UNIVERSAL JOINT FOR CONNECTING A SLIDER TO THE DRAWER OF A ZIPPER

Abstract: In a joint (4) for connecting slide (1) of a zipper and corresponding drawer (2) that includes a first cavity (3a) to connect it to bridge (6) of said slider (1) and a second cavity (5) for connecting it to a collar (2a) of said drawer (2), said first cavity is made in a separate part (3) that is not integral with joint (4) but is connected thereto by means of attachments.

Description: Universal Joint for Connecting a Slider to the Drawer of a Zipper. This invention pertains to the technological field of the design of zippers, i.e., the well-known devices that are used to create a reversible connection between two edges made of fabric, leather, or other materials. To achieve this connection, two facing members, each of which consists of a row of appropriately shaped teeth, are connected to one another in a reversible manner using known methods by causing a slider to run along said members; said slider consists of a movable part connected to it which is stretched between the fingers in order to be able to exert on the slider the force that is required to make it slide. In some types of sliders, between the slider proper and said movable part, which based on its function is called a "drawer", is inserted a connecting joint that has two cavities; one of said cavities is intended to mate with a raised part of said "bridge" of the slider, while the other cavity mates with a collar on the drawer. According to the state of the art, said connecting joints are made in a single piece, for which reason said two cavities are simply closed-edge holes into which either said bridge or the collar of the drawer is inserted. This accounts for the fact, e.g., that, for sliders that are equipped with the joint in question, it is first necessary to insert the bridge into the corresponding cavity of the joint and then to attach the bridge itself to the body of the slider by pressing, bonding, or similar techniques. This involves an operation that is time-consuming and thus costly, in addition to being somewhat complex. In addition, once a certain kind of drawer has been attached, it is no longer possible to detach it from the joint in order to replace it, either when it breaks or when the user wishes to use a drawer that has different esthetics and/or functional characteristics. In order to avoid the drawbacks and advantages mentioned above, the inventor of this invention has conceived a new type of joint between the slider and the drawer, which joint has characteristics such that, during the phase of designing the parts of a zipper, it is possible to mate it even to a fixed bridge, thus making it integral with the slider; said character¬ istics also make it possible to hook a drawer up to the joint itself in a reversible manner such that, when so desired, it can be removed without difficulty. More particularly, the object of the invention consists of a joint for connecting the slider of a zipper and the corresponding drawer, whereby said joint includes a first cavity for connecting it to the bridge of said drawer, which is characterized in the characterizing part of claim 1. In the dependent claims, other characteristics of the joint are described that make it possible for the joint to be connected to the collar of the drawer in a reversible manner. A more detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the joint according to the invention and its advantages will now be given, also referring to the attached drawings, where: - Fig. 1 shows a side view of a slider attached to the joint of the invention, which in the figure is in longitudinal cutaway; - Fig. 2 shows a cross-section through the joint of Fig. 1, made corresponding to a separate spring collar, which is used as a cavity for connecting the slider to the bridge; - Fig. 3 shows a front view of the collar spring, which is designed to bend a metal wire. Look first at Fig. 1: in it the connection of fixed bridge 6 of a slider 1 to joint 4 is made by connecting it to a collar spring 3, which in the embodiment in question is made by bending a wire made of steel or some other material that has good compressive strength characteristics. Lower end 3s of said collar spring 3 is open, in such a way that bridge 6 can be inserted into it. Said end 3s is then inserted into a space 11 made in joint 4. When both collar spring 3 and its open lower end 3s are of the proper shape, joint 4 is secured inside of space 11 by means of simple pressure or punching force being exerted on the joint perpendicular to said joint and to said collar spring 3: the plastic deformation of the inside walls of space 11 of joint 4, which is therefore made of metallic materials that are suitable to the task and are known to one skilled in the art, creates a reliable connection that locks spring 3 to joint 4. Obviously, it is possible to make on the inside walls of space 11 appropriate projections that are intended to increase the reliability of said locking action: this is not necessary, however, for the typical uses of zippers. Collar spring 3, which is shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, is symmetrical with respect to its two median planes and has open ends that project outward, but they can be designed in other shapes that may be more suitable to particular applications. Fig. 1 also shows the system according to the invention for ensuring the reversibility of the connection of collar 2a of a drawer 2 to joint 4: second cavity 5, which admits said hook, is composed of the bend of a hook 8 that has an opening 8a on one side; in the body of the joint itself is another attachment space 10, which is closed at the sides and into which is inserted an end 9p of a flexible straight spring 9 (see Figs. 1 and 2) , which end is appropriately shaped in order to allow firm and reliable mating with joint 4. From said end there extends a straight, flexible arm that is shaped in such a way as to enclose said bend of hook 8 with its free end 9q. Straight spring 9 is positioned and designed in such a way as to enclose said opening 8a when no force is exerted on spring 9 itself and, owing to its elasticity, allows the edge of collar 2a of a drawer 2 to be inserted into it in order to connect the latter to joint 4. This makes it possible to insert and remove a drawer 2 into and from the bend of hook 8 without any difficulty whatsoever. This ensures the achievement of the advantages proposed by the inventor, i.e., those associated with producing a "universal" joint 4, in the sense that to it can be connected sliders of any type, including fixed-point sliders and which can optionally be replaced by the drawer connected to the joint itself . By using a joint according to the invention and employing some other expedients, another design advantage can be achieved that has an impact on production time and cost: as a matter of fact, it is sufficient to put lower part 3s of collar spring 3 and associated end 9p of straight spring 9 into corresponding spaces 10, 11 of joint 4 in positions where they face one another and are traversed by a straight line K-K that is perpendicular to joint 4 itself, and it is possible simulta¬ neously to secure collar spring 3 and straight spring 9 using a single pressing operation that is performed on joint 4 in the direction of said straight line K-K (the arrows in the figure indicate the direction in which the force is applied) . The preferred embodiment described thus far for the joint according to the invention is given simply by way of example: by modifying the shapes and characteristics of the various components and simply the means for attaching them, it is possible to produce innumerable embodiments to comply with design and functional requirements. These embodiments will, however, fall within the framework of the protection offered by this application if they can be traced back to the descriptions given in the attached claims.

