SLIDE FASTENERS

Abstract: There is disclosed a slide fastener of the kind comprising separable tracks one of which has an endwise box the other of which has a free end releasably engageable in the box and a slider having guide channels for the tracks, which slider is captive on the track with the box end and locatable thereon against the box for engagement of the free end, through its guide in the slider, in the box whereupon the slider is free to move along the tracks to close and open the fastener, at least one of the free end and the box having an enlarged grip portion that extends away from the associated track whereby to facilitate the introduction of the free end into the box.

Description: SLIPE FASTENERS This invention relates to slide fasteners, and particularly to slide fasteners of the kind comprising separable tracks such as are found on the front, for example, of jackets, one of which tracks has an endwise box the other of which has a free end releasably engageable in the box, so that the two tracks may be completely separated. Difficulties are experienced, particularly by children and indeed many people with restricted movement in their fingers, in engaging the free end in the box when it is desired to zip up. The present invention provides a fastener which facilitates this engagement. The invention comprises a slide fastener of the kind comprising separable tracks one of which has an endwise box the other of which has a free end releasably engageable in the box and a slider having guide channels for the tracks, which slider is captive on the track with the box end and locatable thereon against the box for engagement of the free end, through its guide in the slider, in the box whereupon the slider is free to move along the tracks to close and open the fastener, at least one of the free end and the box having an enlarged grip portion that extends away from the associated track whereby to facilitate the introduction of the free end into the box. Both the free end and the box may have enlarged grip portions, which may be similar in shape and size. The grip portion(s) may extend laterally beyond the width of the associated track and may extend beyond the conventional position of the free/box end - so that in a jacket, for example, the grip portion(s) would depend below the lower edge of the jacket. The box and free ends may have mutually engaging stop means that define their mutual engagement so as to align the tracks appropriately for engagement by the slider. The free end grip portion, if provided, may be profiled with a convex form towards the box side to run against the box side to guide insertion of the free ends into the box. The box grip portion, if provided, may be profiled with a concave form towards the free end side against which the free end or free end grip portion(s), if provided, can run to guide insertion of the free end into the box. The slider may have a grip tab which is commensurate in size with the grip portion(s). One embodiment of a slide fastener according to the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which : Figure 1 is a view of a conventional slide fastener during engagement of the two sides; Figure 2 is a view like Figure 1 of the slide fastener of the invention with the parts similarly disposed; Figure 3 is a view of the fastener of Figure 2 with the parts fully engaged; and Figure 4 is a view of the hem of a jacket, closed, showing the appearance of the fastener when its sides are engaged and the fastener closed. The conventional slide fastener illustrated in Figure 1 comprises separable tracks 11, 12 one, 11, of which has an endwise box 13 the other, 12, of which has a free end 14 in the form of a tongue releasably engageable in the box 13 and a slider 15 having guide channels 16 for the tracks 11,12 which slider is captive on the track 11 with the box 13 end and locatable thereon against the box 13 for engagement of the free end 14, through its guide 16 in the slider 15, in the box 13 whereupon the slider 15 is free to move along the tracks 11,12 to close and open the fastener. The free end tongue 14 is shown about to enter the box along the arrow 17. The slider 15 conventionally has a tab (not shown in Figure 1) which is pivotally mounted and which lays flat against the box 13 when the tongue 14 is in position therein with a camming action which locks the tongue in the box. The box 13 is small, as is the free end 14, and they are fiddly to engage, especially for children and those with arthritis or other difficulties in moving their fingers. The fastener illustrated in Figures 2 to 4 has the like tracks 11,12 and slider 15. The box 13 is now extended laterally and longitudinally of the track 11 and has an outwardly flared end 13 A as well as an enlarged grip portion 13B which is of a size convenient to grasp between finger and thumb. The free end tongue 14 is likewise provided with an enlarged grip portion 14B, the grip portions 13B,14B being similar in shape and size. Both extend both laterally beyond the width of and below the conventional position (as seen in Figure 1) of the The box and free ends have mutually engaging stop means 13C,14C that define their mutual engagement so as to align the tracks 11,12 appropriately for engagement by the slider 15 - this is in place of the tip of the tongue 14 abutting against the floor of the box 13 in the conventional version illustrated in Figure 1. The slider tab (not illustrated in Figures 2 and 3) again has a camming action that forces the stop means 13C,14C into locking engagement, as in the conventional version. The flared end of the box 13 has a concave formation 13D against which a correspondingly convexly curved formation 14D on the grip portion 14B of the free end 14 runs to guide insertion of the tongue 14 into the box 13. The appearance of the grip portions 13B.14B at the hem of a jacket 17 is shown in Figure 4 which also shows the tab 18 of the slider. Being visible, the seen parts are desirably appropriately finished and may for example bear a trade mark.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A slide fastener of the kind comprising separable tracks one of which has an endwise box the other of which has a free end releasably engageable in the box and a slider having guide channels for the tracks, which slider is captive on the track with the box end and locatable thereon against the box for engagement of the free end, through its guide in the slider, in the box whereupon the slider is free to move along the tracks to close and open the fastener, at least one of the free end and the box having an enlarged grip portion that extends away from the associated track whereby to facilitate the introduction of the free end into the box. 2. A fastener according to claim 1 , in which both the free end and the box have enlarged grip portions. 3. A fastener according to claim 2, in which the grip portions are similar in shape and size. 4. A fastener according to any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the grip portion(s) extend(s) laterally beyond the width of the associated track. 5. A fastener according to any one of claims 1 to 4, in which the grip portion(s) extend(s) beyond the conventional free position of the box end. 6. A fastener according to any one of claims 1 to 5, in which the box and free end have mutually engaging stop means that define their mutual engagement so as to align the tracks appropriately for engagement by the slider. 7. A fastener according to any one of claims 1 to 6, in which the free end grip portion, if provided, is profiled with a convex form towards the box side to run against the box side to guide insertion of the free end into the box. 8. A fastener according to any one of claims 1 to 7, in which the box grip portion, if provided, is profiled with a concave form towards the free end side against which the free end or free end grip portion, if provided, can run to guide insertion of the free end into the box. 9. A fastener according to any one of claims 1 to 8, in which the slider has a grip tab which is commensurate in size with the grip portion(s).

Inventors: SCHUBERT BRIAN, SCHUBERT, BRIAN
Applicants: COATS LTD J & P, SCHUBERT BRIAN, J. & P. COATS, LIMITED, SCHUBERT, BRIAN
Application year: 1995
Main classification: A44B19
IPC codes: A44B19