Fastener stringer, slide fastener, and fastener stringer attachment structure

The entire disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2018-026803 filed Feb. 19, 2018 is expressly incorporated by reference herein.

The present invention relates to a fastener stringer configured to connect cover materials such as a sheet cover of an automobile, a slide fastener, and a fastener stringer attachment structure.

A known typical slide fastener intended to be attached to a sheet cover (cover materials) of an automobile includes: a pair of right and left fastener stringers including respective fastener tapes and respective sequential element arrays; and a slider configured to engage and disengage the right and left sequential element arrays (see Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent No. 5269103).

Each fastener tape is bent in a U-shape to form a groove and a belt-shaped restricting member is received in the groove of the fastener tape. The belt-shaped restricting member is sewed to the corresponding fastener tape so that the right and left fastener tapes are restricted from being displaced in a right-left direction to be separated from each other when a force is applied to separate the fastener tapes from each other in the right-left direction.

In the slide fastener of Patent Literature 1, the restricting member restricts separation of the fastener tapes from each other, preventing formation of a gap between the right and left fastener tapes.

However, the restricting member of the slide fastener of Patent Literature 1 cannot restrict the cover materials, to which the right and left fastener tapes are attached, from being separated from each other in the right-left direction, although the restricting member can prevent separation of the right and left fastener tapes.

Thus, when a force is applied to the right and left cover materials to separate them in the right-left direction, a gap is likely to be formed between the right and left cover materials, making the fastener tape(s) exposed.

An object of the invention is to provide a fastener stringer, a slide fastener, and a fastener stringer attachment structure that are capable of preventing separation of cover materials.

According to an aspect of the invention, a fastener stringer configured to be attached to a cover material, the fastener stringer includes: a fastener tape; a fastener element array fixed to the fastener tape; and a restricting unit provided along a longitudinal direction of the fastener tape, the restricting unit being configured to form a space receiving a side periphery of the cover material between the restricting unit and the fastener tape.

According to the invention, the side periphery of the cover material is received between the fastener tape and the restricting unit, holding the side periphery of the cover material. In addition, by folding the side periphery of the cover material to cover a front side of the restricting unit, the fastener stringer is kept from being exposed at a front side of the cover material.

Further, when the respective fastener element arrays of the pair of right and left fastener stringers are engaged with each other, the right and left cover materials are bordered on each other to cover the respective fastener tapes. If a force is applied to the right and left cover materials to separate them in a right-left direction, the respective restricting units would restrict the displacement of the cover materials away from each other. The right and left cover material can thus be prevented from separating from each other, so that the fastener tapes are less likely to be exposed outside.

It should be noted that a holding strength for each cover material can be increased when the side periphery of the cover material is connected to the fastener tape and the restricting unit by, for instance, sewing.

In the above aspect, the restricting unit may be attached to the fastener tape at a position spaced from the fastener element array in a width direction of the fastener tape.

With the above arrangement, the fastener element array, the fastener tape, and the restricting unit define a continuous fastener stringer. For instance, such a fastener stringer is easy to handle before being attached to the corresponding cover material as compared with a fastener stringer including a fastener tape and a restricting unit formed as separate components.

Further, the space receiving the side periphery of the corresponding cover material can be easily formed between the fastener tape and the restricting unit merely by folding the fastener tape.

In the above aspect, the restricting unit may include: an attachment piece attached to the fastener tape; a main piece configured to form the space receiving the side periphery of the cover material between the main piece and the fastener tape; and a bendable piece continuous with the attachment piece and the main piece.

The above arrangement allows the main piece to be folded with respect to the attachment piece by bending the bendable piece of the restricting unit without the necessity of folding the fastener tape, easily forming the space receiving the side periphery of the corresponding cover material between the main piece and the fastener tape.

Further, the bendable piece of the restricting unit is clearly defined as a bending position, thus eliminating variation in bending position between the pair of fastener stringers as compared with an instance where the fastener tape would be bent.

In the above aspect, the restricting unit may be a member separate from the fastener tape and connectable to the fastener tape at a position for the restricting unit to form the space receiving the side periphery of the cover material between the restricting unit and the fastener tape.

The above arrangement allows for forming the space receiving the side periphery of the corresponding cover material without the necessity of folding the fastener tape and/or the restricting unit as compared with an instance where, for instance, the restricting unit would be attached to the fastener tape. A position of the restricting unit can thus be determined as desired irrespective of the width of the fastener tape. Further, the restricting unit is connected to the fastener tape by, for instance, sewing at a position for the restricting unit to form the space receiving the side periphery of the cover material between the restricting unit and the fastener tape, so that the displacement of the restricting unit can be restricted. The restricting unit thus allows for restricting the displacement of the cover materials right and left away from each other.

In the above aspect, the restricting unit may be in a belt shape along the longitudinal direction of the fastener tape, and at least a first side periphery of the restricting unit may be provided with at least one restricting groove juxtaposed along a longitudinal direction of the restricting unit.

With the above arrangement, the juxtaposed restricting groove(s) provided to the restricting unit allows for forming a narrow portion in the restricting unit, so that the belt-shaped restricting unit can be easily bent right and left. The restricting unit can thus be easily curved in conformity with the curve of the side periphery of the corresponding cover material so that, for instance, the right and left cover materials are curved to be connected.

