BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention:
[0001] The present invention relates to a knit slide fastener having a row of continuous
coupling elements knit into and along an element-supporting portion of one longitudinal
edge of a knit fastener tape as the fastener tape is knit.
2. Description of the Prior Art:
[0002] A conventional knit slide fastener disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Publication
No. 38-11673 includes a fastener tape knit with threads of chain stitches and laid-in
weft threads and having a longitudinal edge portion into and along which a row of
continuous coiled coupling elements formed from a nylon monofilament is knit. The
nylon monofilament is laid transversely across the longitudinal tape edge portion
and shaped into the row of coiled coupling elements knit successively in the chain
stitches as the fastener tape is knit. Another known knit slide fastener disclosed
in U.S. Patent No. 5,035,125 includes a fastener tape knit with threads of chain stitches
and a laid-in weft thread, and a row of continuous coupling elements formed from a
plastic monofilament laid in and along one longitudinal edge portion of the fastener
tape. In the longitudinal tape edge portion, the laid-in weft thread is interlaced
with the chain stitches running along two wales to downwardly urge the upper and lower
legs of the coupling elements, and also with the chain stitches running along a neighboring
wale to downwardly urge the lower legs of the coupling elements.
[0003] The conventional knit slide fasteners previously described are of the type including
a fastener tape knit with threads of chain stitches and laid-in weft threads, and
a plastic monofilament laid into one longitudinal edge portion of the fastener tape
so as to form a row of continuous coiled coupling elements knit into and along the
longitudinal tape edge portion. In the first-mentioned knit slide fastener, the row
of coupling elements is secured by sinker loops of the chain stitches provided to
form a ground structure of the fastener tape. Since the chain stitches are longitudinally
stretchable, the row of coupling elements thus attached is dimensionally instable
and is likely to be deformed when the chain stitches are stretched. The row of coupling
elements thus deformed does not insure a smooth interlocking engagement with a mating
row of coupling elements. In the second-mentioned knit slide fastener, needle loops
of the chain stitches are merely interlaced with the laid-in weft thread extending
transversely across the longitudinal tape edge portion, and the chain stitches urging
the legs of the coupling elements downwardly also constitute the ground structure.
The chain stitches thus arranged are also readily stretchable in the longitudinal
direction and hence cannot secure the coupling elements with sufficient dimensional
stability. A smooth interlocking engagement between the opposed rows of coupling elements
is, therefore, difficult to achieve.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] With the foregoing drawbacks of the prior art in view, it is an object of the present
invention to provide a knit slide fastener having a row of continuous coupling elements
which is firmly secured to one longitudinal edge portion of a knit tape with high
dimensional stability and in close contact with the ground structure to keep a stable
attachment position at all times, thus maintaining the necessary functions as a slide
fastener without causing accidental chain rupture during use of the slide fastener.
[0005] To attain the forgoing object, there is provided according to one aspect of the present
invention a knit slide fastener including a fastener tape composed of a warp-knit
ground structure and having an element-supporting portion along one longitudinal edge
thereof, and a row of continuous coupling elements knit into and along the element-supporting
portion of the fastener tape as the fastener tape is knit, each of the coupling elements
having a pair of upper and lower legs. The improvement of the knit slide fastener
comprises that the slide fastener has a plurality of parallel juxtaposed threads knit
into the element-supporting portion as binding chain stitches, each of the binding
chain-stitch threads including a succession of sinker loops forming a portion of the
ground structure for supporting and securing the row of continuous coupling elements,
and a succession of needle loops forming a group of successive, longitudinally interlocked
needle loops, the group of needle loops being arranged such that in every two adjacent
courses, the preceding needle loop overlies the upper leg of one of the coupling elements,
and the succeeding needle loop is disposed in a space between said one coupling element
and an adjacent coupling element at a position close to the ground structure so as
to bend the preceding needle loop into an inverted U shape extending embracingly over
the upper and lower legs of the coupling element.
[0006] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a knit slide
fastener including a fastener tape composed of a warp-knit ground structure and having
an element-supporting portion along one longitudinal edge thereof, and a row of continuous
coupling elements knit into and along the element-supporting portion of the fastener
tape as the fastener tape is knit, each of the coupling elements having a pair of
upper and lower legs. The improvement of the knit slide fastener comprises that the
slide fastener has a plurality of parallel juxtaposed threads knit into the element-supporting
portion as binding chain stitches of a double-knit structure, each of the binding
chain-stitch threads including a group of successive, longitudinally interlocked lower
needle loops forming a portion of the ground structure for supporting and securing
the row of continuous coupling elements, and a group of successive, longitudinally
interlocked upper needle loops arranged such that in every two adjacent courses, the
preceding needle loop overlies the upper leg of one of the coupling elements, and
the succeeding needle loop is disposed in a space between said one coupling element
and an adjacent coupling element at a position close to the ground structure so as
to bend the preceding needle loop into an inverted U shape extending embracingly over
the upper and lower legs of the coupling element.
