Fastener

Abstract

A fastener wherein right and left side edge portions can be engaged using a magnetic force, and which can be applied preferably for plastic article such as clothes and further prevented from being opened carelessly even if a lateral pulling force is applied when right and left elements are engaged. In the fastener, a plurality of first and second magnetic elements having magnetism are provided in lines on a pair of first and second fastener tapes, the first and second magnetic elements are adsorbed to each other using a magnetic force, characterized in that the first and second magnetic elements have head portions, a leg portion, and engagement/disengagement portions formed at the head portions and mechanically engaged with or disengaged from each other between the first and second magnetic elements, the first and second magnetic elements are respectively disposed at predetermined intervals, the magnetic elements of one fastener tape are adsorbed to spaces between the adjacent magnetic elements of the other fastener tape, and the first and second magnetic elements are engaged with each other alternately.

1 . A fastener, in which a plurality of first and second magnetic elements made of synthetic resin having magnetism are provided respectively in lines along opposing element attaching edge portions of a pair of first and second fastener tapes and the opposing right and left first and second magnetic elements are adsorbed to each other using a magnetic force, wherein
 the first and second magnetic elements have head portions, leg portions to be attached to the element attaching edge portions, and engagement/disengagement portions formed on the head portions and mechanically engaged with or disengaged from each other between the opposing first and second magnetic elements,   the first and second magnetic elements are respectively disposed on the respective element attaching edge portions of the first and second fastener tapes at predetermined intervals, the magnetic elements of one fastener tape of the fastener tapes are adsorbed to spaces between the adjacent magnetic elements of the other fastener tape of the fastener tapes, and the opposing first and second magnetic elements are engaged with each other alternately.   
   
   
       2 . The fastener according to  claim 1 , wherein the opposing right and left first and second magnetic elements are adsorbed to each other using a magnetic force which occurs along a longitudinal direction of the fastener tapes due to the magnetism of the first and second magnetic elements. 
   
   
       3 . The fastener according to  claim 1 , wherein the opposing right and left first and second magnetic elements are adsorbed to each other using a magnetic force which occurs along a width direction of the fastener tapes due to the magnetism of the first and second magnetic elements. 
   
   
       4 . The fastener according to  claim 1 , wherein the engagement/disengagement portions consist of:
 engagement/disengagement convex portions formed on the head portions of the first magnetic elements and/or the second magnetic elements; and   engagement/disengagement concave portions formed in the head portions of the second magnetic elements and/or the first magnetic elements and capable of being engaged with the engagement/disengagement convex portions.   
   
   
       5 . The fastener according to  claim 4 , wherein the head portions of the first and second magnetic elements have first opposing faces and second opposing faces opposing the head portions of the mating magnetic elements in back and forth directions of the longitudinal direction of the first and second fastener tapes,
 the engagement/disengagement convex portions are disposed on the first opposing faces and the engagement/disengagement concave portions are disposed on the second opposing faces, and   when the first magnetic elements and the second magnetic elements are engaged with each other, the engagement/disengagement convex portion are fitted in the engagement/disengagement concave portion.   
   
   
       6 . The fastener according to  claim 1 , wherein the engagement/disengagement portions consist of:
 surface side engagement/disengagement portions, which are formed on surface sides of the head portions of the first and second magnetic elements so as to be inclined with a predetermined angle with respect to the longitudinal direction of the first and second fastener tapes, and have front end portions and rear end portions respectively projecting in the longitudinal direction of the fastener tapes from front surface portions and rear surface portions of the head portions; and   rear surface side engagement/disengagement portions, which are formed on rear surface sides of the head portions so as to be inclined symmetrically compared with the surface side engagement/disengagement portions with respect to the longitudinal direction of the fastener tapes, and have the front end portions and the rear end portions respectively projecting in the longitudinal direction of the fastener tapes from the front surface portions and the rear surface portions of the head portions.   
   
   
       7 . The fastener according to  claim 1 , wherein the engagement/disengagement portions consist of:
 front edge portions formed on the head portions and having an oval shape which is long in the longitudinal direction of the fastener tapes; and   neck portions formed between the front edge portions and the leg portions and having a constricted shape in the longitudinal direction of the fastener tapes.   
   
   
       8 . The fastener according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second magnetic elements are formed by burying magnets upon injection molding of synthetic resin. 
   
   
       9 . The fastener according to  claim 8 , wherein the engagement/disengagement portions consist of:
 engagement/disengagement convex portions formed such that front end portions or the rear end portions of the magnets buried in the head portions project from the head portions of the first magnetic elements and/or the second magnetic elements; and   engagement/disengagement concave portions formed by steps between external faces of the head portions of the second magnetic elements and/or the first magnetic elements and rear end faces or front end faces of the magnets and capable of being fitted with the engagement/disengagement convex portions.   
   
   
       10 . The fastener according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second magnetic elements are formed by injection molding synthetic resin containing powder of a magnetic material and magnetizing the magnetic material. 
   
   
       11 . The fastener according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second magnetic elements include:
 recessed groove portions or projecting portions on front edge faces in a width direction of the head portions; and   the projecting portions or the recessed groove portions on side faces of the leg portions opposing the front edge faces of the mating magnetic elements, and   wherein the projecting portions are fitted in the recessed groove portions, when the first and second magnetic elements are engaged with each other.   
   
   
       12 . The fastener according to  claim 1 , including a slider having an upper blade, a lower blade, and upper and lower flanges disposed in a perpendicular direction along right and left side edges of the upper blade and the lower blade, the slider being loaded on right and left element rows of the magnetic elements so as to engage or disengage the magnetic elements,
 wherein the first and second magnetic elements are so formed that the head portions are thicker in a height direction than the leg portions so as to be insertable into a guide passage in the slider, and   the magnetic elements have protruding portions protruding in the height direction from both of front and rear faces of the leg portions so that the protruding portions make a sliding contact with the external faces of the upper and lower flanges, thereby guiding the slider.