It should be noted that the restricting groove(s) may be provided to either one of the inner or outer side peripheries of the restricting unit in the right-left direction (i.e., the width direction of the restricting unit) or may be provided to each side periphery of the restricting unit in the right-left direction (i.e., the width direction of the restricting unit).

In the above aspect, the first side periphery of the restricting unit may be provided with the at least one restricting groove, a second side periphery of the restricting unit may be continuous along the longitudinal direction of the restricting unit, and the first side periphery of the restricting unit may be located outside in a right-left direction when the space receiving the cover material is formed between the fastener tape and the restricting unit.

For instance, in connecting the right and left cover materials to each other in a curve, the above arrangement, in which the first side periphery of the restricting unit is provided with the restricting groove(s), allows the restricting unit to be easily curved in conformity with the curve of the side periphery of the corresponding cover material.

Further, the restricting groove(s) is located outside in the right-left direction with the space for receiving the cover material being formed between the fastener tape and the restricting unit, while the continuous second side periphery of the restricting unit is located inside in the right-left direction. Thus, if a force is applied to the right and left cover materials to separate them in the right-left direction, the continuous second side periphery of the restricting unit can receive the corresponding cover material, preventing the cover material from being stuck in the restricting groove(s) to unintentionally cause wrinkles or the like on the corresponding cover material. Thus, the right and left cover materials can be smoothened in appearance without such wrinkles or the like at a curved connection portion.

In the above aspect, the restricting unit may include a plurality of restricting members juxtaposed at a distance along the longitudinal direction of the fastener tape, and the plurality of restricting members may have respective side peripheries that are located inside in a right-left direction when the space receiving the side periphery of the cover material is formed between the fastener tape and the restricting unit, a distance between the respective side peripheries being smaller than a distance between the other portions of the plurality of restricting members that are located outside in the right-left direction with respect to the respective side peripheries.

The above arrangement, in which the plurality of restricting members are juxtaposed at the distance, allows the first fastener stringer to be easily bendable right and left as compared with, for instance, a belt-shaped restricting unit. Thus, for instance, in connecting the right and left cover materials to each other in a curve, the fastener stringer can be easily bent in conformity with the curve of the side periphery of the corresponding cover material.

Further, the distance between the respective side peripheries of the plurality of restricting members located inside in the right-left direction is smaller than the distance between the other portions thereof located outside in the right-left direction with respect to the respective side peripheries. Thus, if a force is applied to the right and left cover materials to separate them in the right-left direction, the cover materials are less likely to be stuck between the side peripheries of the plurality of restricting members located inside in the right-left direction, reducing unintentional wrinkles or the like of the cover materials. This results in a smooth appearance of the right and left cover materials with wrinkles or the like being reduced at a curved connection portion as described above.

Further, as compared with, for instance, a belt-shaped continuous restricting unit, the restricting unit including the plurality of restricting members can eliminate the necessity of forming a continuous portion, thus reducing material costs.

In the above aspect, the fastener stringer may further include a support at a position for the support to receive the side periphery of the cover material and the fastener tape between the support and the restricting unit when the restricting unit is at a position for the restricting unit to form the space receiving the cover material between the restricting unit and the fastener tape.

If a force is applied to the right and left cover materials to separate them in the right-left direction, the restricting unit(s) would tend to incline such that the side periphery thereof inside in the right-left direction rises and the side periphery outside in the right-left direction recedes. However, the above arrangement, in which the support supports the restricting unit, restricts such inclination, thus keeping the right and left cover materials in contact with each other.

According to another aspect of the invention, a slide fastener includes: a pair of right and left fastener stringers: and a slider configured to engage the pair of right and left fastener stringers, the pair of right and left fastener stringers being each the fastener stringer of the above aspect.

The slide fastener of this aspect can achieve the same effects as those of the above-described fastener stringers.

According to still another aspect of the invention, a fastener stringer attachment structure includes: a pair of right and left fastener stringers; and right and left cover materials configured to be attached with the pair of right and left fastener stringers, respectively, in which the pair of right and left fastener stringers are each the fastener stringer of the above aspect, and the right and left cover materials are each received at a side periphery thereof between the fastener tape and the restricting unit of corresponding one of the pair of right and left fastener stringers, while being folded with respect to the side periphery to cover the restricting unit.

The fastener stringer attachment structure of this aspect can achieve the same effects as those of the above-described fastener stringers. It should be noted that the pair of right and left fastener stringers are engaged with each other by moving the slider through between the respective fastener element arrays.

According to the above aspects of the invention, a fastener stringer, a slide fastener, and a fastener stringer attachment structure that are capable of preventing separation of cover materials can be provided.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a car seat attached with a slide fastener according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a slide fastener according to a first exemplary embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view showing the slide fastener according to the first exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a fastener stringer according to the first exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a process of attaching the fastener stringer according to the first exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a slide fastener according to a second exemplary embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view showing the slide fastener according to the second exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a fastener stringer according to the second exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 9A is an end view showing a restricting unit according to the second exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 9B is an end view showing the restricting unit according to the second exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 9C is an end view showing the restricting unit according to the second exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a process of attaching the fastener stringer according to the second exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a slide fastener according to a third exemplary embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 12 is a cross sectional view showing the slide fastener according to the third exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a fastener stringer according to the third exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing a process of attaching the fastener stringer according to the third exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing a restricting unit according to a first modification of the invention.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing a restricting unit according to a second modification of the invention.

