fastener, displacing a link member, the said link member extending through a passage in the two slider shields and the neck portion and being operatively linked to the said locking finger, the arrangement being such that the link member, when displaced, moves the locking finger into a position in which the slider is released. The attaching member may be movably provided on the said one shield, the attaching member being spring-loaded and carrying the locking finger. Alternatively, the attaching member may be provided in fixed position on the said one shield, the locking finger being movable relatively to the said attaching member. The link member may be a push rod arranged for pushing the locking finger out of its locking position.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 shows a portion of a sliding clasp fastener comprising two flexible tapes 11 carrying "interlocking elements 12 provided on a thickened edge 13 of each tape. The sliding clasp fastener is opened and closed in known manner by means of a locking slider generally denoted by reference numeral 14.

The slider 14 (see also Figs. 2 to 6) comprises two shields 15 and 16 having inturned flanges 17 and being joined together in spaced relationship from each other by a neck portion 18 to form, in known manner, a channel between the shields 15 and 16 for the interlocking elements 12. The shield 15 has two windows 21 and comprises a connecting lug 22 at the wide end of the portion 18 and has a channel 26 at its outer surface, the

channel 26 leading from the top of the lug 22 into a cavity 27 in the neck portion 18.

A cap-like attaching member 30 has a transverse wall 31 from which two side walls 32 depend, each having a cut-out 33 extending from the lower edge of the respective side wall 32 upwards, for hinging a pull member 34 to the attaching member 30. Each side wall 32 of the attaching member 30 is provided at one of its ends with a connecting prong 35 and at its opposite end with a stopping prong 36, each prong extending in the longitudinal direction of the attaching member 30 so as to be aligned with the respective side wall 32 and flush with the lower edge thereof. From the transverse wall 31, a tail-like flat spring 37 extends outwardly and is bent towards the slider shield 15. Each side wall 32 carries a locking finger 38, the locking fingers 38 and the flat spring 37 being integral with the attaching member 30. Thus, the cap-like attaching member 30, the flat spring 37 and the locking fingers 38 form a structural unit which may be made from sheet metal stock by punching and bending operations. The attaching member 30, owing to its shape, is substantially rigid in its longitudinal direction, while the side walls 32 and the prongs 35 and 36 permit some lateral flexing.

The pull member 34 has a loop 40 between its body portion and a pivot portion 41.

An auxiliary attaching member 42 is provided in fixed position on the other shield 16 of the slider 14. The auxiliary attaching member 42 is integral with the other shield 16 and has a loop 43 to which pivot portions 44 of rectangular cross section of an auxiliary pull member 45 are linked. Both slider shields 15 and 16, the neck portion 18 connecting the same and the connecting lug 22 have holes which are aligned with each other to form a pas- 'sage 46.

The slider 14 also comprises a link member 47 in the shape of a rod having a nose 43 at one end. Preferably, the slider shields 15 and 16, including the connecting lug 22 and the stopping lug 23, the neck portion 18, and the auxiliary attaching member 42 form a single structural unit, which may be obtained by moulding, casting or pressing.

To assemble the slider, the auxiliary pull member 45 is linked to the auxiliary attaching member 42 by inserting the pivot portions 44 into the loop 43 of the auxiliary attaching member 42 and subsequently pressing the pivot portions 44 together as shown in broken lines in Fig. 2. Thereby, the auxiliary pull member 45 is pivotally connected to the auxiliary attaching member 42. Thelink member 47 is introduced into the passage 4'6'so that, the nose 28of the link member 47 terminates in the. connecting lug 22 and is directed towards the windows21. The pivotal portion 41 of the pull member 34 is inserted, into the cut-outs 33 of the attaching member 30, the flat spring 37 is located in the channel 26, the locking fingers 38 are introduced into the windows 21, whereupon the connecting prongs 35 and the. stopping prongs 36 are snapped into the lateral recesses 24 and 25 of the connecting lug 22 and the stopping lug 23 respectively by exerting a suitable pressure on the transverse wall 31 of the attaching member towards the slider shield 15, the free end of the flat spring 37 entering the cavity 27 of the neck portion 18. The prongs 35 and 36 engage the lateral recesses 24 and 25 with play so that the attaching member 31) is pivotally connected tov the connecting lug 22, outward movement being limited by the stopping prongs 36 abutting against surfaces defining the lateral recesses 25 of the stopping lug 23.

