Zipper Slide

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/742,847, filed January 7, 2025, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD

[0002] The present disclosure relates to zippers and, more particularly, to a zipper slide for use in reducing snagging and/or jamming of the zipper.

BACKGROUND

[0003] Known zippers include two rows of teeth and a sliding mechanism configured to move along the rows of teeth to selectively open or close the zipper. At least some known zippers are prone to snagging or jamming during use when an object other than the teeth (e.g., fabric) is caught in the sliding mechanism.

SUMMARY

[0004] The present disclosure facilitates reducing snagging and/or jamming during use of a zipper. In one aspect, a zipper is provided. The zipper includes two zipper tapes and a zipper slide. Each zipper tape has a row of teeth. The zipper slide is connected to the zipper tapes. The zipper slide is configured to connect and disconnect the rows of teeth of the two zipper tapes. The zipper slide includes a first blade and a second blade. At least one of the first blade or the second blade comprises a pair of sidewalls and a pair of guides. The pair of sidewalls are disposed in a trapezoidal configuration having a first width and a second width narrower than the first width. The sidewalls bound a path through which the rows of teeth of the two zipper tapes extend. The pair of guides extend laterally outward from the pair of sidewalls to mitigate snagging or jamming of the zipper.

[0005] In another aspect, a zipper slide is provided. The zipper slide comprises a first blade, a second blade, and a guide post spacing the first blade from the second blade. At least one of the first blade or the second blade comprises a pair of sidewalls and a pair of guides. The pair of sidewalls are disposed in a trapezoidal configuration having a first width and a second width narrower than the first width. The sidewalls bound a path through which rows of zipper teeth extend. The pair of guides extend laterally outward from the pair of sidewalls to move an object, other than the rows of zipper teeth, away from the path as the zipper slide moves.

[0006] Other aspects and features of the present disclosure will be in part apparent and in part pointed out herein. This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used in isolation as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] Aspects of the present disclosure are described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, wherein:

[0008]FIG. 1 is a plan view of a zipper according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0009]FIG. 2 is an end view of a zipper slide of the zipper;

[0010]FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the zipper slide taken along line A-A of FIG. 2;

[0011]FIG. 4 is a plan view of one embodiment of a blade of the zipper slide; and

[0012]FIG. 5 is a plan view of another embodiment of a blade of the zipper slide.

[0013] Corresponding reference numbers indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0014] According to various examples of the present disclosure, a zipper includes a zipper slide to facilitate reducing snagging and/or jamming of the zipper, such is with the fabric or other material the zipper is attached to. An example zipper slide described herein includes an upper blade and a lower blade, wherein the upper blade and lower blade each include a pair of sidewalls disposed in a funnel configuration and a pair of shoulders extending laterally outward from the sidewalls. In some examples, the shoulders have a contoured or curved configuration which, along with the height of the sidewalls and the width of the mouth, facilitate pushing fabric away from the mouth, thereby reducing a risk of the fabric entering the slider and snagging and/or jamming of the zipper. The examples described herein are not limited to any particular application and may be used in a variety of contexts in which one or more zippers are used.

[0015] Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the present disclosure belongs. Although any methods and materials similar to or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the present disclosure, some preferred methods and materials are described below.

[0016]Referring to FIG. 1, a zipper according to one embodiment of the present disclosure is generally indicated by reference numeral 10. The zipper 10 is used in coupling two panels 12 together. As shown in FIG. 1, the zipper 10 may include a pair of zipper tapes 14 and a zipper slide 16. Each zipper tape 14 is coupled to a respective panel 12 and includes or is coupled to a row of teeth 18 (e.g., zipper teeth) extending along a free edge of the zipper tape. The zipper slide 16 is connected to the zipper tapes 14. The zipper slide 16 slides or moves along the zipper tapes 14 to selectively open or close the zipper 10, depending on the direction of movement. For example, when the zipper slide 16 is moved in one direction 20 (e.g., a first, forward, or closing direction), the zipper slide couples or interlocks the rows of teeth 18 together, effectively closing the zipper 10 and securing the two panels 12 together at the zipper. Conversely, when the zipper slide 16 is moved in another direction 22 (e.g., an opposite second, rearward, or opening direction), the zipper slide separates or disengages the rows of teeth 18 from each other, effectively opening the zipper 10 and allowing the two panels 12 to be disconnected. In some examples, a pull 24 is coupled to the zipper slide 16 for use in moving the zipper slide 16 along the zipper tapes 14. The zipper 10 may be used in various applications including a plurality of panels 12, such as bags, clothing, and other items.