FIG. 17 is a cross sectional view showing a support according to a third modification of the invention.

First Exemplary Embodiment

A first exemplary embodiment of the invention will be described below with reference to the attached drawings.

Referring to FIGS. 2 to 4 , a slide fastener 10 according to the first exemplary embodiment is configured to connect cover materials 2 ( 2 A, 2 B) of a seat cover for a car seat 1 shown in FIG. 1 .

In the following description, a length direction of the slide fastener 10 is referred to as an X-axis direction, a right-left direction of the slide fastener 10 as a Y-axis direction, and a thickness direction of the slide fastener 10 as a Z-axis direction. The X-, Y-, and Z-axis directions are perpendicular to each other.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 , the slide fastener 10 includes a pair of first fastener stringer 20 A and second fastener stringer 20 B opposing each other in the Y-axis direction and a slider 60 (see FIG. 1 ) configured to engage the first fastener stringer 20 A and the second fastener stringer 20 B.

The slider 60 , which is configured to slide to engage later-described fastener element arrays 40 A, 40 B to each other, is removable from respective ends of the fastener element arrays 40 A, 40 B in this exemplary embodiment.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 , when the first fastener stringer 20 A and the second fastener stringer 20 B are engaged with each other, the right and left cover materials 2 A, 2 B are in contact with each other.

As shown in FIG. 4 , the first fastener stringer 20 A includes a fastener tape 30 A extending in the X-axis direction, the fastener element array 40 A fixed to the fastener tape 30 A, and a restricting unit 50 A provided along a longitudinal direction (X-axis direction) of the fastener tape 30 A.

The fastener tape 30 A is flexible and thus bendable (e.g., foldable). A side periphery 31 of the fastener tape 30 A in a width direction (Y-axis direction) is sewed to the fastener element array 40 A with a sewing thread 8 . An opposite side periphery 32 of the fastener tape 30 A in the width direction is attached with the restricting unit 50 A. A tape body 33 of the fastener tape 30 A defined between the side peripheries 31 , 32 has a width W 1 as shown in FIG. 4 .

The fastener element array 40 A, which is provided by a linear element of a synthetic resin monofilament formed into a coil shape, is engageable with the fastener element array 40 B provided to the second fastener stringer 20 B.

The restricting unit 50 A, which is formed into a belt shape from a hard synthetic resin such as polyamide, polyacetal, polypropylene, and polybutylene terephthalate, exhibits flexibility such that the restricting unit 50 A is bendable in conformity with the bend of the cover material 2 A.

A side periphery 51 of the restricting unit 50 A in the width direction is attached with the side periphery 32 of the fastener tape 30 A. An opposite side periphery 52 of the restricting unit 50 A in the width direction is free. The restricting unit 50 A is spaced from the fastener element array 40 A at a distance in the Y-axis direction.

The restricting unit 50 A has a width W 2 equal to or less than the width W 1 of the tape body 33 . Thus, when the side periphery 32 of the fastener tape 30 A is folded as shown in FIG. 3 , the restricting unit 50 A is located within the width W 1 of the tape body 33 .

The first fastener stringer 20 A is attached to the cover material 2 A as follows.

First, the first fastener stringer 20 A in the state shown in FIG. 4 is prepared. The side periphery 31 of the fastener tape 30 A is folded to face a rear surface 36 of the tape body 33 , while the restricting unit 50 A extends along the tape body 33 in the Y-axis direction. A front surface 35 of the fastener tape 30 A at the tape body 33 is then placed facing a front surface 5 of the cover material 2 A at a side periphery 3 A of the cover material 2 A.

Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 5 , the side periphery 32 of the fastener tape 30 A is folded to face the front surface 35 of the tape body 33 , forming a space 21 between the restricting unit 50 A and the tape body 33 . At this time, the side periphery 51 of the restricting unit 50 A is located outside in the right-left direction and the side periphery 52 is located inside in the right-left direction. The side periphery 3 A of the cover material 2 A is received in the space 21 . The side periphery 3 A of the cover material 2 A is received between the tape body 33 and the restricting unit 50 A to be compressively deformed and sewed, as it is deformed, to the restricting unit 50 A and the fastener tape 30 A with a sewing thread 9 (see FIG. 3 ).

Specifically, the restricting unit 50 A and the fastener tape 30 A are connected to each other by sewing, with the sewing thread 9 , the side periphery 52 of the restricting unit 50 A and a portion of the tape body 33 bordering on the side periphery 31 to receive the side periphery 3 A of the cover material 2 A therebetween so that the restricting unit 50 A is unlikely to be displaced outward in the right-left direction with respect to the tape body 33 . However, the restricting unit 50 A and the fastener tape 30 A may be sewed together in any different manner as long as they are sewed with the side periphery 3 A of the cover material 2 A being received therebetween. This applies to later-described second and third exemplary embodiments.

At the end, the cover material 2 A is folded with respect to the side periphery 3 A to cover the restricting unit 50 A at a front side thereof (an upper side in the Z-axis direction in FIG. 3 ). When the first fastener stringer 20 A is attached to the cover material 2 A as described above, a fastener stringer attachment structure 11 A is defined by the first fastener stringer 20 A and the cover material 2 A (see FIGS. 2 and 3 ).

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 , the second fastener stringer 20 B, which is symmetric to the first fastener stringer 20 A right and left, includes a fastener tape 30 B, the fastener element array 40 B, and a restricting unit 50 B, which are structurally the same as the fastener tape 30 A, the fastener element array 40 A, and the restricting unit 50 A of the first fastener stringer 20 A, respectively.