When the slider has been assembled, the passage 46 terminates at one end under the cap-like movable attach ing member 30 so that the passage 46 communicates with the space within the attaching member 3%. At the other end, the passage 46 terminates under the auxiliary fixed attachingmember 42 so that the passage 46 communicates with the space encircled by the loop 43 of the auxiliary attaching member 42. The link member 47 passing through the passage 46 enters with one end the space enclosed by the attaching member 3t), the nose 48 being directed towards the locking fingers 33 provided on the side walls 32 of the attaching member 31), the nose 48 abutting against the inner face of the transverse wall 31 of the attaching member 30. The other end of the link member 47 bears against the pivot portions 44 of the, auxiliary pull member 45.

The slider described operates as follows:

The flat spring 37 forming the tail-like end of the attaching member 30 normally pivotsthe attaching member 30 towards the slider shield 15 so that the locking fingers 38 enter the space between the two slider shields 15 and 16 to lock the slider in position on the sliding clasp fastener. The transverse wall 31 of the attaching member 30 abuts against the nose 48 of the link member 47 and thereby urges the link member 47 in the direction towards the auxiliary attaching member 45. The straight end of the link member 47 enters the space encircled by the loop 43 of the auxiliary attaching member 42 and bears with pressure against the pivot portions 44 of the auxiliary pull member 45, the auxiliary pull member 45 being parallel to the shield 16. In this position, which is shown in Fig. 4, the slider 14 is locked.

When the pull member 34 is operated for actuating the slider (see Fig. 5), the attaching member 30 pivots against the action of the flat spring 37 around the connecting lug 22 until the stopping prongs 36 abut against the surfaces, defining the lateral recesses 25 of the stopping lugs 23. By this pivotal movement of the attaching member 30, the locking fingers 33 are retracted from the space between the slider shields 15 and 16, whereby the slider is released. When the operation of the pull member 34 ceases, the slider is re-locked and automatically resumes the position shown in Fig. 4 under the action of the fiat spring 37, the link member 47 being substantially without any influence. When, however, the auxiliary pull member 45 is lifted away from the slider shield 16 for actuating the slider (see Fig. 6), the link member 47 efiecting an operative connection between the auxiliary pull member 45 and the attaching member 30 comes into action. The pivot portions 44 of the auxiliary pull member 45 act as cam surfaces owing to their rectangular cross section. When the auxiliary pull member 45 is lifted its pivot portions 44 press against the adjacent end of the link member 47 and move the link member 47 in the direction towards the attaching member 30. The nose 48 at the end of the link member 47 presses against the transverse wall 31 of the attaching member 30 and moves the attaching member 30 against the action of its flat spring 37 so that the locking fingers 38 of the attaching member 30 are sufficiently lifted out of the space between the slider shields 15 and 16, whereby the slider 14 is again released, the movement of the attaching member 30 being substantially the same as if the main pull member 34 were actuated. When, after the operation of the slider, the auxiliary pull member 45 has deliberately been brought back into its initial position shown in Fig. 4, in which it is parallel to the slider shield. 16, the attaching member 30 returns into its original position under the action of its flat spring 37, in which position the slider is re-locked.

The slider described has the advantage over known reversible sliders in that the slider comprises only 5 separate parts to be assembled and that the link member 47 is coveredby the attaching member 30, the auxiliary attaching member 42 and the walls of the passage 46 between the same, so that the link member 47 is substantially invisible from the outside of the slider and is not liable to become easily damaged or impeded in its movements byexternal foreign matter.

Many modifications of the embodiment described are possible. For example, the attaching member 30 may comprise only one locking finger. The link member 47 may have any other suitable shape. It may additionally be urged into its initial position shown in Fig. 4 in which the slider is locked by means of an additional spring (not shown).

The auxiliary pull member 45 may be linked to the auxiliary attaching member 42 in any suitable manner other. than that described.

