Process for the fabrication of interconnecting elements for a slide fastner

Abstract

Method for manufacturing interconnecting elements for a slide fastener, comprising the steps of producing interconnecting half-elements provided with a predetermined three-dimensional shape, by means of punching of said half-elements from a sheet, and forming said interconnecting elements by joining together respective pairs of half-elements.

1 . A method for manufacturing interconnecting elements for a slide fastener, comprising:
 producing interconnecting half-elements with a predetermined three-dimensional shape by punching of the half-elements from a sheet; and   forming the interconnecting elements by joining together respective pairs of half-elements.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the sheet of material is a flat sheet or plate with a rectangular cross-section. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising plastic deformation of the sheet of material so as to obtain three-dimensional shaping of the half-elements before the punching step. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein punching of the half-elements from the sheet of material is performed along a heightwise direction of the interconnecting element, the direction being a front-rear direction which is perpendicular to a plane of flanking strips when the interconnecting element is applied to the slide fastener. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein a joint between half-elements is performed by joining together joining surfaces perpendicular to the heightwise direction. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the half-elements are identical to each other. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein differently shaped first half-elements and second half-elements are made, and wherein each interconnecting element is formed by joining a first half-element together with a second half-element. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the joining together of half-elements is performed by at least one of welding, brazing, gluing or mechanical fixing. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein material of the sheet is a metal or metal alloy suitable for punching. 
     
     
         10 . An interconnecting element for a slide fastener obtained by the method according to  claim 1  and comprising two half-elements made by punching and joining together. 
     
     
         11 . The interconnecting element according to  claim 10 , further comprising a portion or a surface which reproduces a logo, a brand name or part thereof. 
     
     
         12 . A slide fastener or an article comprising a slide fastener, comprising interconnecting elements according to  claim 10 .