The second fastener stringer 20 B is attached to the cover material 2 B in the same manner as the above-described first fastener stringer 20 A being attached to the cover material 2 A. A fastener stringer attachment structure 11 B is thus defined by the second fastener stringer 20 B and the cover material 2 B.

Effects of First Exemplary Embodiment

(1) In the first exemplary embodiment, the first fastener stringer 20 A includes the fastener tape 30 A, the fastener element array 40 A fixed to the fastener tape 30 A, and the restricting unit 50 A provided along the longitudinal direction of the fastener tape 30 A, the restricting unit 50 A being configured to form the space 21 receiving the side periphery 3 A of the cover material 2 A between the restricting unit 50 A and the fastener tape 30 A.

The above configuration allows the side periphery 3 A of the cover material 2 A to be received between the fastener tape 30 A and the restricting unit 50 A, holding the side periphery 3 A of the cover material 2 A. Further, by folding the side periphery 3 A of the cover material 2 A to cover the front side of the restricting unit 50 A, the first fastener stringer 20 A is kept from being exposed at a front side of the cover material 2 A.

(2) The second fastener stringer 20 B includes the fastener tape 30 B, the fastener element array 40 B fixed to the fastener tape 30 B, and the restricting unit 50 B provided along the longitudinal direction of the fastener tape 30 B, the restricting unit 50 B being configured to form the space 21 receiving the side periphery 3 B of the cover material 2 B between the restricting unit 50 B and the fastener tape 30 B.

The second fastener stringer 20 B is thus structurally the same as the first fastener stringer 20 A, achieving the above effects in the same manner as the first fastener stringer 20 A.

(3) Further, when the fastener element array 40 A of the first fastener stringer 20 A is engaged with the fastener element array 40 B of the second fastener stringer 20 B, the right and left cover materials 2 A, 2 B are bordered on each other to cover the fastener tapes 30 A, 30 B. If a force is applied to the right and left cover materials 2 A, 2 B in directions for the cover materials 2 A, 2 B to separate from each other, i.e., the right-left directions (Y-axis direction), the restricting units 50 A, 50 B would restrict the displacement of the cover materials 2 A, 2 B away from each other. The right and left cover materials 2 A, 2 B can thus be prevented from separating from each other, so that the fastener tapes 30 A, 30 B are less likely to be exposed outside.

(4) The restricting unit 50 A is attached to the fastener tape 30 A at a distance from the fastener element array 40 A in the width direction of the fastener tape 30 A and the restricting unit 50 B is attached to the fastener tape 30 B at a distance from the fastener element array 40 B in the width direction of the fastener tape 30 B.

The above configuration allows the fastener element array 40 A, the fastener tape 30 A, and the restricting unit 50 A to form the continuous first fastener stringer 20 A and the fastener element array 40 B, the fastener tape 30 B, and the restricting unit 50 B to form the continuous second fastener stringer 20 B. Thus, for instance, before being attached to the cover material 2 , the first fastener stringer 20 A and the second fastener stringer 20 B are easy to handle as compared with a fastener stringer including a fastener tape and a restricting unit formed as separate components.

Further, the space 21 can be easily formed between the fastener tapes 30 A, 30 B and the restricting units 50 A, 50 B to receive the side peripheries 3 A, 3 B of the cover materials 2 A, 2 B, respectively, merely by folding each of the fastener tapes 30 A, 30 B at the side periphery 32 over the front side.

Second Exemplary Embodiment

A second exemplary embodiment of the invention will be described below with reference to the attached drawings.

As shown in FIGS. 6 to 8 , a slide fastener 10 B of the second exemplary embodiment, which is configured to connect the cover materials 2 A, 2 B, includes a pair of first fastener stringer 70 A and second fastener stringer 70 B opposite in the Y-axis direction and the above-described slider 60 (see FIG. 1 ).

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 , when the first fastener stringer 70 A and the second fastener stringer 70 B are engaged with each other, the right and left cover materials 2 A, 2 B are in contact with each other.

The first fastener stringer 70 A includes a fastener tape 71 A, the above-described fastener element array 40 A fixed to the fastener tape 71 A, and a restricting unit 80 A provided along a longitudinal direction (X-axis direction) of the fastener tape 71 A.

The fastener tape 71 A, which is structurally substantially the same as the fastener tape 30 A, has a width smaller than the width of the fastener tape 30 A.

As shown in FIG. 7 , the fastener element array 40 A is sewed to a side periphery 72 of the fastener tape 71 A in a width direction with the sewing thread 8 , while the restricting unit 80 A is attached to an opposite side periphery 73 of the fastener tape 71 A in the width direction. It should be noted that a tape body 74 is defined between the side peripheries 72 , 73 of the fastener tape 71 A and the side periphery 72 of the fastener tape 71 A is folded to face a rear surface 76 of the tape body 74 .

The restricting unit 80 A, which is formed into a belt shape from a hard synthetic resin such as polyamide, polyacetal, polypropylene, and polybutylene terephthalate, exhibits flexibility such that the restricting unit 80 A is bendable in conformity with the bend of the cover material 2 A. The restricting unit 80 A includes an attachment piece 81 attached to the fastener tape 71 A, a main piece 82 facing the fastener tape 71 A to define the space 21 receiving the side periphery 3 A of the cover material 2 A, and a bendable piece 83 continuous with the attachment piece 81 and the main piece 82 .

