Zip fastener

Abstract: A zip fastener 2 has formations 32, 34, 36 on the stringer tapes 8, 10 which hinder the movement of the sliders 18, 20 relative to the tapes 8, 10. The movement of the sliders 18, 20 past the formations 32, 34, 36 can be felt by the user and so helps indicate when the sliders 18, 20 are in position at the bottom of one tape 8, ready to receive the male movable open parts pin 42. The formation 32 rides past a shoulder 44 on the slider 20 as the pin 42 is pushed into position. The invention is also useful with fasteners having a single slider.

Description: The present invention relates to a zip fastener. Zip fasteners on heavy duty outer garments are often handled using gloves, or are difficult to see. When coupling the two stringers of the fastener together, by inserting the male movable open parts pin into the female slider, the user can have difficulty determining that the slider is correctly positioned to receive the pin, or that the pin is slid fully home to allow the slider to be pulled along the stringers to close the zip. US-A-2 728 125 shows a zip fastener in which the open parts box, which is attached to the bottom of the stringer carrying the slider, has a formation which form locks with the slider when the slider is slid down to the bottom of the stringer. This holds the slider in place when the zip fastener stringers have been separated. US-A-2 583 386 shows a zip fastener in which the open parts box incorporates a spring clip which bears on a protrusion on the slider when the slider is moved down. The present invention provides a zip fastener having a slider and a pair of separable stringers, each stringer comprising coupling elements on a tape, one of the tapes having a male movable open parts pin at an end thereof and the slider being permanently mounted on the other stringer, the male movable open parts pin being inserted into the slider prior to sliding of the slider to couple the elements of the stringers, characterised in that a first interference means is provided on the tape of the stringer carrying the male movable open parts pin, the first interference means interfering with the slider to indicate when the pin has been inserted fully into the slider. In a particularly preferred form an interference means is provided on the tape carrying the slider and bears on the slider as it is slid to the end of the tape. When a fastener has a double slider, an interference means may be provided adjacent one end of a tape to hinder the movement of the end slider, as the other slider is pulled to close the fastener. The invention will be further described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure 1 shows an end of a zip fastener forming a first embodiment of the invention, Figure 2 is a cross-section along line II-II of Figure 1, Figures 3a to 3d show the operation of the zip fastener of figure 1, Figure 4 shows a modification of the embodiment of Figure 1, and Figure 5 shows another embodiment of the invention. Referring to figure 1, a zip fastener 2 comprises two stringers 4, 6 which each comprises a tape 8, 10 and respective coupling elements 12, 14. The coupling elements 12, 14 shown are discrete metal elements which grip the edge 16 of the respective tape. Other arrangements may also be used, such as a continuous, coiled plastics coupling element which is woven into the tape at its edge 16 as is well known in the art. The zip fastener shown has a double slider arrangement comprising two sliders, 18, 20. The first lower slider 18, as seen in the drawing, bears on a stop 19 (seen Figure 3a), at the end of the right-hand, or female side, tape 8 to prevent it sliding off the end of the stringer 4. For clarity, pullers which are used for pulling the sliders are not shown in the drawings. Shown in Figure 1 are three interference means 22, 24, 26. These project proud of the respective tape and overlap the line of travel of the outer edge or shoulders of the sliders 18, 20. Thus, the movement of the sliders 18, 20 is hindered as they ride past the respective interference means. The interference means is formed by insert moulding polyester elastomer fittings 28, 30 onto the ends of the tapes 8, 10. The fittings 28, 30 may take various shapes. The moulding 30 on the left-hand tape is of uniform cross-section with a lateral protrusion 32 defining the interference means 24 while the moulding 28 on the right-hand side has laterally protruding and upstanding pillars 34, 36 which form the interference means 22, 26. As seen in Figure 2, the mouldings 28, 30 are symmetrical about the plane of the respective tape 8, 10. A substantially flat area 37 is provided on each moulding 28, 30 to carry a logo which may be moulded into the surface. Preferably the mouldings 28, 30 are constructed in similar fashion and substantially symmetrical about the centre line of the dosed fastener, for enhanced appearance. Thus, either two, thicker type mouldings 30 are used, or two thinner mouldings 28 with upstanding pillars. Referring to Figures 3a to 3d, figure 3a shows the two sliders 18, 20 partway along the stringer 4. In Figure 3b, the slider 18 has been slid down to the end of the stringer 4, where the shoulder 38 on the slider is pushed past the pillars 34, 36. The user will "feel" the movement of the slider past the pillars 34, 36 and hence know that the slider 18 is in position at the bottom of the stringer. The pillar 36 has a projecting edge 37, and the shoulder 38 rests just below the edge 37 so that the slider is held at the bottom of the tape 8 by the pillar 36. In Figure 3c the second slider 20 has been slid down to mate with the first slider 18, the shoulder 40 engaging a sloping surface 45 on the pillar 34 and moving just past a projecting edge 41 on the pillar 34. The user will feel when the shoulder 40 rides past the edge 41. The shoulder 40 maintains contact with the pillar 34 at a sloping surface 43. The surface 43 has a gentler slope, relative to the path of the shoulder 40, than the corresponding surface 43, so that less force is required to move the slider upwards along the stringer 4. past the edge 41. It will be appreciated that the sliders 18, 20 may be slid simultaneously to the end of the stringer 4. Figure 3d shows the male movable parts pin 42 being inserted into the slider 20 and about to be pushed home into the slider 18. As the pin 42 is pushed fully home, the sloping surface 47 rides over the shoulder 44 and the user will feel when the edge 49 passes the shoulder 44, indicating when the pin 42 is pushed fully home. The fastener can then be closed in the usual way by pulling the slider 20 upwards, the slider 20 riding past the pillar 34. When the interference means is formed of plastics, it is likely that the parts will wear over time, reducing the "feel" given to the user. However, at this stage the user should be sufficiently familiar with the zip fastener for the feel to be unnecessary. In the modification shown in Figure 4, the interference means is formed as discrete protrusions on the tape. The protrusions 32', 34', 36' extend above and below the plane of the tape and are formed by insert moulding, the plastics material passing through the tape weave. The protrusions may be formed of metal, for example, discrete pins or rivets may be attached to the tapes 8. 10. Also the interference means need project only from one side of the tape 8, 10. In the embodiment of Figure 5, the zip fastener 2' has only one slider. The construction and operation of this embodiment is similar to the embodiment of Figures 1 to 3. A single slider 20' is provided. The male movable open parts pin (not shown) is pushed into the slider 20' and enters an end stop 50 which is attached to the tape 8 of the other stringer 4 as is well known in the art.