Claims: Claims 1. Joint (4) for connecting slider (1) of a zipper and corresponding drawer (2) , whereby said joint includes a first cavity (3a) to connect it to bridge (4) of slider (1) and a second cavity (5) for connecting it to a collar (2a) of said drawer (2) , wherein first cavity (3a) is made in a separate part (3) that is not integral with joint (4) but is connected thereto by means of attachments. 2. Joint according to claim 1, in which said first cavity is composed of a collar spring (3) that is open at one end (3s) for inserting the bridge of a slider and is made by bending a metal wire with a shape that is suitable for admitting said open end (3s) of collar spring (3) to be connected to joint (4) by means of pressure exerted on the latter. 3. Connecting joint according to one of the preceding claims, in which said second cavity for connecting joint (4) itself to collar (2a) of a drawer (2) is made up of loop (5) of a hook (8) that has an opening (8a) on one side; to the body of joint (4) is attached a longitudinally extended flexible element (9) that is positioned and sized in such a way as to enclose said opening (8a) when no force is applied to it and to allow, owing to its give, the edge of collar (2a) of said drawer (2) to be introduced in order to hook up to joint (4) itself. 4. Connecting joint according to claim 3, in which said longitudinally extended flexible element for enclosing opening (8a) of said hook (8) is a straight flexing spring (9) in which end (9p) that faces free end (9q) is of such a shape and size that it can be inserted into an attachment space (10) that is made in joint (4) itself and to be locked there by means of pressure applied to the latter. 5. Joint according to claim 4, in which end (9p) that is connected to straight spring (9) and lower open part (3s) of said collar spring (3) are positioned between two spaces (10, 11) that are made in joint (4) in positions facing one another and are traversed by a straight line (K-K) that is perpendicular to joint (4) itself, in such a way that it is possible to simulta- neously secure straight spring (9) and straight spring (3) in a single operation of force applied to joint (4) in the direction of said straight line (K-K) .

Inventors: BERNASCONI SERGIO, BERNASCONI, SERGIO
Applicants: BERNASCONI SERGIO, RIRI SA, BERNASCONI, SERGIO, RIRI S.A.
Application year: 1997
Main classification: A44B19
IPC codes: A44B19