In the slider 114 illustrated in Fig. 7, the pivot portions v144 of the auxiliary pull member 145 have a circular cross section and therefore cannot act as cams. Instead, the adjacent end of the link member 147 is provided with an externally concave cam surface 150, the loop 143 of the auxiliary attaching member 142 being elongated so that, in the initial position shown in full lines in Fig. 7, the pivot portions 144 are wedged cent-rally of the loop 143 between the inner wall of the said loop and the cam surface 150 of the link member 147. When a pull is exerted on the auxiliary pull member 145 to open or close the sliding clasp fastener, the pivot portions 144 travel towards one or the other end of the loop 142, as indicated in broken lines with respect to one end of the said loop, whereby owing to the concave shape of the cam surface 150 the link member 147 is displaced towards the attaching member 130, so that analogously, as explained hereinbefore with reference to the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 6, the slider is released. When the pull exerted on the auxiliary pull member 145 ceases, the attaching member under the action of its fiat spring 137 returns into its initial position pressing the link member 147 towards the auxiliary attaching member 142 and causing the pivot portions 144 of the auxiliary pull member 145 to reassume their central position.

In the embodiment described with reference to Figs. ltoi- 6, thelo-cking and therelease of the slider 14, so far as the auxiliary pull member 45 is concerned, is dependent on the geometrical position of the auxiliary pull member 45 relative to the slider shield 16, that is to say after actuating the auxiliary pull member 45 it has deliberately to be turned into its initial position in which it is parallel to the slider shield 16 to re-lock the slider. Contrary thereto, the slider of Fig. 7 is fully automatic, that is to say no matter whether the main pull member 134 or the auxiliary pull member 145 has been actuated, the slider is automatically re-locked when a pull exerted on one of the pull members 134 or 145 ceases, the locking being independent on whether the auxiliary pull member 145 is, or is not, parallel to the slider shields 115 and 116 and no deliberate additional turning of the auxiliary pull member 145 is required for locking the slider.

'Ihe slider 214 of Fig. 8 is similar to that of Fig. 7 except that the cam surface 250 is formed on the inner wall of the loop 243 of the auxiliary attaching member 242, the adjacent end of the link member 247 being flat.

While in the three embodiments so far described the link member 47, 147 or 247 may be described as a push rod, the link member 347 of the slider 314 shown in Fig. 9 acts as a pull rod. In this embodiment, the attaching member 330 carrying a locking finger 338 is pivoted at 351 to a lug 352 on the slider shield 315 and is urged into its initial, locking, position shown in Fig. 9 by a fiat spring 337 integral with the end adjacent the locking finger 338 of the transverse wall 331 of the attaching member, which spring is bent inwards to lie within the attaching member 330 and bears against the outer surface of the adjacent slider shield 315. The end of the transverse wall 331 remote from the locking finger 338 is bent towards the slider shield 315 to form a hook 353 engaging a nose 348 at one end of the link member 347, the nose being directed away from the locking finger 338. The other end of the link member 347 has a hook 354, the inner wall of which constitutes a cam surface 350 engaging the pivot portions 344 of the auxiliary pull member 345 extending through the loop 343 of the auxiliary attaching member 342, the hook 354 entering with play a slot 355 in the auxiliary attaching member 342. When a pull is exerted on the auxiliary pull member 345 to open or close a sliding clasp fastener to which the slider 314 is applied, the pivot portions 344 of the auxilary pull member 345 travel towards one or the other end of the loop 343 of the auxiliary attaching member 342, whereby owing to the action of the scam surface 350 the link member 347 is displaced in the direction towards the auxiliary attaching member 342. Thereby, the nose 348 exerts a pull on the hook 353 of the attaching member 330 pivoting the same around the pivot 351 against the action of the spring 337, whereby the locking finger 338 is retracted and the slider released. When the pull exerted on the auxiliary pull member ceases, the spring 337 returns the attaching member 330 and the link member 347 into the initial position, whereby the slider is relocked. Again, the slider 314 of Fig. 9 is an automatic locking slider.