[0017]Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, one embodiment of a zipper slide 100 (e.g., zipper slide 16) for the zipper 10 is shown. The zipper slide 100 includes a first or upper blade or housing 110 and a second or lower blade or housing 120. The lower blade 120 is spaced vertically from and substantially parallel to the upper blade 110. The zipper slide 100 includes a guide post or column 130 connecting the upper blade 110 to the lower blade 120 at a front portion 132 (shown in FIG. 2) of the zipper slide 100. The guide post 130 can be considered separate from the upper and lower blades 110, 120 or part of one or both of the upper and lower blades. The guide post 130 spaces the upper and lower blades 110, 120 apart from one another.

[0018]The upper blade 110 and/or lower blade 120 can include a crown or pull connector 134 to which a pull (e.g., pull 24) can be coupled. As shown in FIG. 3, the crown 134 may be generally arcuate or arch-shaped to define an opening 136 configured to receive a portion of the pull (e.g., extend through an opening thereof) for use in coupling the pull to the zipper slide 100. In the illustrated embodiment, after the crown 134 is inserted through the opening in the pull, the crown is bent or deformed (from the position shown in FIGS. 2 and 3) to move the free end of the crown toward (and into contact with) the respective blade 110, 120 to secure the pull to the crown.

[0019]The upper blade 110 and lower blade 120 each includes a plurality of sidewalls 138 (shown in FIG. 2) which define a path 140 in the zipper slide 100 through which the two rows of teeth 18 extend. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the sidewalls 138 of the upper blade 110 may extend downward toward the lower blade 120, and/or the sidewalls 138 of the lower blade 120 may extend upward toward the upper blade 110. In other embodiments, only one of the upper blade 110 or lower blade 120 may include the sidewalls 138.

[0020]The path 140 defines a Y-shaped channel such that the zipper slide 100 is configured to couple or uncouple the rows of teeth. When the rows of teeth are extended through the path 140, the zipper slide 100 is moved longitudinally along the rows of teeth to selectively close and open a zipper 10. For example, as the zipper slide 100 is moved in a forward direction 20 (e.g., into the page with respect to FIG. 2 and towards the right with respect to FIG. 3), the zipper slide 100 couples or interlocks the rows of teeth 18 together, effectively closing the zipper. Conversely, as the zipper slide 100 is moved in a rearward direction 22 (e.g., out from the page with respect to FIG. 2 and towards the left with respect to FIG. 3), the zipper slide 100 is separates or disengages the rows of teeth 18 from each other, effectively opening the zipper 10. The guide post 130 may define at least part of the path 140 to help keep the zipper slide 100 aligned and/or ensure that the teeth are properly engaged or disengaged. The guide post 130 is arranged between the rows of teeth 18. When the zipper slide 100 moves in the rearward direction 22, the guide posts 130 separates the two rows of teeth 18 from one another (e.g., disconnects the teeth from one another). When the zipper slide 100 moves in the forward direction 22, the sidewalls 138 push the two rows of teeth 18 into mesh engagement with one another (e.g., connects the teeth from the two rows with one another).

[0021]The sidewalls 138 can have a height and/or the path 140 may have a depth configured to restrict or prevent an object other than the teeth (e.g., fabric, panel 12) from entering the path 140 during use. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the upper blade 110 and/or lower blade 120 can have a shallow domed configuration which helps move or urge an accumulation of fabric away from the zipper slide 100 during use. In particular, the exterior surface of the upper blade 110 (which is on the side of the upper blade that is opposite the lower blade 120) has the shallow domed configuration. Likewise, the exterior surface of the lower blade 120 (which is on the side of the lower blade opposite the upper blade 110) has the shallow domed configuration. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, these exterior surfaces are curved both longitudinally and laterally. In other words, these exterior surfaces are generally partially spherical. The crowns 134 extend from these exterior surfaces of the upper and lower blades 110, 120.

[0022]FIG. 4 shows one example blade 300 that may be included in the zipper slide 100. The blade 300 may be used, for example, as the upper blade 110 (shown in FIGS. 2 and 3) and/or the lower blade 120 (shown in FIGS. 2 and 3). The blade 300 includes a front portion 302 (e.g., front portion 132), a rear portion 304, and a body portion 306 extending longitudinally between the front portion 302 and rear portion 304. A guide post 308 (e.g., guide post 130) can be coupled to the blade 300 at the front portion 302. The guide post 308 can form the entirety of or a portion of the guide post 130 of the slider 100. The guide post 308 can be considered part of the blade 300 or a separate component attached to the blade.