[0007] It is preferable that the element-supporting portion further includes at least one
thread knit as tricot stitches and having a succession of sinker loops each extending
over the upper leg of a corresponding one of the coupling elements.
[0008] Each of the coupling elements is knit into the ground structure in such a manner
that the preceding needle loop of each binding chain-stitch thread is bent into an
inverted U shape extending embracingly over the upper and lower legs of the coupling
element. The coupling elements thus knit are held stable in position and in close
contact with the ground structure while the upper and lower legs of the coupling elements
are kept in a direction perpendicular to the front surface of the ground structure.
Since the succeeding needle loop is interlocked with the preceding needle loop and
pulled toward the ground structure, a single stitch is disposed between each space
defined between two adjacent ones of the coupling elements, and the needle loops of
the binding chain-stitch threads are tightly pulled toward the ground structure. As
a result, the coupling elements are kept in a stable mounting condition and hence
can always retain a smooth coupling operation as required in a slide fastener. Due
to a presence of a recessed portion or space defined between each pair of adjacent
coupling elements, the row of coupling elements can readily be bent in the longitudinal
direction. With this improved flexibility, the row of coupling elements can be neatly
attached to a flexible material, such as a garment fabric.
[0009] In the case where the binding tricot-stitch thread is used in combination with the
binding chain-stitch threads and disposed on an upper surface of the row of coupling
elements, the binding tricot-stitch thread protects the binding chain-stitch threads
against lateral displacement. Furthermore, the binding tricot-stitch thread extending
over the upper surface of the row of coupling elements can effectively prevent an
accidental chain rupture which may occur when a pair of interengaged rows of coupling
elements is subjected to an external force applied in a direction perpendicular to
a general plane of the slide fastener. In this instance, the binding chain-stitch
threads for anchoring the row of coupling elements and the binding tricot-stitch thread,
if necessary, are preferably composed of threads having a thickness and a heat-shrinkability
that are greater than those of the knitting threads used to form the fastener tape.
The use of the thick and highly heat-shrinkable threads is particularly advantageous
in that when a completed fastener is subjected to a heat setting process, these threads
are thermally shrunk to fasten the coupling elements more tightly to thereby improve
dimensional stability of the coupling elements while keeping a highly stable posture,
and it results in smooth coupling operation of the coupling elements.
[0010] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will
become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description
and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which preferred structural embodiments
incorporating the principles of the present invention are shown by way of illustrative
examples.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011]
FIG. 1 is a diagrammatical fragmentary plan view of a knit slide fastener according
to a first embodiment of the present invention, showing the manner in which a row
of continuous coupling elements is attached;
FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the slide fastener of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a point diagram of the slide fastener shown in FIG. 1;
FIGS. 4(A) - 4(E) are point diagrams showing the knitting patterns of various threads
of FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a diagrammatical fragmentary plan view of a slide fastener according to
a second embodiment of the present invention, showing the manner in which a row of
continuous coupling elements is attached;
FIG. 6 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the slide fastener of FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 is a point diagram of the slide fastener shown in FIG. 5; and
FIGS. 8(A) - 8(E) are point diagrams showing the knitting patterns of various threads
of FIG. 7.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0012] Certain preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in
greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Referring now to FIG.
1, there is shown a knit slide fastener according to a first embodiment of the present
invention.
[0013] The knit slide fastener (hereinafter simply referred to as "fastener") is knit on
a warp-knit machine of the general type having a single needle bed. A ground structure
of a warp-knit fastener tape 1 of the fastener except an element-supporting portion
2 extending along one longitudinal edge of the fastener tape 1 is composed of a plurality
of threads 14 knit as chain stitches having a pattern of 1-0/0-1, as shown in FIG.
4(C), a plurality of threads 15 knit as tricot stitches having a pattern of 1-2/1-0,
as shown in FIG. 4(D), and a plurality of laid-in weft threads 16 laid in a zigzag
pattern of 0-0/4-4 and each extending across four adjacent wales 3, as shown in FIG.
