Invisible zipper

Abstract: A bottom open-end type invisible zipper includes a first zipper tape and a second zipper tape, the zipper tapes each having a respective series of teeth longitudinally disposed at an inner side for interlocking; a first plug member and a second plug member respectively fixedly fastened to the zipper tapes and longitudinally connected to one end of the series of teeth at the respective zipper tape; a movable bottom-end piece slidably coupled to the first zipper tape, the movable bottom-end piece having a receiving chamber adapted to receive the first plug member and the second plug member in parallel; and an escape-preventive structure adapted to stop the movable bottom-end piece from falling out of the first zipper tape, the escape-preventive structure including a male locating means fixedly disposed at the first plug member and a female locating means fixedly disposed at the second plug member for engagement with the male locating means to stop the movable bottom-end piece at the first plug member.

Description: The present invention relates to invisible zipper and, more particularly, to a bottom open-end type invisible zipper, which has a movable bottom-end piece that can be moved away from the stitching area when using a sewing machine to stitch the zipper to an object. A regular bottom open-end type invisible zipper (see FIG. 1) as known from EP-A-0 595 248 is generally comprised of two zipper tapes 10, two series of teeth 20, two plug members 30, and a bottom-end piece 40. The two series of teeth 20 and the two plug members 30 are respectively fixedly fastened to the zipper tapes 10. The bottom-end piece 40 is fixedly fastened to one plug member 30. This structure of bottom open-end type invisible zipper is suitable for use to close/open an opening in a dress, jacket, etc. When closing, the other plug member is inserted into the bottom-end piece 40, and then the slide is pulled upwards to interlock the two series of teeth. However, because the dimension of the bottom-end piece 40 is much greater than the cross section of the series of teeth 20, the presser foot 100 of the sewing machine cannot pass over the bottom-end piece when fastening the zipper tapes 10 to a dress or the like (see FIG. 2). In order to eliminate the aforesaid problem, an invisible zipper with detachable bottom-end piece is disclosed. According to this design, one plug member 30 is constructed having a split hook 301, and the bottom-end piece 40 is made having hooked portions 402 disposed in one insertion hole 401 for engagement with the split hook 301 after insertion of the plug member 30 into the insertion hole 401. The bottom-end piece 40 is separated from the corresponding plug member 30 before fastening the zipper tapes 10 to the dress or the like. After installation of the invisible zipper, the bottom-end piece 40 is secured to the split hook 301 of the plug member 30. Because the plug member 30 and the bottom-end piece 40 are small elements, it is complicated to form the designed split hook 301 on the plug member 30 and the designed hooked portions 402 in the bottom-end piece 40. Any small error during die-casting or injection molding procedure causes a defective product. Further, because the bottom-end piece 40 is kept separated from the invisible zipper when selling, it tends to be missed. The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is the main object of the present invention to provide a bottom open-end type invisible zipper, which has a movable bottom-end piece that does not hinder the stitching operation to fasten the invisible zipper to an object. According to one aspect of the present invention, the bottom open-end type invisible zipper comprises a first zipper tape and a second zipper tape, the zipper tapes each having a respective series of teeth longitudinally disposed at an inner side for interlocking; a first plug member and a second plug member respectively fixedly fastened to the zipper tapes and longitudinally connected to one end of the series of teeth at the respective zipper tape; a movable bottom-end piece slidably coupled to the first zipper tape, the movable bottom-end piece having a receiving chamber adapted to receive the first plug member and the second plug member in parallel; and an escape-preventive structure adapted to stop the movable bottom-end piece from falling out of the first zipper tape, the escape-preventive structure including a male locating means fixedly disposed at the first plug member and a female locating means fixedly disposed at the second plug member for engagement with the male locating means to stop the movable bottom-end piece at the first plug member. According to another aspect of the present invention, the first plug member with the first zipper tape and the second plug member with the second zipper tape can be selectively arranged at either side to fit the left-handed user or the right-handed user. An embodiment of the present invention will be described by way example and with reference to the accompanying drawing , In which : FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bottom open-end type invisible zipper according to the prior art. FIG. 2 is a schematic drawing showing the obstruction of the bottom-end piece of the prior art bottom open-end type invisible zipper in the way of the presser foot. FIG. 3 is an exploded view in section of another structure of bottom open-end type invisible zipper according to the prior art. FIG. 4 shows the components of Fig. 3 assembled. