Fastener element for slide fastener, and slide fastener

Abstract

A fastener element ( 21 ) for a metal slide fastener comprises: an interlocking head ( 30 ); and a first half ( 32 ) and a second half ( 33 ) that branch and extend from the interlocking head ( 30 ). The surfaces of the first half ( 32 ) and the second half ( 33 ) facing each other are provided with holding grooves ( 39 ) formed along the width direction of the fastener element. The branching of the first half ( 32 ) and the second half ( 33 ) is more toward the interlocking head than are the holding grooves ( 39 a, 39 b ). As a result, it is possible to attach new fastener elements to missing fastener element sections at low cost and in a short time without sending the slide fastener to a repair shop, and also possible to achieve a satisfactory outer appearance.

1 . A metal fastener element ( 21 ,  21 A,  21 B,  21 C,  21 D,  21 E,  21 F) for a slide fastener comprising:
 a meshing head portion ( 30 ); and   a first half portion ( 32 ) and a second half portion ( 33 ) which extend in a branched manner, wherein   each of the first half portion and the second half portion includes, in a surface thereof facing each other, a clamping groove ( 39   a ,  39   b ) extending along a width direction of the fastener element, and   the first half portion and the second half portion are branched on a side of the meshing head portion ( 30 ) with respect to the clamping grooves ( 39   a ,  39   b ).   
     
     
         2 . The fastener element ( 21 ,  21 A,  21 B,  21 C,  21 D,  21 E,  21 F) according to  claim 1 , wherein
 an inner convex portion ( 40 ,  60 ) protruding into a space(S) formed by the clamping grooves is provided in each of the clamping grooves ( 39   a ,  39   b ).   
     
     
         3 . The fastener element ( 21 ,  21 A,  21 B,  21 C,  21 D,  21 E,  21 F) according to  claim 1 or 2 , further comprising
 a neck portion ( 34 ) which is continuous from the meshing head portion ( 30 ) and which is narrower than the meshing head portion ( 30 ), wherein   at least one of the first half portion ( 32 ) and the second half portion ( 33 ) is branched from a portion between a portion of the meshing head portion ( 30 ) which is widest in the width direction of the fastener element and a portion of the neck portion ( 34 ) which is narrowest in the width direction of the fastener element.   
     
     
         4 . The fastener element ( 21 F) according to  claim 3 , further comprising
 a protrusion portion ( 26 ) which protrudes from the meshing head portion ( 30 ) and which is provided between the first half portion ( 32 ) and the second half portion ( 33 ).   
     
     
         5 . The fastener element ( 21 ,  21 A,  21 B,  21 C,  21 D) according to any one of  claims 1 to 3 , wherein
 the first half portion includes a neck portion ( 34 ) and a first leg portion ( 35   a ) which extends from the neck portion thereof to a side opposite to the meshing head portion and which is wider than the neck portion thereof, and/or the second half portion includes a neck portion ( 34 ) and a second leg portion ( 35   b ) which extends from the neck portion thereof to the side opposite to the meshing head portion and which is wider than the neck portion thereof,   a groove portion ( 31 ) which extends along the width direction is formed in a front surface of the meshing head portion, and   at least one of the first half portion and the second half portion includes a pair of shoulder portions ( 36 ) extending in the width direction between the neck portion thereof and the first leg portion or the second leg portion and configured to be engaged with the groove portion.   
     
     
         6 . The fastener element ( 21 ,  21 A,  21 B,  21 C,  21 D) according to  claim 5 , wherein
 the shoulder portions are provided on any one of the first half portion and the second half portion.   
     
     
         7 . The fastener element ( 21 ,  21 A,  21 B,  21 C,  21 E,  21 F) according to any one of  claims 2 to 6 , wherein
 the inner convex portion ( 40 ) has a cross shape including a first inner convex portion ( 41 ) which extends along the width direction and a second inner convex portion ( 42 ) which intersects the first inner convex portion and which extends along a longitudinal direction.   
     
     
         8 . The fastener element ( 21 A) according to  claim 7 , wherein
 the second inner convex portion ( 42 ) of the first half portion and the second inner convex portion ( 42 ) of the second half portion are offset from each other in the width direction of the fastener element.   
     
     
         9 . The fastener element ( 21 D) according to any one of  claims 2 to 6 , wherein
 the inner convex portion ( 60 ) includes at least three claw portions ( 61   a ,  62   a ,  63   a ,  61   b ,  62   b ,  63   b ) which are respectively provided at an intermediate portion in the width direction and both end portions in the width direction, and positions of the at least three claw portions in a length direction are different.   
     
     
         10 . The fastener element ( 21 B,  21 C) according to any one of  claims 1 to 9 , wherein
 each of facing surfaces of the first half portion and the second half portion is provided with an outer convex portion ( 50 ,  55 ) on a side of the clamping grooves opposite to the meshing head portion.   
     
     
         11 . The fastener element ( 21 ,  21 A,  21 B,  21 C,  21 D,  21 E,  21 F) according to any one of  claims 1 to 10 , wherein
 a maximum opening distance (L) between the first half portion and the second half portion is 85% to 90% of a diameter (d) of a core string of the fastener tape.   
     
     
         12 . The fastener element ( 21 E) according to any one of  claims 1, 2, and 7 to 11 , wherein
 the meshing head portion includes a first head portion ( 30   a ) which is provided on a side of the first half portion in a front-back direction and which is tapered toward a front surface thereof, and a second head portion ( 30   b ) which is provided on a side of the second half portion in the front-back direction and which is wider than the first head portion,   the first half portion includes a first leg portion ( 35   a ) which is formed continuously from the first head portion, and   the second half portion includes a neck portion ( 34 ) which is narrower than the second head portion, and a second leg portion ( 35   b ) which extends from the neck portion to a side opposite to the second head portion and which is wider than the neck portion.   
     
     
         13 . A slide fastener ( 10 ) comprising:
 a pair of fastener stringers ( 11 ,  12 ) each formed by injection-molding a plurality of resin fastener elements ( 20 ) on the fastener tape; and   a slider ( 13 ) configured to open and close the pair of fastener stringers, wherein   in at least one of the pair of fastener stringers, the fastener element ( 21 ,  21 A,  21 B,  21 C,  21 D,  21 E,  21 F) according to any one of claims  1  to  12  is crimped and attached to a tape side edge portion of the fastener tape between the resin fastener elements.