4(E). The laid-in weft threads 16 may be replaced by a single laid-in weft thread
extending zigzag in every course across all the wales 3 of the fastener tape 1. Two
adjacent ones of the wales 3 which extend along the longitudinal edge portion of the
fastener tape 1 form the element-supporting portion 2 to which a row of continuous
helically coiled coupling elements 5 is attached. The row of coiled coupling elements
5 is formed by reciprocating a monofilament crosswise in every other course 4 across
the element-supporting portion 2. The row of coiled coupling elements 5 is knit into
the element-supporting portion 2 as the fastener tape 1 is knit. Upper legs 6 of the
respective coupling elements 5 are restrained by two threads 10 which are knit as
binding chain stitches having a pattern of 1-0/0-1, as shown in FIG. 4(A), and extend
along aforesaid two wales 3 of the element-supporting portion 2.
[0014] FIGS. 1 and 2 diagrammatically show the condition in which the row of coiled coupling
elements 5 is attached. In these figures, for better understanding, the tricot stitch
threads 15 of the ground structure are omitted, the laid-in weft threads 16 are each
illustrated by a single solid line, and each of the knitting threads is shown as being
composed of a thin thread and forming a succession of loose stitches. Actually, the
knitting thread is composed of either a thick thread or a thin thread which is selected
properly in view of various functions as required in a knit slide fastener, and the
stitches of the knitting threads are fine and each formed tightly. The same may be
said of a second embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.
[0015] The row of continuous helically coiled coupling elements 5 which is attached to the
element-supporting portion 2 of the fastener tape 1 is formed from a monofilament
of synthetic resin, such as nylon or polyester. The monofilament has a series of longitudinally
spaced flattened portions previously formed by stamping to be coupling heads 8 and
connecting portions 9 of the coupling elements 5. The monofilament having such flattened
portions is laid-in by reciprocating it in every other course 4 of the fastener tape
1 transversely across the element-supporting portion 2 while bending the monofilament
at each of the flatted portions. The thus inlaid monofilament is shaped into a row
of continuous helically coiled coupling elements 5 each having a coupling head 8,
a pair of legs 6, 7 extending in a common direction from the coupling head 8, and
a connecting portion 9 remote from the coupling head 8 and interconnecting the upper
leg 6 of one coupling element 5 and the lower leg 7 of the adjacent coupling element
5. The row of coupling elements 5 is secured to the fastener tape 1 by means of the
binding chain-stitch threads 10 which are provided exclusively for this fastening
purpose along aforesaid two wales 3 of the element-supporting portion 2. The binding
chain-stitch threads 10 each have sinker loops 11 disposed on the ground structure
side and interlaced with the laid-in weft threads 16 forming a portion of the ground
structure of the element-supporting portion 2, so that the sinker loops 11 form a
portion of the ground structure of the element-supporting portion 2 on which the row
of coiled coupling elements 4 is mounted.
[0016] Each of the binding chain-stitch threads 10 has needle loops 12 which are disposed
on an upper side opposite to the sinker loops 11. The needle loops 12 extend lengthwise
in succession so as to form a group of successive, longitudinally interlocked needle
loops, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The group of needle loops 12 are arranged such that
in every two adjacent courses 4, the preceding needle loop 12a overlies the upper
leg 6 of one of the coupling elements 5, and the succeeding needle loop 12b is disposed
in a space between the one coupling element 5 and an adjacent coupling element 5 and
interlocked with the preceding needle loop 12a at a position near the ground structure,
as shown in FIG. 2. With this arrangement, the succeeding needle loop 12b is pulled
downwardly toward the ground structure to thereby bend the preceding needle loop 12a
downwardly into an inverted U shape extending embracingly over the upper and lower
legs 6, 7 of the coupling element 5, thus anchoring the row of coupling elements 5
to the ground structure. Owing to the stitches or loops disposed between the adjacent
coupling elements 5, the needle loops 12 of each of the two binding chain-stitch threads
10 are pulled toward the ground structure with the result that the upper and lower
legs 6, 7 of each coupling element 5 are held in superposed relation in a direction
perpendicular to the ground structure and they are firmly attached to the ground structure
with high positional stability. The row of coupling elements 5 thus attached can always
retain the necessary function of a smooth interlocking engagement with the opposite
row of coupling elements. Furthermore, due to the presence of a recessed portion or
space defined between each pair of adjacent coupling elements 5, the row of coupling
elements 5 is readily flexible in the longitudinal direction and, hence, can be attached
neatly onto a garment fabric, for example.
