A plurality of coupling elements for use with a slide fastener, each of said coupling elements comprising:
- a first base portion disposed adjacent a first surface of a stringer tape and a second base portion disposed adjacent a second surface of said stringer tape, said second surface of said stringer tape being opposite said first surface of said stringer tape, and said first base portion and said second base portion defining a first channel therebetween for receiving a longitudinal edge of said stringer tape;
- an engaging portion extending outwardly from said first and said second base portions, said engaging portion comprising a first surface, a second surface, a sealing portion and a fastening portion,
- wherein said sealing portion and said fastening portion abut each other at an interface, wherein said sealing portion extends from said first surface to said interface and said fastening portion extends from said second surface to said interface, said first surface of said engaging portion being spaced apart from and cofacing said second surface of said engaging portion, and said first surface of said engaging portion having a first shape and said second surface of said engaging portion having a second shape, wherein a portion of said second surface adjacent a distal end of said engaging portion has a width dimension that is greater than a width dimension of a portion of said first surface adjacent said distal end, each of said width dimensions being measured in a width plane that is substantially parallel to said first surface and said second surface of said engaging portion;
- and
- a front face being disposed at said distal end of said engaging portion and extending between said first and said second surfaces thereof, said front face defining a second channel at said interface, wherein:
- a first set of coupling elements are disposed on a first stringer tape and a second set of coupling elements are disposed on a second stringer tape,
- a first gap is defined by said first surfaces of said engaging portions of two adjacent coupling elements in said second set,
- a second gap is defined by said second surfaces of said engaging portions of said two adjacent coupling elements in said second set,
- a third gap is defined by said first surfaces of said engaging portions of two adjacent coupling elements in said first set,
- a fourth gap is defined by said second surfaces of said engaging portions of said two adjacent coupling elements in said first set, and
- when said first set of coupling elements are removably joined together with said second set of coupling elements, said first surface of said engaging portion of a first coupling element in said first set is at least partially disposed within said first gap and said second surface of said engaging portion of said first coupling element is at least partially disposed within said second gap, said first surface of said engaging portion of a second coupling element in said second set is at least partially disposed within said third gap and said second surface of said engaging portion of said second coupling element is at least partially disposed within said fourth gap, said front face of said first coupling element is disposed adjacent and cofacing said longitudinal edge of said second stringer tape, and said front face of said second coupling element is disposed adjacent and cofacing said longitudinal edge of said first stringer tape,
- wherein said second channel of said first coupling element receives a portion of the longitudinal edge of the second stringer tape between the two adjacent coupling elements in the second set, and said second channel of said second coupling element receives a portion of the longitudinal edge of the first stringer tape between the two adjacent coupling elements in the first set,
- said width of said first shape decreases from said base portion to said front face, and
- said second shape comprises a neck portion and a head portion, wherein said head portion is adjacent said distal end of said engaging portion and said neck portion is disposed between said base portion and said head portion, and wherein a width of said neck portion is less than a width of said head portion.