Slide Fastener

Abstract

A slide fastener comprising a pair of tapes, a top stop, a bottom stop and rows of fastening teeth arranged on the edge of said tapes, comprising at least one pair of dummy teeth located in a gap of the rows of fastening teeth, restoring a continuity of the rows of fastening teeth, so to allow free passage of the slider, and at the same time providing a distinctive feature in the row of fastening teeth.

1 ) A slide fastener comprising a pair of tapes, a top stop, a bottom stop, a first row of fastening teeth arranged on the edge of one of said tapes and a second row of fastening teeth arranged on the edge of the other one of said tapes, the fastening teeth of the first row being able to engage and disengage the fastening teeth of the second row to close and open the slide fastener, characterized in that:
 a) in at least one position of the slide fastener between the top stop and the bottom stop, two consecutive fastening teeth of the first row and two consecutive fastening teeth of the second row are spaced away, thus forming a gap in the first row of teeth, and a gap in the second row of teeth, the gap of the first row facing the gap of the second row,   b) a first dummy tooth and a second dummy tooth are associated to the tapes and respectively fitted into said gaps of the first and second row, the first dummy tooth and second dummy tooth being suitable to restore a continuity of the rows of fastening teeth, so to allow a free passage of the slider.   
     
     
         2 ) The slide fastener according to  claim 1 , said dummy teeth having at least one surface adapted to support a distinctive element of the slide fastener. 
     
     
         3 ) The slide fastener according to  claim 1 , said dummy teeth having a dimension, shape, color, material or any combination thereof which is different from those of the fastening teeth, so that the dummy teeth provide a distinctive element of the slide fastener. 
     
     
         4 ) The slide fastener according to  claim 1 , said first and second dummy tooth being larger than the fastening teeth of the slide fastener, in the longitudinal direction of the slide fastener. 
     
     
         5 ) The slide fastener according to  claim 1 , said first and second dummy tooth providing an engagement which is substantially rigid in a transversal direction perpendicular to the direction of the slider. 
     
     
         6 ) The slide fastener according to  claim 1 , each dummy tooth being configured with a core portion, an upper arm portion and a lower arm portion. 
     
     
         7 ) The slide fastener according to  claim 6 , the upper arm portion and/or the lower arm portion of the dummy teeth having a flat surface adapted to carry a distinctive element. 
     
     
         8 ) The slide fastener according to  claim 6 , the lower arm portion of one of said first and second dummy teeth being larger than the lower arm portion of the other, having end parts extending beyond the core portion. 
     
     
         9 ) The slide fastener according to  claim 1 , said dummy teeth having magnetic parts to provide a tactile feeling during the use. 
     
     
         10 ) The slide fastener according to  claim 1 , at least one of said dummy teeth having one or more holes to provide transpiration of the slide fastener. 
     
     
         11 ) The slide fastener according to  claim 1 , said dummy teeth hosting electrical contacts to provide additional functions of the slide fastener. 
     
     
         12 ) The slide fastener according to  claim 1 , said dummy teeth carrying a light-emitting or light-reflecting part, so to provide a distinctive effect or night visibility.