A surface 86 of the restricting unit 80 A, which is shown at an upper side in FIG. 8 , is flush across the attachment piece 81 , the main piece 82 , and the bendable piece 83 . A surface 87 of the restricting unit 80 A, which is shown at a lower side in FIGS. 8 and 9A , has a planar portion 873 corresponding to the bendable piece 83 , a planar portion 871 corresponding to the attachment piece 81 , and a planar portion 872 corresponding to the main piece 82 , the planar portion 873 receding upward with respect to the planar portions 871 , 872 . Thus, a thickness T 3 of the bendable piece 83 is smaller than respective thicknesses T 1 , T 2 of the attachment piece 81 and the main piece 82 , so that the bendable piece 83 is easier to bend to the front side than the attachment piece 81 and the main piece 82 .

In the restricting unit 80 A, merely the planar portion 873 of the surface 87 corresponding to the bendable piece 83 recedes. However, as shown in, for instance, FIG. 9B , a planar portion 863 , which corresponds to the bendable piece 83 , of the surface 86 of the restricting unit 80 A may recede downward with respect to a planar portion 861 corresponding to the attachment piece 81 and a planar portion 862 corresponding to the main piece 82 and a width W 5 of the planar portion 873 in the Y-axis direction may be larger than a width W 6 of the planar portion 863 in the Y-axis direction. In this case, since the planar portion 873 recedes as described above, a tensile stress applied to the planar portion 873 of the bendable piece 83 as the bendable piece 83 of the restricting unit 80 A is folded with the surface 86 facing itself as shown in FIG. 10 is reduced as compared with an instance where the planar portion 873 would not recede. Meanwhile, since the planar portion 863 recedes as described above, a compression stress applied to the planar portion 863 of the bendable piece 83 is reduced as compared with an instance where the planar portion 863 would not recede. Consequently, the bendable piece 83 can thus be bent with a smaller force.

Referring to FIG. 9B , the width W 5 of the planar portion 873 is larger than the width W 6 of the planar portion 863 but, for instance, the widths W 5 , W 6 may be equal as shown in FIG. 9C . In this case, the restricting unit 80 A is similarly bendable with respect to either the front side or the rear side.

It should be noted that the restricting unit 80 A with the arrangement shown in either FIG. 9A or FIG. 9B is easily bendable with respect to both the front side and the rear side as compared with an instance where the planar portion 873 and/or planar portion 863 would not recede.

It should also be noted that the respective thicknesses T 1 , T 2 of the attachment piece 81 and the main piece 82 are the same in the exemplary embodiment. Additionally, as shown in FIG. 10 , a width W 3 of the main piece 82 is larger than a width W 4 of the attachment piece 81 .

A side periphery 88 of the restricting unit 80 A in the width direction (i.e., a side periphery of the attachment piece 81 ) is attached to the side periphery 73 of the fastener tape 71 A. An opposite side periphery 89 of the restricting unit 80 A (i.e., a side periphery of the main piece 82 ) in the width direction is free.

The first fastener stringer 70 A is attached to the cover material 2 A as follows.

First, the first fastener stringer 70 A in the state shown in FIG. 8 (the first fastener stringer 70 A with the restricting unit 80 A being unfolded along the Y-axis direction) is prepared and then a front surface 75 of the fastener tape 71 A at the tape body 74 and the side periphery 73 is placed over the front surface 5 of the cover material 2 A at the side periphery 3 A.

Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 10 , the bendable piece 83 of the restricting unit 80 A is folded with the surface 86 facing itself, forming the space 21 between the restricting unit 80 A and the tape body 74 . At this time, the side periphery 89 of the restricting unit 80 A (the side periphery of the main piece 82 ) is located inside in the right-left direction with respect to the bendable piece 83 . The side periphery 3 A of the cover material 2 A is received in the space 21 . The side periphery 3 A of the cover material 2 A is compressively deformed between the fastener tape 71 A (and attachment piece 81 ) and the main piece 82 and sewed, as it is deformed, to the main piece 82 and the fastener tape 71 A with the sewing thread 9 (see FIG. 7 ).

At the end, the cover material 2 A is folded with respect to the side periphery 3 A to cover the restricting unit 80 A at a front side thereof (an upper side in the Z-axis direction in FIG. 7 ). When the first fastener stringer 70 A is attached to the cover material 2 A as described above, a fastener stringer attachment structure 12 A is defined by the first fastener stringer 70 A and the cover material 2 A (see FIGS. 6 and 7 ).

The second fastener stringer 70 B includes a fastener tape 71 B, the above-described fastener element array 40 B fixed to the fastener tape 71 B, and a restricting unit 80 B provided along a longitudinal direction (X-axis direction) of the fastener tape 71 B. The fastener tape 71 B and the restricting unit 80 B are structurally the same as the fastener tape 71 A and the restricting unit 80 A of the first fastener stringer 70 A. The second fastener stringer 70 B is symmetric to the first fastener stringer 70 A right and left.

The second fastener stringer 70 B is attached to the cover material 2 B in the same manner as the above-described first fastener stringer 70 A being attached to the cover material 2 A. A fastener stringer attachment structure 12 B is thus defined by the second fastener stringer 70 B and the cover material 2 B.

