Abstract:
A zipper-assist device and methods for using the device for facilitating the process of zippering is described. In a preferred embodiment the zipper-assist device is a two-pronged device with a body part, a finger component, and at least one prong. The zipper-assist device is used to engage a zipper tab/flap or zipper head to open or close a zipper.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    (1) Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates generally to assistance devices for arthritic individuals and, more particularly, to a zipper-assist device and method for using the zipper-assist device for pulling open and closing zippers.  
           [0003]    (2) Description of the Prior Art  
           [0004]    Zippers are commonly used on many articles of clothing, on luggage, on containers, and many other items. The zipper is used by applying a force to a zipper tab/flap which is hingedly connected to a slide member, zipper head, extending along the teeth of the zipper. By moving the zipper head and the tab upwardly and downwardly, a person can open and close the zipper. Under most circumstances, this task is relatively easy and can be performed by most people.  
           [0005]    Many persons have ailments that affect their ability to use their hands. An estimated 43 million Americans suffer from arthritis and other similar conditions, and each year one million new patients develop arthritis. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 60 million people will have arthritis by 2020. The largest portion of the target market is individuals 65 or older. Also well documented is that younger people comprise half of all people affected. There are also 250,000 children who have arthritis. One million new patients developing arthritis each year. Arthritis is the main cause of activity limitation in the United States, and as a result, sufferers are quick to purchase any remedy or device that will help eliminate discomfort or maintain independence. It is believed that an estimated 10 billion dollars is spent yearly on unproven arthritis remedies alone. Other ailments include carpal-tunnel syndrome, Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, wrist and forearm fractures, birth defects, amputees, wearing casts, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, quadriplegia, as well as the side effects of many medications that cause loss of the sensation of touch and/or grip strength.  
           [0006]    Often it is quite difficult for individuals with ailments affecting the hands to grip and operate smaller objects such as zippers. Persons with such ailments thus need devices to facilitate zippering. In the case of the elderly, many have limited hand dexterity that results in difficulty in holding and/or grasping objects. Such limited hand dexterity also leads to reduced ability of such individuals to pick up, manipulate and exert force on zippers. The action of pinching a zipper and manipulating the same may be painful, awkward or even impossible to perform. As a result there exists a need for a device to help these persons with manipulating zippers.  
           [0007]    Prior art commonly employs a number of zipper assistance devices for the purpose of assisting persons who have difficulty handling small objects.  
           [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,732,447 to Nolen et al. describes a device that facilitates the buttoning and unbuttoning, as well as the zipping and unzipping, of clothing for individuals with limited manual dexterity. The device has an insertion portion at one end for sliding into a buttonhole, a buttoner portion at the other end in the form of a hook and an unbuttoner portion therebetween.  
           [0009]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,067,487 to Carr et al. describes a combination zipper aid and shoehorn device wherein a conventionally shaped shoehorn for use by the individual in slipping shoes or similar footwear onto one&#39;s foot is provided with an opening on the narrow end of the shoehorn into which is retractably fitted a device for assisting in closing or opening zippers on one&#39;s apparel. The zipper aid consists of a length of cord material provided with a hook on one end, with the cord being spring wound onto a spool contained within a housing with the housing being retractable into the end of the shoehorn for storage thereof or out of the shoehorn so that the hook on the end of the cord can be attached to a zipper tab and, using the shoehorn as a handle, enabling an individual to readily open or close the zipper on one&#39;s garment.  
           [0010]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,100,191 to Detrick et al. describes a zipper operating device for manipulating a slide fastener having a sliding operator member and a tab member connected to the sliding member. The zipper operating device includes a tang member which may be received within a hole in the tab member whereby the zipper operating device may engage the sliding member for manipulation thereof. The zipper operating device is shaped generally like a key and includes a head portion and a shank portion extending therefrom. A hole is provided in the head portion distal from the shank portion such that the device may be attached to a key ring or key chain.  
           [0011]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,112,958 to LaMachhia et al. describes a combination bracelet, button, and zipper fastening device includes an elongated handle having a first end and a second end with a first releasable clamping means coupled to the first end and a removable, reversible end cap on the second end. The first releasable clamping means are operable to releasably hold at least one interlocking member of a releasable clasp of a bracelet. The removable, reversible end cap has a button hook and a chain attached to one end and an interlocking member on the other end. A second releasable clamping means is attached to the end of the chain. The handle is sized and configured to be held in a hand of a person so that the first clamping means is positioned to rest on a wrist adjoining the hand holding the handle so that a person using the bracelet fastening device can hold and position with one hand at least one interlocking member of the releasable clasp on the adjoining wrist while using the other free hand to fasten the other interlocking member of the clasp therewith to securely retain the bracelet around the wrist. The handle includes a hollow which is accessible from the second end and which is dimensioned to store the second clamping means, the chain, and the button hook.  
