Abstract:
The instant disclosure relates to a zipper head. The zipper head includes a main structure, a flexible member, a securing member, a replaceable pull tab, a guiding member, and a shaft. The main structure has a first fixing portion and receives the flexible member. The securing member has a second fixing portion corresponding to the first fixing portion. The securing member contacts with the flexible member. The guiding member is pivotally connected to one end of the main structure and contacts with the securing member. A receiving space is cooperatively defined by the main structure, the securing member, and the guiding member. A fixing end of the replaceable pull tab is disposed in the receiving space. The shaft penetrates the main structure and is pivotally connected to the securing member. The instant disclosure also discusses a method for replacing the replaceable pull tab of the zipper head.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The instant disclosure relates to a zipper head assembly structure, and more particularly to a zipper head assembly structure with a replaceable pull tab. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Conventional zipper heads are structures for zipping and unzipping zipper teeth. Due to its convenient operation, the zipper head is widely used on bags and clothing. The principle of zipper lies in: opening and closing the mutually engaging zipper teeth by the back and forth motion of the zipper head. 
     Conventional zipper heads generally include a main structure, a securing member, a spring, a cap body and a pull tab. The securing member is pressed into the guiding groove of the main structure by the spring. One end of the spring is under the securing member. The cap body is fixed on the main structure such that the securing member and the spring are positioned inside the cap body. 
     However, the spring of the above conventional zipper head is fixed onto the main structure by riveting. After the spring is fixed onto the main structure, the securing member and the pull tab are fixed together onto the main body such that the pull tab cannot be replaced. However, in practice, downstream manufactures have different needs for pull tabs and often need to replace the same. In particular, some more unique pull tabs are varied and in small quantities, requiring mechanical assembly by hand. Therefore, each type of pull tab requires a specific machine for assembly, increasing the cost of manufacturing. 
     Hence, the present inventor believes the above mentioned disadvantages can be overcome, and through devoted research combined with application of theory, finally proposes the instant disclosure which has a reasonable design and effectively improves upon the above mentioned disadvantages. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     One aspect of the instant disclosure relates to a zipper head assembly structure with a replaceable pull tab. 
     One of the embodiments of the instant disclosure provides a zipper head assembly structure, comprising: a main structure, a flexible member, a securing member, a replaceable pull tab, a guiding member, and a shaft. The main structure has a first fixing portion, wherein the main structure includes a zipper head and a cap body disposed on the zipper head. The flexible member is disposed within the main structure. The securing member has a second fixing portion corresponding to the first fixing portion, disposed in the main structure and abutting the flexible member. The replaceable pull tab has a fixing end. The guiding member is pivotally connected to one end of the main structure, wherein the guiding member and the securing member abut each other, the main structure, the securing member, and the guiding member define a receiving space there-between, and the fixing end is disposed in the receiving space. The shaft passes through the main structure and pivotally connected to the securing member. More precisely, the cap body has two opposite first convex bodies and at least one second convex body disposed on an end thereof, and the zipper head has two opposite first abutting portions respectively downwardly abutted against the two first convex bodies and at least one second abutting portion downwardly abutted against the at least one second convex body. 
     More precisely, the zipper head has a first groove and a second groove, the first groove and the second groove are interconnected at the surface of the zipper head, the cap body has a blocking piece within, the blocking piece abuts the guiding member and the zipper head, the securing member has a pivot base, and the pivot base pivots about the shaft and abuts the flexible member. 
     More precisely, the cap body has a first protruding block and two second protruding blocks, the blocking piece has a first bend, a second bend, and an opening corresponding to the securing member, the first bend abuts the zipper head, the second bend abuts the guiding member, an end of the opening is disposed around the first protruding block, the two second protruding blocks abut the turning point between the first bend and the second bend. 
     More precisely, the flexible member is disposed in the first groove, the pivot base has a hook portion, and the hook portion extends downward into the second groove. 
     More precisely, the pivot base has a latch portion, and the latch portion extends upward and abuts the guiding member. 
     More precisely, the zipper head has two clips on one end, the two clips each have a first hole, two sides on one end of the cap body each have a second hole, and the shaft passes through the two first holes and the two second holes. 
     More precisely, the guiding member has a sliding groove and an abutting face, the latch portion is in contact with the sliding groove, and the blocking piece abuts the abutting face. 
     More precisely, the pivot base has a stop hook extending outward, the cap body has a first retaining point for abutting the pivot base and a second retaining point for abutting the stop hook, and the first fixing portion, the first retaining point and the second retaining point jointly hold the securing member in place, wherein the first fixing portion is a convex portion, and the second fixing portion is a concave portion. 
     Another one of the embodiments of the instant disclosure provides a zipper head assembly structure, comprising: a main structure, a guiding member, and a replaceable pull tab. The main structure includes a zipper head and a cap body disposed on the zipper head, wherein the cap body has a first end portion and a second end portion opposite to each other, the first end portion of the cap body is positioned on the zipper head, and the second end portion of the cap body is suspended above the zipper head. The guiding member has a first end portion and a second end portion opposite to each other, wherein the first end portion of the guiding member is movably and pivotally disposed on the second end portion of the cap body, and the second end portion of the guiding member is downwardly abutted against the zipper head or upwardly moved to separate from the zipper head. The replaceable pull tab has an end portion disposed among the zipper head, the cap body, and the guiding member. More precisely, the cap body has two opposite first convex bodies and at least one second convex body disposed on an end thereof, and the zipper head has two opposite first abutting portions respectively downwardly abutted against the two first convex bodies and at least one second abutting portion downwardly abutted against the at least one second convex body. 