[0023]The blade 300 includes a pair of sidewalls 310 (e.g., sidewalls 138) that bound or at least partially define a path 312 (e.g., path 140 or a portion thereof) through which two rows of teeth 18 extend. The path 312 has a Y-shaped configuration including a branch 314 on each side of the guide post 308 at the front portion 302 and a base 316 at the rear portion 304. Each branch 314 may have a mouth 324 through which one row of teeth 18 extend independently, and the base 316 has a throat 326 through which two rows of teeth extended while coupled to each other.

[0024] When the rows of teeth 18 are extended through the path 312, the blade 300 is moved longitudinally along the rows of teeth to selectively close and open a zipper. For example, as the blade 300 is moved in a forward direction 20 (e.g., towards the top with respect to FIG. 4), the blade 300 facilitates coupling or interlocking the rows of teeth 18 together, effectively closing the zipper 10. Conversely, as the blade 300 is moved in a rearward direction 22 (e.g., towards the bottom with respect to FIG. 4), the blade 300 facilitates separating or disengaging the rows of teeth 18 from each other, effectively opening the zipper 10.

[0025]As shown in FIG. 4, the sidewalls 310 are aligned or disposed in a funnel or isosceles trapezoidal configuration at the branches 314 such that the sidewalls have a first width 332 at the front portion 302 (e.g., at the mouths 324) and a second width 334 narrower than the first width 332 at the rear portion 304 (e.g., at the throat 326) and/or body portion 306. The blade 300 includes a pair of shoulders, guides, or deflectors 340 extending laterally outward from the sidewalls 310 (e.g., a side or lateral exterior surface thereof) at the front portion 302 (e.g., each adjacent to a respective mouth 324). The shoulders 340 have a rounded configuration that facilitates moving or guiding an object other than the teeth (e.g., fabric, panel 12) laterally outward away from the path 312 (as the zipper slide 100 moves along the zipper tapes 14), further mitigating a likelihood of snagging or jamming. Other shapes of the shoulders can be used without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. In general, each of the shoulders 340 prevents an object other than the teeth from moving into (and through) the mouths 324 (in particular, a respective one of the mouths).

[0026]To further facilitate the moving or guiding of objects other than the teeth laterally outward away from the path 312 (and thereby mitigate the likelihood of snagging or jamming), the front end of the blade 300 (the front portion 302) has an angle 342 (e.g., shallow angle) on each side of the guide post 308 that slopes rearward toward the rear portion 304. The slope of this shallow angle 342 continues into each shoulder 340. In other words, the front end of the blade 300 has a first side portion and a second side portion. Each side portion bounds or defines one of the mouths 324. The first and second side portions of the front end of the blade are disposed on opposite sides of the guide post 308. Each side portion extends laterally outwad and rearwardly (slightly rearwardly) from the guide post 308 at the shallow angle 342. Each shallow angle 342 is measured between a reference axis extending laterally (e.g., generally perpendicular to the forward and rearward directions 20, 22) and the front end of the blade 300. This results in the front end (front portion 302) of the blade 300 having a shallow V-shaped configuration for moving or guiding objects other than the teeth laterally outward away from the path 312. As such, the front end of the blade 300 is comparatively larger (e.g., wider) than conventional siders for moving other objects out of the way. Each mouth 324 extends linearly (at the slope of the shallow angle 342) and is located at the front end (front portion 302) of the blade 300. The mouths 324 do not extend along the sides of the blade 300, reducing the likelihood of objects moving into the mouths. The mouths of conventional sliders typically have curved shapes and extend rearwardly along the sides of the slider. In one embodiment, the shallow angle 342 can be within the inclusive range of about 1-10 degrees, or more preferably about 1-5-degrees, or any sub-range or number within these ranges, although other configurations can be used without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

[0027]Referring to FIGS. 1 and 4, in one embodiment, the blade 300 (broadly, the slider 100) the configured to overlie the panels 12 the zipper tapes 14 are connected to. The blade 300 (broadly, the slider 100) is sized and shaped to extend laterally outward of at least one, and preferably both, zipper tapes 14 (more specifically, extend laterally outward of the connection between each zipper tape and panel 12). As shown in FIG. 1, the width of the blade 300 is equal to or wider than the width of the two zipper tapes 14 (specifically, the distance or width between the two panels 12 or the connections between each zipper tape and panel), when the zipper tapes are connected together. In other words, the width of the blade 300 is equal to or larger than two times (2x) the width of a single zipper tape 14. More specifically, in this embodiment, the shoulders 340 of the slider are arranged to be at least partially disposed laterally outward of the zipper tapes 14. In other words, the shoulders 340 are arranged to overlie the panels 12 the zipper tapes 14 are connected to. This configuration allows the blade 300 (broadly, the slider 100) to engage and push the material (e.g., fabric) of the panels 12 laterally outward away from the path 312 (e.g., the mouths 324 and the throat 326), minimizing snagging and/or jamming of the zipper 10. Other configurations can be used without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. For example, in other embodiments, the blade may not extend laterally outward of one (or both) of the zipper tapes 14.

