Slide Fastener and a Top Stop for a Slide Fastener

Abstract

A slide fastener ( 1 ) comprising a slider ( 5 ) with a pull-tab ( 6 ), and a top stop ( 4 ) with a retaining element ( 20 ) disposed to act against a contact face ( 30 ) of the puller ( 6 ), when said pull-tab ( 6 ) is in a suitable locking position, to prevent the slider ( 5 ) from sliding away and keep the fastener ( 1 ) closed.

1 . A slide fastener comprising a pair of tapes, carrying respective teeth, a top stop and a slider comprising a puller, the slider being movable up to a closing position of the fastener where said slider is in contact with said top stop, wherein the top stop comprises at least one retaining element adapted to retain the slider in said closing position. 
   
   
       2 . The slide fastener according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one retaining element is integrally formed with the top stop. 
   
   
       3 . The slide fastener according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one retaining element is disposed to act as a stop means for the slider when said puller is fitted on the top stop in a determined locking position. 
   
   
       4 . The slide fastener according to  claim 3 , wherein said determined locking position of the puller is a position where the puller is lying on the top stop, substantially parallel to the sliding direction of the slider along the fastener. 
   
   
       5 . The slide fastener according to  claim 3 , wherein said retaining element has a surface adapted to act as a stop means against a contact face of said puller. 
   
   
       6 . The slide fastener according to  claim 3 , wherein the top stop further comprises at least one locking element, adapted to a snap engagement with a suitable seat or portion of the puller, to retain the puller in said locking position. 
   
   
       7 . The slide fastener according to  claim 6 , wherein said at least one locking element is formed as a toothed element adapted to snap on a ring connecting the puller to the slider. 
   
   
       8 . The slide fastener according to  claim 7 , wherein said at least one toothed element is formed with an elastically deformable stem portion and a head portion, said head portion projecting from top of the stem portion and defining an undercut recess for receiving the ring of the puller. 
   
   
       9 . The slide fastener according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one retaining element of the top stop is formed as a front wall of the top stop, comprising a base part with a surface adapted to act as a stop means against a contact face of the puller, and two elastically deformable toothed elements for locking the puller in a locking position, said elements projecting upwards from said base part and each defining an undercut recess for receiving the ring of the puller. 
   
   
       10 . The slide fastener according to  claim 1 , wherein said top stop comprises at least one pin adapted to engage a corresponding hole of the puller. 
   
   
       11 . The slide fastener according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one retaining element of the top stop is adapted to cooperate with a corresponding locking element of the slider, the locking element of the slider being engaged with said retaining element of the top stop when the slider reaches the top stop. 
   
   
       12 . The slide fastener according to  claim 1 , the fastener being fluid-tight. 
   
   
       13 . An item such as a sports suit or the like, comprising a slide fastener according to  claim 1 . 
   
   
       14 . A top stop for a slide fastener, the slide fastener comprising a slider with a puller, said top stop being characterized by at least one retaining element adapted to retain the slider in said closing position. 
   
   
       15 . The top stop for a slide fastener according to  claim 14 , wherein said at least one retaining element is formed as a wall of the top stop, the top stop being adapted to receive the puller in a locking position, said wall comprising a surface adapted to act as a stop means against a contact face of the puller when the puller is fitted on the top stop in said locking position.