# US 10,870,907 B2 · Element for slide fastener

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- Number: US 10,870,907 B2
- Document ID: US10870907B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/765,668
- Filed: 2016-09-20
- Published: 2019-03-21
- Granted: 2020-12-22
- Earliest claimed: 2015-10-08
- Assignees: YKK Corporation; National University Corporation University of Toyama
- Applicants: YKK Corporation; National University Corporation University of Toyama
- Inventors: Tatewaki Ido; Tetsuya Katsumi; Koichi Mikado; Yasuharu Yoshimura; Kenji Matsuda
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10870907B2

## CPC

- C22C 21/14: with silicon
- A44B 19/02: with a series of separate interlocking members secured to each stringer tape
- C22C 21/08: with silicon
- C22C 21/16: with magnesium
- C22F 1/047: of alloys with magnesium as the next major constituent
- C22F 1/057: of alloys with copper as the next major constituent
- C22F 1/00: Changing the physical structure of non-ferrous metals or alloys by heat treatment or by hot or cold working (apparatus for mechanical working of metal B21, B23, B24)
- C22C: ALLOYS (treatment of alloys C21D, C22F)
- A44B: BUTTONS, PINS, BUCKLES, SLIDE FASTENERS, OR THE LIKE (fastenings specially adapted for footwear A43C)
- C22F: CHANGING THE PHYSICAL STRUCTURE OF NON-FERROUS METALS AND NON-FERROUS ALLOYS (surface treatment of metallic material involving at least one process provided for in class C23 and at least one process covered by this subclass, C23F17/00)

## Abstract

Provided is an aluminum alloy element for a slide fastener, which has improved strength and abrasion resistance. The element for the slide fastener includes a base material of an aluminum alloy having a composition represented by a general formula: AlaSibCucMgdTieBf in which a, b, c, d, e and f each represents % by mass; a is a balance; 0.2≤b≤0.8, 0.8≤c≤1.8, 0.8≤d≤1.8, 0<e≤0.05, and 0<f≤0.01; and unavoidable impurity elements may be contained; the aluminum alloy comprising, dispersed therein, precipitates containing at least one element selected from a group consisting of Al, Si, Cu and Mg, the element for the slide fastener comprising a pair of leg portions and a head portion that connects the pair or leg portions and comprises a convex portion and a concave portion for engagement.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An element for a slide fastener, the element comprising a base material of an aluminum alloy having a composition represented by a general formula: AlaSibCucMgdTieBf in which a, b, c, d, e and f each represents % by mass; a is a balance; 0.2≤b≤0.8, 0.8≤c≤1.8, 0.8≤d≤1.8, 0<e≤0.05, and 0<f≤0.01; and unavoidable impurity elements may be contained; the aluminum alloy comprising, dispersed therein, precipitates containing at least one element selected from a group consisting of Al, Si, Cu and Mg, the element for the slide fastener comprising a pair of leg portions and a head portion that connects the pair or leg portions and comprises a convex portion and a concave portion for engagement.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The element for the slide fastener according to claim 1, wherein the leg portions have an average Vickers hardness of from Hv 140 to Hv 170 in a leg base portion that is a region of the leg portions corresponding to 50% of a length from a base of the leg portions, the length being a length of a perpendicular line drawn from the base of the leg portions toward the tip of the leg portions.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The element for the slide fastener according to claim 1, wherein the leg portions have an average Vickers hardness of from Hv 145 to Hv 170 in a leg base portion that is a region of the leg portions corresponding to 50% of a length from a base of the leg portions, the length being a length of a perpendicular line drawn from the base of the leg portions toward the tip of the leg portions.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The element for the slide fastener according to claim 1, wherein the leg portions have an average Vickers hardness of from Hv 150 to Hv 170 in a leg base portion that is a region of the leg portions corresponding to 50% of a length from a base of the leg portions, the length being a length of a perpendicular line drawn from the base of the leg portions toward the tip of the leg portions.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The element for the slide fastener according to claim 1, wherein the head portion has an average Vickers hardness of from Hv 140 to Hv 170.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The element for the slide fastener according to claim 1, wherein a difference between an average Vickers hardness in a leg base portion and an average Vickers hardness of the head portion is within 10, the leg base portion being a region of the leg portions corresponding to 50% of a length from a base of the leg portions, the length being a length of a perpendicular line drawn from the base of the leg portions toward the tip of the leg portions.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The element for the slide fastener according to claim 1, wherein, when observing a cross section from a direction of viewing both of the pair of leg portions and the head portion, an average aspect ratio of crystal grains in a leg base portion is 5.1 or more, the leg base portion being a region of the leg portions corresponding to 50% of a length from a base of the leg portions, the length being a length of a perpendicular line drawn from the base of the leg portions toward the tip of the leg portions.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The element for the slide fastener according to claim 1, wherein the precipitates comprise at least one type selected from a group consisting of Al-Cu-Mg-based, Mg-Si-based and Al-Cu-Mg-Si-based precipitates.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The element for the slide fastener according to claim 8, wherein among the precipitates, the Al-Cu-Mg-based precipitates account for the highest content.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

A slide fastener comprising the element for the slide fastener according to claim 1.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

An article comprising the slide fastener according to claim 10.