Ykk Corporation

Ykk Corporation of America

Suguru Ogura

Mingsi Wang

Tsuyoshi Minato

Wolfgang Coronel

Yusuke Hosokawa

Sayuri Omote

Jesse Bryon Robinson

Various implementations include a slide fastener that has a blocking element on one stringer that prevents engagement compatibility with standard elements on the other stringer. For example, at least one blocking element is coupled to a first stringer, and first and second blocking coupling elements are coupled to a second stringer. The contour of the blocking element and the contour of the blocking coupling elements are different from the contour of the standard elements on the stringers such that the standard elements do not engage with the blocking element or the blocking coupling elements in an alternating arrangement. However, the contour of the blocking element and contour of the blocking coupling elements allow for the engagement of the blocking element with the blocking coupling elements in an alternating arrangement.

Slide fastener with blocking element

Open-ended slide fastener assemblies with improved operability. In some examples, the slide fastener assemblies are watertight and/or airtight. The slide fastener assemblies include one or more sliders and box and pin mechanisms integrated with the slide fastener. The pin mechanism need not be inserted into the box at the same time it is inserted into the slider, permitting the slide fastener to be operated even when it is not visible or easily accessible.

Sealing for open-end slide fasteners

Various implementations include a slide fastener with head to head sliders that prevents the sliders from moving apart from each other unintentionally and prevents liquid from flowing through the slide fastener. The slide fastener includes first and second sliders that are slidably coupled to a pair of interlocking stringers. The slide fastener also includes slider covers that are each coupled to a respective slider. The slider covers engage each other when the sliders are pulled together. In some implementations, the engagement of the slider covers prevents unintentional separation and/or prevents liquid from flowing out of or into a cavity defined by an inner side of the slider covers that extends around facing front faces of the sliders on one side of the interlocking stringers.

Slide covers for head to head sliders and methods of assembly and use thereof

A fastening device includes a first tape portion and a first fastening portion joined thereto, the first fastening portion defining a first side surface and a second side surface opposite thereto, the first fastening portion including a plurality of fastening elements extending from the first side surface, the plurality of fastening elements arranged lengthwise along a lengthwise direction of the fastening device, each adjacent pair of fastening elements offset by a pitch distance and defining a fastening gap therebetween, each of the plurality of fastening elements including an engagement portion extending in a direction parallel to the lengthwise direction, each of the plurality of fastening elements being asymmetric about a protrusional centerline of the fastening element, the fastening device being a first fastening device configured to be joined to a second fastening device comprising a second fastening portion having the same geometry as the first fastening portion.

Slide fastener

A slide fastener includes a first tape with a plurality of first elements, a second tape with a plurality of second elements, and a slider element configured to interface with the first tape and the second tape. The slider element includes a body portion and a removable portion that are configured to selectively mechanically engage/disengage with one another.

Separable slide fastener

A slide fastener includes first and second rows of slide elements and first and second tapes secured with the respective rows of slide elements. The slide elements of the first row of slide elements are configured to engage with slide elements of the second row of slide elements and each slide element of the first and second rows includes a base, a head, a neck extending between the base and the head, a top surface, a facing surface, and one or more shoulders. A first vertical distance between a lowermost surface of the head and the first end of the first tape is greater than a second vertical distance between a lowermost surface of the base and the first end of the first tape.

Concealable slide fastener

Slide fasteners configured such that opposing elements engage with one another in a non-planar relationship. The elements may engage one another, for example but not limited to, at an angle between approximately 60 degrees and approximately 179 degrees. In some embodiments, each element includes a head and at least one shoulder with angle keeping surfaces and engagement surfaces that abut corresponding surfaces when engaging with a corresponding element to interlock the heads and shoulders of opposing elements. Slide fasteners of the invention may be well suited for use with curved surfaces, corners, ridge lines, edges, or the like of an article.

Slide fastener with angled elements

Open-ended slide fasteners that are watertight and/or airtight. The slide fasteners include box and pin mechanisms integrated with the slide fastener and configured to compress the tape edges and create a water and air tight seal, thus eliminating the need for installing a separate component after the slide fastener has been manufactured.

Sealing for open-end slide fastener

In slide fasteners, the difference between the interval A between the flange portions of sliders and the maximum value B of the separable pins in the tape width direction (interval A&#x2212;maximum value B) satisfies the relation '(dimension C of the box pin corresponding to the maximum value B)&#x3c;(interval A&#x2212;maximum value B)&#x3c;(element width D)', the maximum value B is smaller than the element width D, a dimension E of the separable pin in a tape length direction where the dimension is larger than the difference between the interval A and the element width D (interval A&#x2212;element width D) and satisfies a relationship of '(dimension E)&#x3e;(length of one pitch of the fastener elements)&#xd7;3&#x2212;(dimension of a coupling head of the tape length direction)&#xd7;3'.

A slide fastener with a separable bottom end stop according to the invention, includes: an insert member fixed to an end of one element row, and a pivot support member fixed to an end of the other element row. The insert member includes an insert plate portion fixed to the fastener tape, and a pivot shaft portion disposed on the insert plate portion. The pivot support member includes a box pin portion that extends from an end of the element row, a box portion of a nearly J shape, a protrusion that extends from the box pin portion, and a flat plate-like support portion that extends from the box portion. As a result, even if a separable bottom end stop receives lateral pulling force or pushing-up force in the coupling state of the element rows, it is possible to prevent the element rows from being decoupled.

Slide fastener with separable bottom end stop

The present invention provides a reverse opening type separable end stop having a mechanism which securely locks a reverse opening type slider on a surface of an insert pin or a box pin, thereby blocking the slider from needlessly moving inward, wherein the reverse opening type separable end stop comprises a reverse opening type slider, a box pin and an insert pin, the insert pin or the box pin being provided with a contact portion with which a locking pawl provided on the reverse opening type slider mounted on a fastener chain can always make contact by colliding an end surface thereof in an opening/closing direction at an end portion of the fastener chain, so that the contact portion is locked by the locking pawl, whereby a high quality reverse opening type separable end stop is ensured.

Growing community of inventors

Macon, GA, United States of America

Suguru Ogura