[0017] FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate, by the dot-and-dash line, a thread 13 knit as binding tricot
stitches having a pattern of 1-2/1-0, such as shown in FIG. 4(B), and provided in
addition to the binding chain-stitch threads 10 along the aforesaid two wales 2 of
the element-supporting portion 2. The binding tricot-stitch thread 13 may be provided
on the upper surface of the row of coupling elements 5, if necessary. The binding
tricot-stitch thread 13 is able to prevent transverse or crosswise displacement of
the binding chain-stitch threads 10. Furthermore, by virtue of the binding tricot-stitch
thread 13 provided over the upper surface of the row of coupling elements 5, the opposed
rows of interengaged coupling elements 5, 5 are well protected against accidental
rupturing which may occur when they are subjected to an external force applied in
a direction perpendicular to a general plane of the slide fastener.
[0018] FIGS. 5 - 8 show a fastener according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
The fastener of this embodiment is knit on a warp-knitting machine having two needle
beds, such as a double Raschel loom. A ground structure of a warp-knit fastener tape
21 (FIG.7) of the fastener except an element-supporting portion extending along one
longitudinal edge of the fastener tape 21 is composed of a plurality of threads 34
knit as chain stitches having a pattern of 1-0/0-0/0-1/1-1, as shown in FIG. 8(C),
a plurality of threads 35 knit as tricot stitches having a pattern of 1-2/1-1/1-0/1-1,
as shown in FIG. 8(D), and a plurality of laid-in weft threads 36 laid in a zigzag
pattern of 0-0/2-2/4-4/2-2 and each extending across four adjacent wales 23, as shown
in FIG. 8(E), so as to withstand loads applied transversely of the fastener tape 21.
The ground structure is knit on back needles of the warp-knitting machine. The laid-in
weft threads 36 may be replaced by a single laid-in weft thread laid in every course
24 across all the wales 23 of the fastener tape 21 and extending zigzag in the longitudinal
direction of the fastener tape 21.
[0019] Three adjacent wales 23 extending along the aforesaid one longitudinal edge portion
of the fastener tape 21 form the element-supporting portion 22 to which a row of continuous
helically coiled coupling elements 25 is attached. The row of coiled coupling elements
25 is formed by reciprocating a monofilament of synthetic resin, such as nylon or
polyester, crosswise without changing its course in every four courses 24 across the
element-supporting portion 22, as shown in FIG. 7. The row of coiled coupling elements
25 is knit into the element-supporting portion 22 simultaneously with knitting of
the fastener tape 21. Upper and lower legs 26, 27 of the respective coupling elements
25 are restrained by three threads 30 which are knit as binding chain stitches having
a pattern of 0-1/1-0/1-0/0-1, such as shown in FIG. 8(A), and extend along aforesaid
three adjacent wales 23 of the element-supporting portion 22. The ground structure
of the element-supporting portion 22 has tricot-stitch threads 35 and laid-in weft
threads 36 in the same manner as the other portion of the fastener tape 21.
[0020] More specifically, in the point diagram shown in FIG. 7, the needle position of front
needles is designated by F, and the needle position of back needles is designated
by B and arranged alternately with the front needle position with respect to each
course. On front needles F, knitting threads form needle loops overlying the upper
surface of the row of coiled coupling elements 25 while being knit in the fastener
tape 1. In the illustrated embodiment, needle loops 32 of the three binding chain-stitch
threads 30 knit as a double knit structure are formed on the front needle F at an
attachment surface side of the element-supporting portion 22. Each of the needle loops
32 is interlaced with the succeeding needle loop formed on the front needles B, as
shown in FIG. 5. By repeating this knitting procedure, three parallel juxtaposed lines
of chain stitches are formed longitudinally on and along the upper surface of the
row of coiled coupling elements 25 so as to secure the coupling elements 25 to the
fastener tape 21, with their upper legs 26 forced downwardly toward the fastener tape
21, as shown in FIG. 5. Stated in further detail, the needle loops 32 of the three
parallel juxtaposed binding chain-stitch threads 30, which are formed on the front
needles F longitudinally on and along upper surface of the row of coiled coupling
elements 25, are arranged such that as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, in every two adjacent
courses 24 (FIG. 7), the preceding needle loop 32a of each binding chain-stitch thread
30 overlies the upper leg 26 of one coupling element 25, and the succeeding needle
loop 32b is disposed in a space between the one coupling element 25 and an adjacent
coupling element 25 and interlocked with the preceding needle loop 32a at a position
near the ground structure. With this arrangement, the preceding needle loop 32b is
pulled downwardly toward the ground structure to thereby bend or flex the preceding
needle loop 32a downwardly into an inverted U shape extending embracingly over the
upper and lower legs 26, 27 of the coupling element 25, thus anchoring the row of
coupling elements 25 to the ground structure. Owing to the stitches or loops disposed
between the adjacent coupling elements 5, the needle loops 32 of each of the three
binding chain-stitch threads 30 are pulled toward the ground structure with the result
that the upper and lower legs 26, 27 of each coupling element 25 are held in superposed
relation in a direction perpendicular to the ground structure and they are firmly
attached to the ground structure with high positional stability. The row of coupling
elements 25 thus attached always has the necessary function of a smooth interlocking
engagement with the opposite row of coupling elements. Furthermore, due to the presence
of a recessed portion or space defined between each adjacent pair of coupling elements
25, the row of coupling elements 25 is readily flexible in the longitudinal direction
and, hence, can be attached neatly onto a garment fabric, for example.