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a bottom open-end type invisible zipper according to the present invention. FIG. 6 is an exploded, oblique back side view of the present invention. FIG. 7 is an oblique back side view of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the movable bottom-end piece according to the present invention. FIG. 9 is a sectional elevation of the movable bottom-end piece according to the present invention. FIG. 10 is a top plain view of the movable bottom-end piece according to the present invention. FIG. 11 is a front side view of the movable bottom-end piece according to the present invention. FIG. 12 is a sectional view of a part of the present invention, showing the bottom open-end type invisible zipper closed. FIG. 13 is a front view in section of the present invention, showing the bottom open-end type invisible zipper closed. FIG. 14 is an exploded view of an alternate form of the present invention, showing a wedge-like stop block formed on the top sidewall of the female plug member. FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing an alternate form of the movable bottom-end piece according to the present invention. FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing another alternate form of the movable bottom-end piece according to the present invention. FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing still another alternate form of the movable bottom-end piece according to the present invention. FIG. 18 is a sectional view showing the movable bottom-end piece of FIG. 17 installed in the bottom open-end type invisible zipper. FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the present invention, showing the plug member set and the movable bottom-end piece designed for a right-handed user. FIG. 20 is a top view in section of the present invention, showing the plug member set and the movable bottom-end piece designed for a right-handed user. FIG. 21 is a perspective view of still another alternate form of the movable bottom-end piece according to the present invention. FIG. 22 is a perspective view showing an alternate form of the escape-preventive structure according to the present invention. FIG. 23 is a perspective view of still another alternate form of the movable bottom-end piece according to the present invention. FIG. 24 is a sectional assembly view of FIG. 22. FIG. 25 is a perspective view showing another alternate form of the escape-preventive structure according to the present invention. Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, a bottom open-end type invisible zipper in accordance with the present invention is shown comprised of two zipper tapes 1, a plug member set 2, a movable bottom-end piece 3, an escape-preventive structure, and a slide 5 . The zipper tapes 1 each have a series of teeth 11 longitudinally arranged at one side. The teeth 11 of each zipper tape 1 can be independent metal teeth respectively fastened to the fabric body of the respective zipper tape. Alternatively, the teeth 11 of each zipper tape 1 can be a continuous series of loop directly molded from resin on the fabric body of the respective zipper tape. The teeth 11 each have a protruding upper face for interlocking. Each zipper tape 1 has a peripheral flap that keeps the respective series of teeth 11 from sight. The plug member set 2 (see FIG. 6) includes a male plug member 21 and a female plug member 22. The male plug member 21 and the female plug member 22 can be made of metal by die casting or stamping, and then respectively fixedly fastened to the zipper tapes 1 at one end of the respective series of teeth 11 . Alternatively, the male plug member 21 and the female plug member 22 can be injection-molded from plastics on the respective zipper tapes 1 . The male plug member 21 comprises a longitudinal coupling groove 211, a protruding flange 212 downwardly extended from the top sidewall thereof and longitudinally disposed at an outer side of the longitudinal coupling groove 211 , and an end notch 213 at the top end thereof. The female plug member 22 comprises a longitudinal coupling groove 221, and a protruding flange 222 downwardly extended from the top sidewall thereof and longitudinally disposed at an outer side of the longitudinal coupling groove 211 . When the male plug member 21 and the female plug member 22 are attached together, the tail end of the series of teeth 11 in front of the female plug member 22 is engaged into the end notch 213 of the male plug member 21. The movable bottom-end piece 3 (see FIGS. from 8 through 11) is shaped like a rectangular case comprising a receiving chamber 31 extended through front and rear sides thereof and adapted to receive the male plug member 21 and the female plug member 22, a vertical rear stop wall 32 disposed at the rear side of the receiving chamber 31 and adapted to stop the female plug member 31, a top slot 33 longitudinally cut through the top sidewall thereof. The top slot 33 has a relatively wider front half and a relatively narrower rear half. The aforesaid escape-preventive structure (see FIGS. 7 and 9) comprises a locating block 223 formed integral with the top surface of the top sidewall of the male plug member 22, and a locating groove 34 