Flexible slide fastener

A slide fastener comprising:

• a first elongated guide member having a longitudinally extending closure edge formed of a resilient material and an opposite edge for attachment to an edge of a first flexible sheet;
• a second elongated guide member having a longitudinally extending mating edge formed of a resilient material adapted for engagement with said closure edge and an opposite edge for attachment to an edge of a second flexible sheet to be attached to the first flexible sheet;
• a slide member adapted to simultaneously engage and slide longitudinally along said first and second guide members and to force adjacent portions of said closure and mating edges into engagement in response thereto, said closure and mating edges comprising mutually engaging profiled surfaces adapted to provide a liquid seal between said first and second guide members;
• a plurality of female coupling elements distributed along said closure edge;
• and
• a plurality of male coupling elements distributed along said mating edge and adapted to enter and latch with said female coupling elements in response to engagement of said closure and mating edges;
• said male coupling elements comprising resilient latching portions that are compressed by said female coupling elements during entry thereinto and expanded into latching engagement therewith in response to complete entry thereinto, said latching portions comprising spring members having spaced apart resilient legs adapted to be forced together in response to entry into said female coupling elements, said female coupling elements defining openings with smaller dimensions than the spacing between said resilient legs, said openings being defined by cavities formed in said closure edge;
• said mating edge defining a plurality of longitudinally distributed cavities and said male coupling elements comprising base portions including securing means for releasably securing said base portions within said cavities in said mating edge, whereby said male coupling elements are easily replaced.