[0021] FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate, by the dot-and-dash line, a thread 33 knit as binding tricot
stitches having a pattern of 1-1/1-2/1-1/1-0, as shown in FIG. 8(B). The binding tricot-stitch
thread 33 is disposed on the upper surface of the row of coupling elements 25 at a
position between stitches of two adjacent binding chain-stitch threads 30 adjacent
to the coupling heads 28. The binding tricot-stitch thread 33 is used as occasion
arises. Since the binding tricot-stitch thread 33 has a succession of sinker loops
extending diagonally across and over the upper surface of the upper legs 26 of the
coupling elements 25, it can attain the same advantageous effects as done by the binding
tricot-stitch thread 13 in the first embodiment previously described. A similar binding
tricot-stitch thread (not shown ) may by added so that stitches of the three parallel
adjacent binding chain-stitch threads 30 are interconnected by the binding tricot-stitch
threads 33.
[0022] On the back needles B, the binding chain-stitch threads 30 are knit into the ground
structure of the element-supporting portion 22 extending along one longitudinal edge
of the fastener tape 21. In the illustrated embodiment, a tape portion of the fastener
tape 21, which excludes the element-supporting portion 22, is knit with the chain-stitch
threads 34, the tricot-stitch threads 35, and the laid-in weft threads 36. On the
other hand, the ground structure of the element-supporting portion 22 of the fastener
tape 21 is knit with the tricot-stitch threads 35 and the laid-in weft threads 36
and does not include the chain-stitch threads 34. As shown in FIG. 7, the binding
chain-stitch threads 30 having a double knit structure include a succession of lower
needle loops 32c interlaced with the needle loops of the tricot-stitch threads 35
to jointly form a fine knit structure.
[0023] As described above, according to the present invention, a row of continuous coupling
elements 5; 25 is secured to a fastener tape 1; 21 by means of binding chain-stitch
threads 10; 30 which extend embracingly over the upper and lower legs 6; 26, 7; 27
of each coupling element 5; 25 to align the upper and lower legs 6; 26, 7; 27 in a
direction perpendicular to the front surface of the ground structure. With this arrangement,
the row of coupling elements 5; 25 is knit closely into the ground structure in a
stable condition. The binding chain-stitch threads 10; 30 and the binding tricot-stitch
thread 13; 33, if necessary, that are used to secure the row of coupling elements
5; 25 may be composed of threads having a thickness and a heat-shrinkability which
are greater than those of other knitting threads of the fastener tapes 1; 21. This
is particularly advantageous in that when a finished fastener is subjected to a heat
setting process, the thick and highly heat-shrinkable binding threads are thermally
shrunk whereupon the row of coupling elements 5; 25 are fastened more tightly by the
binding threads and secured firmly to the fastener tape 1; 21 with improved dimensional
stability. Accordingly, the coupling elements 5; 25 can always retain a stable, displacement-free
posture which will ensure a smooth coupling engagement between two opposed rows of
coupling elements.
[0024] The number of the binding chain-stitch threads 10; 30 should by no means be limited
to two and three as used in the illustrated embodiments but may include four or more.
Further, the number of the binding chain-stitch threads 10; 30 should preferably be
determined depending on the size of the coupling elements 5;25 used. It is also preferable
that two chain-stitch threads 14b and 14a; 34b and 34a extending respectively along
an outermost wale 3; 23 of the element-supporting portion 2; 22 and a wale adjacent
to the connecting portions 9; 29 and in the tape portion to constitute the ground
structure are composed of threads thicker than the other chain-stitch threads 14;
34 of the tape portion of the fastener tape 1; 21 for reinforcing the wales to retain
the shape of the longitudinal tape edge portion.