The slider 414 of Fig. 10 is generally similar to that of Figs. 1 to 6. However, the fiat spring 437 is turned inwards to lie within the attaching member 430 and carries the locking finger 438, the attaching member 430 being fixed to the slider shield 415 by means of two connecting lugs 422, engaging connecting prongs 435 of the attaching member 430 without substantial play. The link member 447 is arranged to act on the fiat spring 437 to push the same towards the transverse wall 431 of the attaching member when the auxiliary pull member 445 is raised out of its position parallel to the slider shield 416, whereby the slider is released.

It should be clearly understood that the embodiments described in detail and illustrated are given by way of example. Many modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A locking slider for a sliding clasp fastener, comprising two shields, a neck portion joining the said shields together in spaced relationship from each other, an attaching member being provided on one of the said shields, a pull member carried by the said attaching member the said pull member forming a manually operable gripper arranged for operating the slider from one side, a locking finger, spring means for biasing the locking finger, the said attaching member, pull member, locking finger and spring means being arranged and operatively connected for locking the slider in its position on the sliding clasp fastener and for releasing the slider when the said pull member is operated for actuating the slider to open or close the sliding clasp fastener, an auxiliary attaching member provided in fixed position on the said other shield, an auxiliary pull member carried by the said auxiliary attaching member the said auxiliary pull member forming a manually operable gripper arranged for operating the slider from its other side, and a link member extending through a passage in the said two slider shields and the neck portion and being operatively connected to the said auxiliary pull member and the said locking finger, the said auxiliary pull member, when operated for actuating the slider to open or close the sliding clasp fastener, displacing the said link member to move the saidlocking finger into a position in which the slider is released.

2. A slideras claimed in claim 1, wherein the attaching member carries the locking finger and is movably provided on the said one shield, the spring means acting directly on the said attaching member.

3. A slider as claimed in claim 1, wherein the attaching member is provided in fixed position on the said one shield, the locking finger being arranged movably relatively to the said attaching member.

4. A slider as claimed in claim 1, wherein the spring means is integral with the attaching member and carries the locking finger.

5. A slider as claimed in claim 1, wherein the link member is a push rod arranged for pushing the locking finger out of its locking position.

6. A slider as claimed in claim 5, and comprising a lateral extension on the push rod at the end thereof remote from the auxiliary pull member, the said nose being arranged for pushing the locking finger out of its locking position.

7. A slider as claimed in claim 1, wherein the link member is a pull rod arranged for pulling the locking finger out of its locking position.

8. A slider as claimed in claim 7, and comprising a hook at the end of the pull rod adjacent the auxiliary pull member for engaging the auxiliary pull member.

9. A slider as claimed in claim 7, and comprising a nose on the pull rod at the end thereof remote from the auxiliary pull member, the said lateral extension being arranged for pulling the locking finger out of its lockmg position.

10. A slider as claimed in claim 1, wherein the attaching member on the said one shield has the shape of a hollow elongated cap, the said attaching member, the locking finger and the spring means forming a unitary structure.

11. A slider as claimed in claim 1, wherein a surface of the link member is in abutting engagement with a surface of the auxiliary pull member, at least one of the said two surfaces being non-planar to act as a cam surface.

12. A slider as claimed in claim 11, wherein the cam surface is provided on the link member.

13. A slider as claimed in claim 12, wherein the cam surface forms the end of the link member adjacent the auxiliary pull member,

14. A slider as claimed in claim 11, wherein the cam surface is provided on the auxiliary pull member.

15. A slider as claimed in claim 14, wherein the cam surface is a surface of a pivot portion of the auxiliary pullmember which portion pivotally connects the auxiliary'pull member to the auxiliary attaching member.

16. A slider as claimed in claim 1,. wherein a pivot portion of the auxiliary pull member connects the auxiliary pull member to the auxiliary attaching member, the said pivot portion engaging a surface of the link member and a non-planar surface of the auxiliary attaching member, the said non-planar surface acting as a cam surface.

17. A slider as claimed in claim 1, wherein the auxiliary attaching member'is integral with the said other shield of the slider.

18. A slider as. claimed in claim 17, wherein the two shields of the slider, the neck portion and the auxiliary attachingmember form a one-piece slider body.

19. A- slider as-claimed in claim 1 8, wherein the onepiece slider, body is a moulding or casting.

References Citediin the. file of this. patent UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS Belgium of 1950,

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