           [0012]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,500,966 to Alan Wheat describes a tool for facilitating the movement of a zipper including a handle, an arm connected to and extending transversely to a longitudinal axis of the handle, and a zipper flap receiving area formed in the arm at an end opposite the handle. The zipper flap receiving area serves to receive a zipper flap therein. The handle is integrally connected to the arm. The arm has a top surface, a bottom surface, a first side surface, and a second side surface. The zipper flap receiving area extends into the first side surface and through the arm from the top surface to the bottom surface. The zipper flap receiving area is a slot formed in the arm having an opening in the first side surface. The arm also has a tapered surface formed at an end opposite the handle.  
           [0013]    As described in the patents above, many assist-devices exist to help manipulate zippers. These devices generally take hold of the zipper tab/flap. Generally these devices hook a hole in the tab or attach to the tab itself. However, oftentimes the tab/flap flails and may be difficult to take hold of while the zipper head is generally steadfast in position. Thus, there exists a need for a device that can operate by engaging not only the zipper tab/flap but also the zipper head. The zipper-assist device and method described here averts such limitations and provides an alternative zipper-operating assist device and method for persons with ailments affecting the hand.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0014]    The present invention is directed to a zipper-assist device. Accordingly, one aspect of the present invention is to provide a pronged device to manipulate zipper heads and zipper tabs using one or more fingers. A further aspect of the present invention is directed to a method for using the zipper-assist device for facilitating the process of zippering.  
           [0015]    These and other aspects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art after a reading of the following description of the preferred embodiment when considered with the drawings. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0016]    [0016]FIG. 1A is a side view of an embodiment of the invention.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 1B is a top view of an embodiment of the invention.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 1C is a top view of an embodiment of the invention.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 1D is a front view of an embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1B and 1C. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0020]    In the following description, like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views. Also in the following description, it is to be understood that such terms as “forward,” “rearward,” “front,” “back,” “right,” “left,” “upwardly,” “downwardly,” and the like are words of convenience and are not to be construed as limiting terms.  
         [0021]    Referring now to the drawings in general, the illustrations are for the purpose of describing a preferred embodiment of the invention and are not intended to limit the invention thereto.  
         [0022]    A side view of a preferred embodiment of the zipper-assist device is shown in FIG. 1A. The zipper-assist generally referred to as  3 . 0  is made of a body component  3 . 1 . The body  3 . 1  has a front end  3 . 3  and back end  3 . 4  as well as right side  3 . 5  and left side  3 . 6 , as best seen in FIGS. 1B and 1C. The body is substantially flat and rectangular.  
         [0023]    In a preferred embodiment the body may be a “body compartment”  3 . 1  within which a slider  3 . 2  moves back and forth. A top view of a preferred embodiment of the zipper-assist device is shown in FIG. 1C. As best seen in FIG. 1C, the slider  3 . 2  has a front end  3 . 7  and a back end  3 . 8 . The slider  3 . 2  also has a left side  3 . 9  and a right side  3 . 10 . The body compartment  3 . 1  also includes a movement rail  3 . 11  within which slider  3 . 2  slides. The movement rail  3 . 11  is a rectangular space cut out of a body compartment  3 . 1 . It has both a front end  3 . 12  and back end  3 . 13  as well as a left side  3 . 14  and right side  3 . 15 . In FIG. 1C, the slider  3 . 2  is positioned in the forward position to the front side of the body  3 . 1 . The slider  3 . 2  can be seen below prongs  3 . 22  and  3 . 23 . When the slider  3 . 2  moves to the forward position the movement rail  3 . 11  is no longer occupied. A screw  3 . 20  located through the slider  3 . 2  slides up to a welded metal layer  3 . 21 . Such limits the range of movement of the slider  3 . 2 . In FIG. 1C, the back end  3 . 8  can be seen near front end of the movement rail  3 . 13 . The slider assists the gliding motion of the zipper-assist device. A top view of a preferred embodiment of the zipper-assist device is shown in FIG. 1B. In this figure the slider  3 . 2  is positioned to the back side of the movement rail  3 . 13  and body  3 . 4 . A front view of a preferred embodiment of the zipper-assist device is shown in FIG. 1D. Inside the body compartment  3 . 1  the front end  3 . 12  of the slider  3 . 2  can be seen.  