[0025] The row of continuous coupling elements 5; 25 knit into the fastener tape 1; 21 as
the latter is knit should by no means be limited to a row of helically coiled coupling
elements but may include a row of continuous zigzag coupling elements (not shown)
having upper and lower legs mounted astride one longitudinal tape edge. According
to the present invention, the row of coiled coupling elements 5; 25 may also be used
in a concealed slide fastener (not shown) in which instance the coupling elements
5; 25 are knit in an element-supporting portion extending along one longitudinal edge
of a fastener tape, with the coupling heads 8; 28 directed toward a web portion of
the fastener tape and the connecting portions 9; 29 directed toward the one longitudinal
tape edge, and after that the element-supporting portion is bent or folded back under
the web portion of the fastener tape.
[0026] It appears from the foregoing description that according to the present invention,
a row of continuous coupling elements, which is knit into a fastener tape simultaneously
with knitting of the fastener tape, is firmly secured in position by means of threads
knit as binding chain stitches. The binding chain-stitch threads each have a group
of successive, longitudinally interlocked needle loops arranged such that in every
two adjacent courses, the preceding needle loop overlies the upper leg of one coupling
element, and the succeeding needle loop is disposed in a space between the one coupling
element and an adjacent coupling element and interlocked with the preceding needle
loop at a position near the ground structure. With this arrangement, the preceding
needle loop is bent or flexed into an inverted U shape extending embracingly over
the upper leg and lower legs of the coupling element, so that each coupling element
is held in close contact with the ground structure with its upper and lower legs forcibly
aligned in a direction perpendicular to the front surface of the ground structure.
Due to the presence of the stitches or loops disposed between the adjacent coupling
elements, the row of coupling elements is able to retain its stable attachment condition
and ensure a smooth coupling operation for a prolonged period of use. Furthermore,
owing to the presence of a recessed portion or space formed between each adjacent
pair of coupling elements, the row of coupling elements is readily flexible in the
longitudinal direction and, hence, can be neatly attached to a garment fabric, for
example.
[0027] Obviously, various minor changes and modifications of the present invention are possible
in the light of the above teaching. It is therefore to be understood that within the
scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically
described.
1. A knit slide fastener including a fastener tape (1) composed of a warp-knit ground
structure and having an element-supporting portion (2) along one longitudinal edge
thereof, and a row of continuous coupling elements (5) knit into and along the element-supporting
portion (2) of said fastener tape (1) as said fastener tape (1) is knit, each of said
coupling elements (5) having a pair of upper and lower legs (6 7), characterized in
that a plurality of parallel juxtaposed threads (10) are knit into said element-supporting
portion (2) as binding chain stitches, each of said binding chain-stitch threads (10)
including a succession of sinker loops (11) forming a portion of said ground structure
for supporting and securing the row of continuous coupling elements (5), and a succession
of needle loops (12) forming a group of successive, longitudinally interlocked needle
loops (12a, 12b), said group of needle loops (12a, 12b) being arranged such that in
every two adjacent courses (4), the preceding needle loop (12a) overlies said upper
leg (6) of one of said coupling elements (5), and the succeeding needle loop (12b)
is disposed in a space between said one coupling element (5) and an adjacent coupling
element (5) at a position close to said ground structure so as to bend said preceding
needle loop (12a) into an inverted U shape extending embracingly over said upper and
lower legs (6, 7) of said one coupling element (5).
2. A knit slide fastener according to claim 1, wherein said element-supporting portion
(2) further includes at least one thread (13) knit as binding tricot stitches and
having a succession of sinker loops each extending over said upper leg (6) of a corresponding
one of said coupling elements (5).
3. A knit slide fastener including a fastener tape (21) composed of a warp-knit ground
structure and having an element-supporting portion (22) along one longitudinal edge
thereof, and a row of continuous coupling elements (25) knit into and along the element-supporting
portion (22) of said fastener tape (21) as said fastener tape (21) is knit, each of
said coupling elements (25) having a pair of upper and lower legs (26, 27), characterized
in that a plurality of parallel juxtaposed threads (30) are knit into said element-supporting
portion (22) as binding chain stitches of a double-knit structure, each of said binding
chain-stitch threads (30) including a group of successive, longitudinally interlocked
lower needle loops (32c) forming a portion of said ground structure for supporting
and securing the row of continuous coupling elements (25), and a group of successive,
longitudinally interlocked upper needle loops (32a, 32b) arranged such that in every
two adjacent courses (24), the preceding needle loop (32a) overlies said upper leg
(26) of one of said coupling elements (25), and the succeeding needle loop (32b) is
disposed in a space between said one coupling element (25) and an adjacent coupling
element (25) at a position close to said ground structure so as to bend said preceding
needle loop (32a) into an inverted U shape extending embracingly over said upper and
lower legs (26, 27) of said one coupling element (25).
4. A knit slide fastener according to claim 3, wherein said element-supporting portion
(22) further includes at least one thread (33) knit as tricot stitches and having
a succession of sinker loops each extending over said upper leg (26) of a corresponding
one of said coupling elements (25).