formed on the inside wall of the movable bottom-end piece 3 and adapted to receive the locating block 223. The locating groove 34 can have a triangular, wedge-like, or rectangular shape. The shape of the locating block 223 fits the locating groove 34. When moving the movable bottom-end piece 3 along the series of teeth 11 on one zipper tape 1 to the bottom limit position, the locating groove 34 is forced into engagement with the locating block 223, and therefore the movable bottom-end piece 3 is stopped from escaping out of the zipper tape in which the female plug member 22 is installed. Further, the engagement between the locating groove 34 and the locating block 223 keeps the female plug member 22 positively positioned in the receiving chamber 31 of the movable bottom-end piece 3 . The assembly process of the present invention is outlined hereinafter with reference to FIGS. from 5 through 7. The male plug member 21 and the female plug member 22 are respectively fixedly fastened to the zipper tapes 1 at the rear end of the respective inner side, and the series of teeth 11 are respectively installed in the zipper tapes 1 above the respective plug members 21 and 22, keeping the series of teeth 11 and the male plug member 21 at one zipper tape in match with the series of teeth 11 and the female plug member 22 at the other zipper tape, and then the movable bottom-end piece 3 is sleeved onto the front side (top end) of the series of teeth 11 at the zipper tape in which the female plug member 22 is installed, and then the movable bottom-end piece 3 is pulled downwards along the corresponding series of teeth 11 toward the female plug member 22 to force the locating groove 34 into engagement with the locating block 223 (see FIG. 7), and then the slide 5 is sleeved onto the front side (top end) of the series of teeth 11 at the zipper tape in which the female plug member 22 is installed, and then the slide 5 is pulled downwards and sleeved onto the female plug member 22 and stopped at the front side of the movable bottom-end piece 3, and then the male plug member 21 at the other zipper tape 1 is inserted through the slide 5 into the receiving chamber 31 of the movable bottom-end piece 3. After the male plug member 21 has been inserted through the slide 5 into the receiving chamber 31 of the movable bottom-end piece 3 and stopped at the vertical stop wall 32, the slide 5 can then be pulled upwards to interlock the series of teeth 11 of the zipper tapes 1 and to close the invisible zipper (see FIG. 5). When closing the invisible zipper, the male plug member 21 is inserted through the slide 5 into the receiving chamber 31 of the movable bottom-end piece 3 and abutted against the female plug member 22 at one side, and then the slide 5 is pulled upwards to interlock the series of teeth 11 at the two zipper tapes 1, keeping the male and female plug members 21 and 22 positioned in the movable bottom-end piece 3 (see FIG. 12). As indicated above, the movable bottom-end piece 3 can be moved along the series of teeth 11 at the zipper tape 1 in which the female plug member 22 is installed. During stitching after opening of the invisible zipper, the user can move the movable bottom-end piece 3 away from the stitching area, enabling the zipper tapes 1 to be conveniently fastened to the garment, bag, or the like. After installation, the movable bottom-end piece 3 is prohibited from falling out of the invisible zipper. Referring to FIGS. 17 and 18, the movable bottom-end piece 3 can be made having a longitudinal rib 35 and a stop flange 321. The longitudinal rib 35 is disposed on the inside of the bottom wall to separate the receiving chamber 31 into two halves to facilitate positioning of the plug members 21 and 22. The stop flange 321 is inwardly extended from the vertical rear stop wall 32 at right angles, and adapted to hold the male plug member 21 in place. The movable bottom-end piece 3 and the plug member set 2 can be designed to fit a left-handed user (see FIGS. 6 and 7) or a right-handed user (see FIGS. 19 and 20). Further, the receiving chamber 31 can be double open-end open chamber extended through the front and rear sides (see FIG. 21). FIGS. 22 and 23 show an alternate form of the escape-preventive structure. According to this alternate form, the escape-preventive structure comprises a protruding end block 223' extended sideways from the bottom side of the female plug member 22, and an end notch 34' disposed at the rear side of the movable bottom-end piece 3 corresponding to the protruding end block 223'. When pulling the movable bottom-end piece 3 downwards, the end notch 34' is forced into engagement with the protruding end block 223', and therefore the movable bottom-end piece 3 is stopped in the bottom limit position on the invisible zipper. FIGS. 24 and 25 show another alternate form of the escape-preventive structure. According to this alternate form, the escape-preventive structure comprises a protruding end block 223" formed integral with the rear end of the top sidewall of the female plug member 22, and an end notch 34" formed on the rear side of the movable bottom-end piece 3. When pulling the movable bottom-end piece 3 downwards, the end notch 34" is forced into engagement with the protruding end block 223", and therefore the movable bottom-end piece 3 is stopped in the bottom limit position on the invisible zipper.

