Member having spring properties and product employing same

Abstract

In a member having spring properties, such as a slider for a slide fastener or a snap button, the member main unit is composed of copper or a copper-based alloy, and the spring member attached to the member main unit is also composed of copper or a copper-based alloy. This eliminates the trouble of having to separate the structural components when recycling copper and also allows regenerated ingots to be readily prepared through a remelting process, thereby lowering recycling costs.

1 . A member having spring properties, comprising:
 a member main unit comprising copper or a copper-based alloy; and   a spring member comprising a copper-based alloy mounted on the member main unit.   
   
   
       2 . The member having spring properties according to  claim 1 , wherein the spring member has 0.2% resistance of at least 1000 N/mm 2  and a spring threshold of at least 700 N/mm 2 . 
   
   
       3 . The member having spring properties according to  claim 1 , wherein the spring member has 0.2% resistance of at least 1200 N/mm 2  and a spring threshold of at least 1000 N/mm 2 . 
   
   
       4 . The member having spring properties according to  claim 1 , wherein the spring member has a hardness Hv not greater than 400, tensile elongation of at least 5%, corrosion resistance equal to or greater than red brass, and a needle detector compatibility corresponding to A. 
   
   
       5 . The member having spring properties according to  claim 1 , wherein the spring member does not comprise lead, mercury, cadmium, or hexavalent chromium. 
   
   
       6 . The member having spring properties according to  claim 1 , wherein the member having spring properties is a body of a slider for a slide fastener, the member main unit is a main body of the slider, and the spring member is mounted on the main body. 
   
   
       7 . A slider for a slide fastener comprising a body and a pull, wherein the body is the member having spring properties according to  claim 6 , and the pull comprises copper or a copper-based alloy. 
   
   
       8 . A slide fastener comprising elements, stops, and a slider, wherein the elements and/or stops consist of copper or a copper-based alloy, and the slider is the slider according to  claim 7 . 
   
   
       9 . The member having spring properties according to  claim 1 , wherein the member having spring properties is a female unit of a snap button, the member main unit is a button body, and the spring member is mounted on the button body. 
   
   
       10 . A snap button comprising a male unit and a female unit, wherein the male unit consists of copper or a copper-based alloy, and the female unit comprises the member having spring properties according to  claim 9 .