1. Gewirkter Reissverschluss, welcher ein Verschlussband (1), das aus einer Kettwirk-Grundstruktur
besteht und bei dem die eine Längskante einen Elementträgerabschnitt (2) aufweist,
sowie eine Reihe von Endlos-Koppelelementen (5) beinhaltet, welche beim Wirken des
Verschlussbandes (1) in den Elementträgerabschnitt (2) des Verschlussbands (1) und
entlang diesem hineingewirkt sind, wobei jedes der Koppelelemente (5) ein Paar von
oberen und unteren Schenkeln (6, 7) besitzt, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass eine Mehrzahl
von parallelen nebeneinanderliegenden Fäden (10) in den Elementträgerabschnitt (2)
als Binde-Kettenstiche hineingewirkt sind, wobei jeder der Binde-Kettenstichfäden
(10) aufeinanderfolgende Kuliermaschen (11), die einen Abschnitt der Grundstruktur
zum Tragen und Befestigen der Reihe von Endlos-Koppelelementen (5) bilden, sowie aufeinanderfolgende
Nadelmaschen (12) aufweist, die eine Gruppe von aufeinanderfolgenden, in Längsrichtung
ineinandergreifenden Nadelmaschen (12a, 12b) bilden, und die Gruppe von Nadelmaschen
(12a, 12b) derart angeordnet ist, dass in je zwei benachbarten Maschenreihen (4) die
vorhergehende Nadelmasche (12a) über dem oberen Schenkel (6) von einem der Koppelelemente
(5) liegt und die nachfolgende Nadelmasche (12b) in einem Freiraum zwischen diesem
Koppelelement (5) und einem benachbarten Koppelelement (5) an einer Position in der
Nähe der Grundstruktur angeordnet ist, so dass die vorhergehende Nadelmasche (12a)
in die Form eines umgedrehten U gebogen ist, das sich in umklammernder Weise über
den oberen und den unteren Schenkel (6, 7) dieses Koppelelements (5) erstreckt.
2. Gewirkter Reissverschluss nach Anspruch 1, bei welchem der Elementträgerabschnitt
(2) weiter mindestens einen Faden (13) beinhaltet, der mittels Binde-Trikotstichen
gewirkt ist und aufeinanderfolgende Kuliermaschen aufweist, die sich über den oberen
Schenkel (6) eines entsprechenden der Koppelelemente (5) erstrecken.
3. Gewirkter Reissverschluss, welcher ein Verschlussband (21), das aus einer Kettwirk-Grundstruktur
besteht und bei dem die eine Längskante einen Elementträgerabschnitt (22) aufweist,
sowie eine Reihe von Endlos-Koppelelementen (25) beinhaltet, welche beim Wirken des
Verschlussbandes (21) in den Elementträgerabschnitt (22) des Verschlussbands (21)
und entlang diesem hineingewirkt sind, wobei jedes der Koppelelemente (25) ein Paar
von oberen und unteren Schenkeln (26, 27) besitzt, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass eine
Mehrzahl von parallelen nebeneinanderliegenden Fäden (30) in den Elementträgerabschnitt
(22) als Binde-Kettenstiche von einer doppelflächig gewirkten Struktur hineingewirkt
sind, wobei jeder der Binde-Kettenstichfäden (30) eine Gruppe von aufeinanderfolgenden
in Längsrichtung ineinandergreifenden unteren Nadelmaschen (32c), die einen Abschnitt
der Grundstruktur zum Tragen und Befestigen der Reihe von Endlos-Koppelelementen (25)
bilden, sowie eine Gruppe von aufeinanderfolgenden, in Längsrichtung ineinandergreifenden
oberen Nadelmaschen (32a, 32b) aufweist, die derart angeordnet sind, dass in je zwei
benachbarten Maschenreihen (24) die vorhergehende Nadelmasche (32a) über dem oberen
Schenkel (26) von einem der Koppelelemente (25) liegt und die nachfolgende Nadelmasche
(32b) in einem Freiraum zwischen diesem Koppelelement (25) und einem benachbarten
Koppelelement (25) an einer Position in der Nähe der Grundstruktur angeordnet ist,
so dass die vorhergehende Nadelmasche (32a) in die Form eines umgedrehten U gebogen
ist, das sich in umklammernder Weise über den oberen und den unteren Schenkel (26,
27) dieses Koppelelements (25) erstreckt.