Effects of Second Exemplary Embodiment

The slide fastener 10 B of the second exemplary embodiment can achieve the same effects as those of the slide fastener 10 of the first exemplary embodiment. Additionally, the slide fastener 10 B of the second exemplary embodiment can achieve the following effects.

(1) The restricting unit 80 A includes the attachment piece 81 attached to the fastener tape 71 A, the main piece 82 facing the fastener tape 71 A to define the space 21 receiving the side periphery 3 A of the cover material 2 A, and the bendable piece 83 continuous with the attachment piece 81 and the main piece 82 .

The main piece 82 can thus be folded with respect to the attachment piece 81 by bending the bendable piece 83 of the restricting unit 80 A without the necessity of folding the fastener tape 71 A, easily forming the space 21 receiving the side periphery 3 A of the cover material 2 A between the main piece 82 and the fastener tape 71 A. The restricting unit 80 B, which includes the attachment piece 81 , the main piece 82 , and the bendable piece 83 in the same manner as the restricting unit 80 A, can achieve the above effects.

Further, the bendable piece 83 of the restricting unit 80 A is clearly defined as a bending position, thus eliminating variation in bending position between the first fastener stringer 70 A and the second fastener stringer 70 B as compared with an instance where the fastener tape 71 A would be bent.

(2) The attachment piece 81 is provided along the tape body 74 of each of the fastener tapes 71 A, 71 B, so that the width of the fastener tape 71 A can be reduced depending on the width W 4 of the attachment piece 81 .

(3) Further, a dimension of the space 21 in the Z-axis direction can be determined by changing the width of the bendable piece 83 .

Third Exemplary Embodiment

A third exemplary embodiment of the invention will be described below with reference to the attached drawings.

As shown in FIGS. 11 to 13 , a slide fastener 10 C of the third exemplary embodiment, which is configured to connect the cover materials 2 A, 2 B, includes a pair of first fastener stringer 90 A and second fastener stringer 90 B opposite in the Y-axis direction and the above-described slider 60 (see FIG. 1 ).

As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 , when the first fastener stringer 90 A and the second fastener stringer 90 B are engaged with each other, the right and left cover materials 2 A, 2 B are in contact with each other.

The first fastener stringer 90 A includes a fastener tape 91 A, the above-described fastener element array 40 A fixed to the fastener tape 91 A, and a restricting unit 100 A provided along a longitudinal direction (X-axis direction) of the fastener tape 91 A.

The fastener tape 91 A is structurally the same as the fastener tape 30 A except that the restricting unit 100 A is not attached to the side periphery 32 of the fastener tape 91 A.

The restricting unit 100 A is structurally the same as the restricting unit 50 A except that the side periphery 51 of the restricting unit 100 A is not attached to the side periphery 32 of the fastener tape 91 A.

Thus, when the first fastener stringer 90 A is not attached to the cover material 2 A as shown in FIG. 13 , the restricting unit 100 A is present as an independent member separate from the fastener tape 91 A.

The first fastener stringer 90 A is attached to the cover material 2 A as follows.

First, the first fastener stringer 90 A in the state shown in FIG. 13 is prepared and then the front surface 35 of the fastener tape 91 A at the tape body 33 is placed facing the front surface 5 of the cover material 2 A at the side periphery 3 A.

Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 14 , the restricting unit 100 A is placed facing a rear surface 6 of the cover material 2 A at the side periphery 3 A such that the space 21 , in which the side periphery 3 A is received, is formed between the restricting unit 100 A and the tape body 33 . The side periphery 3 A of the cover material 2 A is compressively deformed between the tape body 33 and the restricting unit 100 A and sewed, as it is deformed, to the tape body 33 and the restricting unit 100 A with the sewing thread 9 (see FIG. 12 ).

At the end, the cover material 2 A is folded with respect to the side periphery 3 A to cover the restricting unit 100 A at a front side thereof (an upper side in the Z-axis direction in FIG. 12 ). When the first fastener stringer 90 A is attached to the cover material 2 A as described above, a fastener stringer attachment structure 13 A is defined by the first fastener stringer 90 A and the cover material 2 A (see FIGS. 11 and 12 ).

The second fastener stringer 90 B includes a fastener tape 91 B, the above-described fastener element array 40 B fixed to the fastener tape 91 B, and a restricting unit 100 B provided along a longitudinal direction (X-axis direction) of the fastener tape 91 B as shown in FIGS. 11, 12 . The fastener tape 91 B and the restricting unit 100 B are structurally the same as the fastener tape 91 A and the restricting unit 100 A of the first fastener stringer 90 A, respectively. The second fastener stringer 90 B is symmetric to the first fastener stringer 90 A right and left.

The second fastener stringer 90 B is attached to the cover material 2 B in the same manner as the above-described first fastener stringer 90 A being attached to the cover material 2 A. A fastener stringer attachment structure 13 B is thus defined by the second fastener stringer 90 B and the cover material 2 B (see FIGS. 11, 12 ).

Effects of Third Exemplary Embodiment

The slide fastener 10 C of the third exemplary embodiment achieves substantially the same effects as those of the slide fastener 10 of the first exemplary embodiment. However, whereas each of the first fastener stringer 20 A and the second fastener stringer 20 B of the first exemplary embodiment is easy to handle as being a single component, the first fastener stringer 90 A and the second fastener stringer 90 B are not easy to handle when not attached to the cover materials 2 A, 2 B, since the restricting units 100 A, 100 B are present as independent members not attached to the fastener tapes 91 A, 91 B.