[0028]FIG. 5 shows another example blade 400 that may be included in the zipper slide 100. The blade 400 may be used, for example, as the upper blade 110 (shown in FIGS. 2 and 3) and/or the lower blade 120 (shown in FIGS. 2 and 3). In some examples, the blade 400 shown in FIG. 5 is coupled to and used with the blade 300 shown in FIG. 4 to form a zipper slide. The blade 400 of FIG. 5 is generally analogous to the blade 300 of FIG. 4, and thus, for ease of comprehension, where similar, analogous, or identical parts are used, reference numerals “100” units higher are employed. Accordingly, unless clearly stated or indicated otherwise, the descriptions regarding the blade 300 of FIG. 4 also apply to the blade 400 of FIG. 5.

[0029]In the illustrated embodiment, one of the main differences between the blades 300, 400 of FIGS. 4 and 5 is the shape of teeth guides in the path 312, 412. The blade 300 of FIG. 4 has a tapered teeth guide extending rearwardly from the guide post 308, whereas the blade 400 of FIG. 5 has a generally uniform width teeth guide extending rearwardly from the guide post 408. As shown in FIG. 2, the teeth guides are slightly proud of the rest of the blade 300, 400 and extending into the path 312, 412. The teeth guides of the two blades are arranged to engage a top or front side or an opposite bottom or rear side of the teeth as the slider 100 moves along the rows of teeth. As shown in FIG. 2, another difference between the blades 300, 400 can be the height of the blade (e.g., height of the shoulders 340, 440 and sidewalls 310, 410), depending on if the blade is used as the upper blade 110 or lower blade 120.

[0030]As shown in FIG. 2, the zipper slide 100 includes a zipper tape gap or channel on each side for one of the zipper tapes 14 to extend into and through (to permit the rows of teeth 18 to be disposed in (e.g., extend through) the path 312, 412 of the zipper slide. The shoulders 340, 440 of the upper and lower blades 110, 120 (e.g., blades 300, 400) on each side of the zipper slide 100 are spaced apart from one another to define a first gap or channel section of the zipper tape channel therebetween. Likewise, the sidewalls 310, 410 (e.g., sidewalls 138) are spaced apparat from one another to defined a second gap or channel second of the zipper tape channel therebetween. In one embodiment, only the upper blade or the lower blade includes the shoulders. In one embodiment, only the upper blade or the lower blade includes the sidewalls.

[0031] Example methods and systems are described herein for reducing snagging and/or jamming during use of a zipper. The examples described herein are physically configured to restrict or prevent an object other than the teeth of the zipper (e.g., fabric) from entering a path defined by the zipper slide. In view of the above, it will be seen that several advantages of the aspects of the present disclosure are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

[0032] When introducing elements of aspects of the disclosure or the examples thereof, the articles “a,” “an,” “the,” and “said” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. Furthermore, references to an “embodiment” or “example” of the present disclosure are not intended to be interpreted as excluding the existence of additional embodiments or examples that also incorporate the recited features. The terms “comprising,” “including,” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements. The phrase “one or more of the following: A, B, and C” means “at least one of A and/or at least one of B and/or at least one of C.”

[0033] In the present description, reference numbers have sometimes been used in connection with various terms. Where a term is used in connection with a reference number, this may be meant to refer to a specific element that is shown in one or more of the figures. Where a term is used without a reference number, this may be meant to refer generally to the term without limitation to any particular figure.

[0034] Having described aspects of the disclosure in detail, it will be apparent that modifications and variations are possible without departing from the scope of aspects of the disclosure as defined in the appended claims. As various changes could be made in the above constructions, products, and methods without departing from the scope of aspects of the disclosure, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

[0035] While the aspects of the present disclosure have been described in terms of various examples with their associated operations, a person skilled in the art would appreciate that a combination of operations from any number of different examples is also within the scope of the aspects of the present disclosure.