Claims: A bottom open-end type invisible zipper comprising: a first zipper tape and a second zipper tape, said first zipper tape and said second zipper tape comprising a respective series of teeth longitudinally disposed at an inner side for interlocking; a first plug member (21) and a second plug member (22) respectively fixedly fastened to said first zipper tape and said second zipper tape and longitudinally connected to one end of the series of teeth at the respective zipper tape; a movable bottom-end piece (3) slidably coupled to said first zipper tape, said movable bottom-end piece comprising a receiving chamber adapted to receive said first plug member and said second plug member in parallel; and an escape-preventive structure (34, 233) adapted to stop said movable bottom-end piece from falling out of said first zipper tape, said escape-preventive structure comprising a male locating means (223) fixedly disposed at said first plug member and a female locating means (34) fixedly disposed at said second plug member for engagement with said male locating means to stop said movable bottom-end piece at said first plug member. The bottom open-end type invisible zipper of claim 1 wherein said first plug member comprises a longitudinal coupling groove, and a protruding flange downwardly extended from a top sidewall thereof and longitudinally disposed at an outer side of the longitudinal coupling groove of said first plug member. The bottom open-end type invisible zipper of claim 1, wherein said second plug member comprises a longitudinal coupling groove, a protruding flange downwardly extended from a top sidewall thereof and longitudinally disposed at an outer side of the longitudinal coupling groove of said second plug member, and an end notch disposed at a front end thereof. The bottom open-end type invisible zipper of claim 1, wherein said movable bottom-end piece further comprises a vertical rear stop wall disposed at a rear side of said receiving chamber and adapted to stop said second plug member in said receiving chamber after insertion of said second plug member into said movable bottom-end piece. The bottom open-end type invisible zipper of claim 1, wherein said receiving chamber extended through front and rear sides of said movable bottom-end piece. The bottom open-end type invisible zipper of claim 1, wherein said movable bottom-end piece comprises a top slot longitudinally cut through a top sidewall thereof, said top slot having a relatively wider front half and a relatively narrower rear half. The bottom open-end type invisible zipper of claim 1, wherein said movable bottom-end piece further comprises a longitudinal rib disposed on a bottom wall thereof to separate said receiving chambers into two halves. The bottom open-end type invisible zipper of claim 4, wherein said movable bottom-end piece further comprises a stop flange inwardly extended from said vertical rear stop wall at right angles. The bottom open-end type invisible zipper of claim 1, wherein said male locating means is a stop block formed integral with a top sidewall of said first plug member, and said female locating means is a locating groove formed on an inside wall of said movable bottom-end piece inside said receiving chamber. The bottom open-end type invisible zipper of claim 1, wherein said male locating means of said escape-preventive structure is a triangular stop block. The bottom open-end type invisible zipper of claim 1, wherein said male locating means of said escape-preventive structure is a wedge-like block. The bottom open-end type invisible zipper of claim 9, wherein said stop block is a triangular block. The bottom open-end type invisible zipper of claim 1, wherein said female locating means of said escape-preventive structure is a locating groove of triangular profile. The bottom open-end type invisible zipper of claim 9, wherein said locating groove is a triangular groove. The bottom open-end type invisible zipper of claim 1, wherein said female locating means of said escape-preventive structure is an elongated locating groove. The bottom open-end type invisible zipper of claim 9, wherein said locating groove of said female locating means is an elongated groove. The bottom open-end type invisible zipper of claim 1, wherein said female locating means of said escape-preventive structure is a wedge-like locating groove. The bottom open-end type invisible zipper of claim 9, wherein said locating groove of said female locating means is a wedge-like groove. The bottom open-end type invisible zipper of claim 1, wherein said male locating means is a protruding end block extended sideways from a bottom end of said first plug member, and said female locating means is an end notch disposed at a rear side of said movable bottom-end piece corresponding to said protruding end block. The bottom open-end type invisible zipper of claim 1, wherein said male locating means is a protruding end block formed integral with a top sidewall of said first plug member, and said female locating means is an end notch disposed at a rear side of said movable bottom-end piece corresponding to said protruding end block. The bottom open-end type invisible zipper of claim 1, wherein said male locating means comprises a plurality of stop blocks respectively disposed at a peripheral wall of said first plug member, and said female locating means comprises a plurality of end notches respectively disposed at a rear side of said movable bottom-end piece corresponding to said stop blocks of said male locating means.

Inventors: CHUNG ROGER CHUN YEN, CHUNG, ROGER CHUN YEN
Applicants: CHUNG ROGER CHUN YEN, CHUNG, ROGER CHUN YEN
Application year: 2000
Main classification: A44B19
IPC codes: A44B19