On the other hand, the positions of the restricting units 100 A, 100 B, which are independent members, can be determined as desired irrespective of the width of the fastener tapes 91 A, 91 B or the like, forming the space 21 to receive the side peripheries 3 A, 3 B of the cover materials 2 A, 2 B.

Further, the restricting units 100 A, 100 B are connected to the fastener tapes 91 A, 91 B by, for instance, sewing at positions where the space 21 for receiving the side peripheries 3 A, 3 B of the cover materials 2 A, 2 B is formed between the restricting units 100 A, 100 B and the respective fastener tapes 91 A, 91 B, thereby restricting the displacement of the restricting units 100 A, 100 B. The restricting units 100 A, 100 B thus allow for restricting the cover materials 2 A, 2 B from being displaced right and left from each other.

Modification(s)

The invention is not limited to the above-described exemplary embodiments but may include any modifications not hampering the achievement of the object of the invention.

In the first to third exemplary embodiments, the belt-shaped restricting units 50 A, 50 B, 80 A, 80 B, 100 A, 100 B provided along the X-axis direction are not provided with, for instance, a groove. However, instead of these restricting units, for instance, restricting units 110 A, 110 B provided with at least one restricting groove 111 may be used as in a first modification shown in FIG. 15 . It should be noted that FIG. 15 shows the same fastener tapes 30 A, 30 B as in the first exemplary embodiment for the convenience of explanation but the restricting units 110 A, 110 B are not necessarily attached to the side peripheries 32 .

The restricting unit 110 A shown in FIG. 15 is in the form of a belt shape along the X-axis direction with the side periphery 52 , which is located inside in the right-left direction in FIG. 15 , being continuous along the X-axis direction.

For instance, the plurality of restricting grooves 111 extend in the Y-axis direction from the side periphery 51 , which is located outside in the right-left direction in FIG. 15 , toward the side periphery 52 of the restricting unit 110 A, while being juxtaposed in the X-axis direction.

The above configuration, in which the restricting grooves 111 provided to the side periphery 51 of the restricting unit 110 A are juxtaposed along the X-axis direction, allows for formation of narrow portions in the side periphery 52 of the restricting unit 110 A along the X-axis direction, making the belt-shaped restricting unit 110 A easy to bend right and left. The restricting unit 110 A can thus be easily curved in conformity with the curve of the side periphery 3 A of the cover material 2 A so that, for instance, the right and left cover materials 2 A, 2 B are curved to be connected.

Further, the restricting grooves 111 are located outside in the right-left direction with the space 21 receiving the cover material 2 A being formed between the fastener tape 30 A and the restricting unit 110 A, while the continuous side periphery 52 of the restricting unit 110 A is located inside in the right-left direction. Thus, if a force is applied to the right and left cover materials 2 A, 2 B to separate them in the right-left direction, the continuous side periphery 52 of the restricting unit 110 A can receive the cover material 2 A, preventing the cover material 2 A from being stuck in the restricting grooves 111 to unintentionally form wrinkles or the like on the cover material 2 A. Thus, the right and left cover materials 2 A, 2 B can be smoothened in appearance without the wrinkles or the like at a curved connection portion therebetween.

It should be noted that the restricting unit 110 B, which is structurally the same as the restricting unit 110 A but symmetric thereto right and left, can achieve the above effects.

Referring to FIG. 15 , the plurality of restricting grooves 111 are provided merely to the side periphery 51 of the restricting unit 110 A located outside in the right-left direction but the invention is not limited thereto. For instance, the plurality of restricting grooves 111 are provided merely to the side periphery 52 of the restricting unit 110 A located inside in the right-left direction in some exemplary embodiments. Further, the plurality of restricting grooves 111 are provided to each of the side peripheries 51 , 52 in some exemplary embodiments. In this case, the plurality of restricting grooves 111 of the side periphery 51 and the plurality of restricting grooves 111 of the side periphery 52 may be alternately arranged along the X-axis direction.

Further, instead of the above-described restricting units 50 A, 50 B, 80 A, 80 B, 100 A, 100 B of the first to third exemplary embodiments, restricting units 120 A, 120 B may be provided as in a second modification shown in FIG. 16 , the restricting units 120 A, 120 B each having the side periphery 52 discontinuous along the X-axis direction contrary to the restricting units 110 A, 110 B.

The restricting unit 120 A shown in FIG. 16 includes a plurality of restricting members 122 juxtaposed at a distance 121 along the X-axis direction. In the state shown in FIG. 16 , the restricting members 122 each have a side periphery 123 located inside in the right-left direction and a side periphery 124 located outside in the right-left direction.

The plurality of restricting members 122 each include restricting members 122 A (end restricting members) located at opposite ends in the X-axis direction and a plurality of restricting members 122 B (middle restricting members) located between the opposite ends.

An extension 125 is provided to the side periphery 123 of each restricting member 122 A, extending in the X-axis direction toward the adjacent one of the restricting members 122 B. The extension 125 is provided to the side periphery 123 of each restricting member 122 B, extending at each side thereof in the X-axis direction. With the presence of the extensions 125 of the side peripheries 123 , a distance C 1 between the side peripheries 123 of the restricting members 122 is smaller than a distance C 2 between the side peripheries 124 located outside in the right-left direction with respect to the side peripheries 123 .