         [0024]    The slider  3 . 2  has a spacer  3 . 16  which may be joined to the slider by any means such as gluing, screwing or welding  3 . 2 . Protruding toward the zipper or clothing, the spacer  3 . 16  moves mechanically back and forth with the whole slider  3 . 2 . In the basic non-compartmental non-slider embodiment, a spacer may be joined to the body. The spacer functions to space apart the zipper-assist from the clothing or zipper. As such it also protects the clothing and zipper from the zipper-assist device.  
         [0025]    Fastened by a screw  3 . 17  to the body  3 . 1  is a finger component  3 . 18 . The finger component may be immovably fixed by the screw to the body. The finger component may be joined to the body by any means such as glueing, screwing or welding it to the body. The finger component may be fashioned to fit any finger including preferably the thumb. As such, the finger component may be curved. In another embodiment, the finger component may be rotatable about a pivot point. Such rotation allows one to use different fingers to push or pull a zipper. The thumb may be placed in the curvature opposite the index finger. Alternatively rotated the index finger may be placed in the curvature opposite the thumb. More preferably, one finger, is placed in the curvature opposed by no other finger. Opposed means another finger lies on the opposite side of the finger component to help grip the finger component. The finger component is substantially vertical to the body. It may be perpendicular to the body. It is used to push or pull the zipper-assist device which is engaged to either the zipper tab/flap or zipper head. The finger component may be other shapes and sizes.  
         [0026]    The basic embodiment may have one or more prongs. In FIG. 1B, prongs  3 . 19  are more clearly shown than in FIG. 1A. First and second prongs are shown as  3 . 22  and  3 . 23  respectively. The prongs are approximately triangular with about three sides, outer sides  3 . 24  and  3 . 25 , inner sides  3 . 26  and  3 . 27 , and back sides  3 . 28  and  3 . 29  respectively. The back sides  3 . 26  and  3 . 27  of prongs  3 . 22  and  3 . 23  respectively may be welded to the front end  3 . 3  of body  3 . 1 . As seen in FIG. 1C prongs  3 . 19  are attached to the body. The prongs may be joined to the body by any means such as glueing, screwing or welding the prongs to the body  3 . 1 . A front view of a preferred embodiment of the zipper-assist device is shown in FIG. 1D. Prongs  3 . 22  and  3 . 23  can be seen head-on attached to body  3 . 1 . The prongs are spaced apart such as to engage the vertical component of a head of a zipper. The prongs may also be used to hook the zipper tab/flap to enable zippering. The prongs may go through a hole located in the zipper tab/flap. In a preferred embodiment of the zipper-assist device the prongs are sized such as to pierce a variety of sizes of zipper tab/flap holes. The prongs may be spaced such as to engage the vertical component of various zipper heads.  
         [0027]    In a preferred embodiment of the invention zipper-assist device may be composed of a combination of materials including metal and plastic.  
         [0028]    In a preferred embodiment of a method for using the zipper-assist device the zipper-assist user places a prong of the zipper through a hole in a zipper tab/flap, places a finger in a fixed finger component, and applies pressure to the finger component to move the zipper-assist to open or close a zipper. In an alternative preferred method the user of the zipper-assist uses the prongs to engage the zipper-head. Here, the zipper-assist user places a zipper head in between two prongs of the zipper-assist device, places a finger in a fixed finger component, and applies pressure to the finger component to move the zipper-assist to open or close a zipper. In the above embodiments, the thumb may be placed in the finger component and the index finger on the opposite side of the finger component to move the zipper-assist.  
         [0029]    The zipper-assist device facilitates handling a zipper for an individual with ailments that make it difficult to manipulate zippers. A variety of physical ailments can reduce the ability of the person to manipulate a zipper including carpal-tunnel syndrome, Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, wrist and forearm fractures, birth defects, amputees, wearing casts, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, quadriplegia, etc.  
         [0030]    Certain modifications and improvements will occur to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the foregoing description. By way of example, the device according to the present invention may be used on broken zippers where the tab has broken off or is completely removed; no zipper replacement is necessary sine the present invention functions to move the zipper by the zipper head, not the zipper tab. All modifications and improvements have been deleted herein for the sake of conciseness and readability but are properly within the scope of the following claims.