Claims: A zip fastener having a slider (18, 20, 20') and a pair of separable stringers (4, 6; 4' 6'), each stringer comprising coupling elements (12, 14, 12', 14') on a tape (8, 10; 8', 10') one of the tapes having a male movable open parts pin (42) at an end thereof and the slider (18, 20; 20') being permanently mounted on the other stringer, the male movable open parts pin (42) being inserted into the slider prior to sliding of the slider to couple the elements of the stringers (4, 6; 4', 6'); characterised in that a first interference means (24, 32, 24', 32') is provided on the tape (10, 10') of the stringer (6,6') carrying the male movable open parts pin (42), the first interference means (24, 32, 24', 32') interfering with the slider (20,20') to indicate when the pin (42) has been inserted fully into the slider (20, 20'). A zip fastener as claimed in claim 1, wherein a second interference means (22,22') is provided at the end of the tape (8, 8') of the stringer (4,4') on which the slider is permanently mounted the second interference means (22,22') interfering with the movement of the slider (20,20') to an end of the respective stringer (4,4') to indicate when the slider (20, 20') is positioned for receiving the male movable open parts pin (42). A zip fastener as claimed in claim 1 or 2 having a pair of sliders (18, 20). A zip fastener as claimed in claim 4, wherein the second interference means (22) is positioned so that it bears on each slider (18, 20) as it is slid to the end of the respective stringer (4, 4'). A zip fastener as claimed in claim 4, wherein a third interference means (26) is provided to indicate when one of the sliders (18) is positioned at the end of the stringer (4), the second interference means (22) indicating when the second slider (20) is positioned for receiving the male movable open parts pin (42). A zip fastener as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the or an interference means (22,24,26; 22', 24') is formed by a plastics moulding provided on the respective stringer tape (4). A zip fastener as claimed in claim 6, wherein the moulding carries a logo. A zip fastener as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein an interference means (22) has upper and lower sloping surfaces (45, 43) which are engaged by the slider (20) as it moves past the interference means (22), and the surfaces (45, 43) have different angles of slope relative to the longitudinal direction of the tape.

Inventors: COMERFORD BRIAN, COMERFORD, BRIAN
Applicants: YKK EUROP LTD, YKK EUROPE LIMITED
Application year: 1997
Main classification: A44B19
IPC codes: A44B19