This configuration, in which the plurality of restricting members 122 of the restricting unit 120 A are juxtaposed at the distance 121 , allows the first fastener stringers 20 A, 70 A, 90 A to be easily bendable right and left as compared with, for instance, the belt-shaped restricting unit 110 A. The first fastener stringers 20 A, 70 A, 90 A can thus be easily curved in conformity with the curve of the side periphery 3 A of the cover material 2 A so that, for instance, the right and left cover materials 2 A, 2 B are curved to be connected.

Further, since the distance C 1 between the side peripheries 123 of the plurality of restricting members 122 of the restricting unit 120 A located inside in the right-left direction is smaller than the distance C 2 between the portions located outside in the right-left direction, the cover material 2 A is less likely to be stuck between the side peripheries 123 of the plurality of restricting members 122 located inside in the right-left direction when a force is applied to the right and left cover materials 2 A, 2 B to separate them in the right-left direction. Thus, unintentional wrinkles or the like of the cover material 2 A can be reduced. This results in a smooth appearance of the right and left cover materials 2 A, 2 B with wrinkles or the like being reduced at a curved connection portion as described above.

Further, the restricting unit 120 A, which includes the plurality of restricting members 122 , can eliminate the necessity of forming a continuous portion in the X-axis direction, thus reducing material costs.

It should be noted that the restricting unit 120 B, which is structurally the same as the restricting unit 120 A but symmetric thereto right and left, can achieve the above effects.

In the first to third exemplary embodiments, the fastener tapes 30 A, 30 B, 91 A, 91 B are partly present at a rear position (a lower position in the Z-axis direction in FIG. 17 ) outside in the right-left direction with respect to the restricting units 50 A, 50 B, 80 A, 80 B, 100 A, 100 B or are not provided. A support 130 may be provided at this position as in a third modification shown in, for instance, FIG. 17 .

FIG. 17 shows fastener tapes 141 A, 141 B, fastener element arrays 142 A, 142 B fixed to the fastener tapes 141 A, 141 B, respectively, and restricting units 140 A, 140 B provided along respective longitudinal directions of the fastener tapes 141 A, 141 B.

The fastener element arrays 142 A, 142 B, which are wider than the restricting units 140 A, 140 B, each define a support 130 located behind (below in the Z-axis direction shown in FIG. 17 ) a side periphery 143 (i.e., an outer periphery in the right-left direction) of the corresponding one of the restricting units 140 A, 140 B.

In the above configuration, the support 130 is provided at a position for the support 130 and the restricting unit 140 A ( 140 B) to receive therebetween the side periphery 3 A ( 3 B) of the cover material 2 A ( 2 B) and the fastener tape 141 A ( 141 B). If a force is applied to the right and left cover materials 2 A, 2 B to separate them in the right-left direction, each of the restricting units 140 A, 140 B would tend to incline such that the side periphery 144 , which is located inside the right-left direction, rising toward a front side (an upper side in the Z-axis direction in FIG. 17 ) and the side periphery 143 , which is located outside in the right-left direction, receding toward a rear side. However, since the support 130 supports the side periphery 143 of the restricting unit 140 A ( 140 B) located outside in the right-left direction, such inclination can be reduced, keeping the right and left cover materials 2 A, 2 B in contact with each other.

It should be noted that FIG. 17 shows that the restricting units 140 A, 140 B are attached to the respective side peripheries of the fastener tapes 141 A, 141 B but are attached in a different manner in some exemplary embodiments. Further, the restricting units 140 A, 140 B are in the form of any ones of the above-described restricting units 50 A, 50 B, 80 A, 80 B, 100 A, 100 B, 110 A, 110 B, and 120 A, 120 B in some exemplary embodiments.

FIG. 17 shows that the fastener element arrays 142 A, 142 B each define the support 130 but the invention is not limited thereto. For instance, the support 130 is a supporting member located outside in the right-left direction with respect to each of the fastener element arrays 40 A, 40 B in some exemplary embodiments.

In the first and second exemplary embodiments, the restricting units 50 A, 50 B are attached to the side peripheries 32 of the fastener tapes 30 A, 30 B, respectively, while the restricting units 80 A, 80 B are attached to the side peripheries 73 of the fastener tapes 71 A, 71 B, respectively. However, restricting units 50 A, 50 B or the restricting units 80 A, 80 B are attached at portions different from the side peripheries 32 or the side peripheries 73 in some exemplary embodiments.

In the first and second exemplary embodiments, the restricting units 50 A, 50 B, 80 A, 80 B are made of a hard synthetic resin but the invention is not limited thereto. For instance, the restricting units are formed by curing the side peripheries 32 of the fastener tapes 30 A, 30 B or the side peripheries 73 of the fastener tapes 71 A, 71 B in some exemplary embodiments.

In the first to third exemplary embodiments, the fastener element arrays 40 A, 40 B are each a linear element formed from a synthetic resin monofilament into a coil shape but the invention is not limited thereto. For instance, various types of fastener element arrays are can be employed, including a fastener element array including block members with meshing heads juxtaposed along the X-axis direction, a fastener element array including an injection-molded resin element, and a fastener element array including a metal element.

In the above-described exemplary embodiments, the slide fasteners 10 , 10 B, 10 C are described as a device for connecting the right and left cover materials 2 A, 2 B of the sheet cover for the car seat 1 but are used as a device for connecting right and left cover materials for, for instance, bags, clothing, and furniture (e.g., chair and sofa) in some exemplary embodiments.