4. Gewirkter Reissverschluss nach Anspruch 3, bei welchem der Elementträgerabschnitt
(22) weiter mindestens einen Faden (33) beinhaltet, der mittels Binde-Trikotstichen
gewirkt ist und aufeinanderfolgende Kuliermaschen aufweist, die sich über den oberen
Schenkel (26) eines entsprechenden der Koppelelemente (25) erstrecken.
1. Fermeture à glissière tricotée comportant un ruban (1) de fermeture composé d'une
structure de base tricotée en chaîne et comportant une partie (2) de support d'élément
le long d'un de ses bords longitudinaux, et une rangée d'éléments d'accouplement continus
(5) tricotés dans et le long de la partie (2) de support d'élément dudit ruban (1)
de fermeture au fur et à mesure que ledit ruban (1) de fermeture est tricoté, chacun
desdits éléments d'accouplement (5) comportant une paire de branches supérieure et
inférieure (6, 7), caractérisée en ce qu'une pluralité de fils juxtaposés parallèles
(10) sont tricotés dans ladite partie (2) de support d'élément en tant que mailles
de chaînette de liaison, chacun desdits fils (10) de mailles de chaînette de liaison
comprenant une succession de boucles d'abattage (11) formant une partie de ladite
structure de base pour supporter et fixer la rangée d'éléments d'accouplement continus
(5), et une succession de mailles d'aiguille (12) formant un groupe de mailles d'aiguille
successives, longitudinalement entrecroisées (12a, 12b), ledit groupe de mailles d'aiguille
(12a, 12b) étant agencé de telle sorte que toutes les deux rangées (4) de mailles
adjacentes, la maille d'aiguille qui précède (12a) recouvre ladite branche supérieure
(6) d'un premier desdits éléments d'accouplement (5), et la maille d'aiguille qui
suit (12b) est disposée dans un espace situé entre ledit premier élément d'accouplement
(5) et un élément d'accouplement (5) adjacent en une position proche de ladite structure
de base afin de courber ladite maille d'aiguille qui précède (12a) en une forme de
U inversé s'étendant, d'une manière qui embrasse, sur lesdites branches supérieure
et inférieure (6, 7) dudit premier élément d'accouplement (5).
2. Fermeture à glissière tricotée selon la revendication 1, dans laquelle ladite partie
(2) de support d'élément comprend de plus au moins un fil (13) tricoté en mailles
de liaison de tricot et présentant une succession de boucles d'abattage, chacune s'étendant
par dessus ladite branche supérieure (6) d'un élément correspondant parmi lesdits
éléments d'accouplement (5).
3. Fermeture à glissière tricotée comportant un ruban (21) de fermeture composé d'une
structure de base tricotée en chaîne et comportant une partie (22) de support d'élément
le long d'un de ses bords longitudinaux, et une rangée d'éléments d'accouplement continus
(25) tricotés dans et le long de la partie (22) de support d'élément dudit ruban (21)
de fermeture au fur et à mesure que ledit ruban (21) de fermeture est tricoté, chacun
desdits éléments d'accouplement (25) comportant une paire de branches supérieure et
inférieure (26, 27), caractérisée en ce qu'une pluralité de fils juxtaposés parallèles
(30) sont tricotés dans ladite partie (22) de support d'élément en tant que mailles
de chaînette de liaison d'une structure à mailles doubles, chacun desdits fils (30)
de mailles de chaînette de liaison comprenant un groupe de mailles d'aiguille inférieures
(32c) successives, longitudinalement entrecroisées formant une partie de ladite structure
de base pour supporter et fixer la rangée d'éléments d'accouplement continus (25),
et un groupe de mailles d'aiguille supérieures (32a, 32b) successives, longitudinalement
entrecroisées, agencé de telle sorte que toutes les deux rangées (24) de mailles adjacentes,
la maille d'aiguille qui précède (32a) recouvre ladite branche supérieure (26) d'un
premier desdits éléments d'accouplement (25), et la maille d'aiguille qui suit (32b)
est disposée dans un espace situé entre ledit premier élément d'accouplement (25)
et un élément d'accouplement (25) adjacent en une position proche de ladite structure
de base afin de courber ladite maille d'aiguille qui précède (32a) en une forme de
U inversé s'étendant, d'une manière qui embrasse, sur lesdites branches supérieure
et inférieure (26, 27) dudit premier élément d'accouplement (25).
4. Fermeture à glissière tricotée selon la revendication 3, dans laquelle ladite partie
(22) de support d'élément comprend de plus au moins un fil (33) tricoté en mailles
de tricot et présentant une succession de boucles d'abattage, chacune s'étendant par
dessus ladite branche supérieure (26) d'un élément correspondant parmi lesdits éléments
d'accouplement (25).