     Yet another one of the embodiments of the instant disclosure provides a zipper head assembly structure, comprising: a main structure, a guiding member, and a replaceable pull tab. The main structure includes a zipper head and a cap body disposed on the zipper head, wherein the cap body has a first end portion and a second end portion opposite to each other, the first end portion of the cap body is positioned on the zipper head, and the second end portion of the cap body is suspended above the zipper head. The guiding member has a first end portion and a second end portion opposite to each other, wherein the first end portion of the guiding member is movably and pivotally disposed on the second end portion of the cap body. The replaceable pull tab has an end portion, wherein the guiding member is moved by the end portion of the replaceable pull tab, so as to separate the second end portion of the guiding member from the zipper head. More precisely, the cap body has two opposite first convex bodies and at least one second convex body disposed on an end thereof, and the zipper head has two opposite first abutting portions respectively downwardly abutted against the two first convex bodies and at least one second abutting portion downwardly abutted against the at least one second convex body. 
     Therefore, the guiding member design of the instant disclosure provides a gap on the main structure for replaceable pull tabs to move in and out of in a convenient operation, effectively reducing labor and the eliminating the need for a new assembly machine. 
     To further understand the techniques, means and effects of the instant disclosure applied for achieving the prescribed objectives, the following detailed descriptions and appended drawings are hereby referred to, such that, and through which, the purposes, features and aspects of the instant disclosure can be thoroughly and concretely appreciated. However, the appended drawings are provided solely for reference and illustration, without any intention to limit the instant disclosure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows an assembly diagram of a zipper head assembly structure with a replaceable pull tab of the instant disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  shows an assembly diagram of a zipper head assembly structure with a replaceable pull tab of the instant disclosure; 
         FIG. 3  shows a cross-sectional diagram of a zipper head assembly structure with a replaceable pull tab of the instant disclosure ( 1 ); 
         FIG. 4  shows a cross-sectional diagram of a zipper head assembly structure with a replaceable pull tab of the instant disclosure ( 2 ); 
         FIG. 5A  shows a operation diagram of a zipper head assembly structure with a replaceable pull tab of the instant disclosure ( 1 ); 
         FIG. 5B  shows a operation diagram of a zipper head assembly structure with a replaceable pull tab of the instant disclosure ( 2 ); and 
         FIG. 5C  shows an operation diagram of a zipper head assembly structure with a replaceable pull tab of the instant disclosure ( 3 ). 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The embodiments of “a zipper head assembly structure” of the instant disclosure are described. Other advantages and objectives of the instant disclosure can be easily understood by one skilled in the art from the disclosure. The instant disclosure can be applied in different embodiments. Various modifications and variations can be made to various details in the description for different applications without departing from the scope of the instant disclosure. The drawings of the instant disclosure are provided only for simple illustrations, but are not drawn to scale and do not reflect the actual relative dimensions. The following embodiments are provided to describe in detail the concept of the instant disclosure, and are not intended to limit the scope thereof in any way. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , the instant disclosure provides a zipper head assembly structure with a replaceable pull tab, including a main structure  1 , a securing member  2 , a guiding member  3 , a blocking piece  4 , a replaceable pull tab  5 , a flexible member  6  and a shaft  7 . The main structure  1 , the securing member  2  and the guiding member  3  jointly define a receiving space  8 . The main structure  1  includes a zipper head  11  and a cap body  12 . The flexible member  6  is accommodated within the zipper head  11 . The securing member  2  is inserted in the zipper head  11  and abuts the flexible member  6 . One end of the cap body  12  is pivotally connected to the zipper head  11  and the securing member  2  by the shaft  7 . The other end of the cap body  12  is pivotally connected to the guiding member  3 . The blocking piece  4  is disposed within the cap body  12  and abuts the zipper head  11  and the guiding member  3 . The blocking piece  4  is latched within the receiving space  8 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 , the zipper head  11  has an upper board  111 , a lower board  112 , and a connection portion  113  connecting the upper board  111  and the lower board  112 . The upper board  111 , the lower board  112  and the connection portion  113  are integrally formed as one body. The connection portion  113  has a first groove  1131  within and a first fixing portion  1132 . The upper board  111  has a second groove  1111 . The first groove  1131  and the second groove  1111  are interconnected at the surface of the upper board  111 . The first groove  1131  houses the flexible member  6 . Two clips  1112  are disposed at the interconnection between the first groove  1131  and the second groove  1111 . Each of the two clips  1112  has a first hole  1113 . The first fixing portion  1132  is actually a protrusion between the two clips  1112 . The upper board  111  and the lower board  112  form a guiding groove  114  there-between. The guiding groove  114  can engage with a teeth chain (not shown in the figures). 
     Referring to  FIG. 2  to  FIG. 5A , the shape of the cap body  12  is similar to a telephone receiver, having a front end  121  and a rear end  122 , and a hollow interior connected to the outside of the cap body  12 . Two sides of the front end  121  each form a protrusion portion  1211  facing inward. Two sides of the rear end  122  each have a second hole  1221 . Two edges of the rear end  122  have a first retaining point  1222  and a second retaining point  1223 . The inner side of the cap body  12  has a first protruding block  123  and two second protruding blocks  124 . The rear end  122  of the cap body  12  is arranged around the two clips  1112 . The first holes  1113  of the clips  1112  correspond to the second holes  1221  of the cap body  12 . When the cap body  12  and the zipper head  11  are integrated, the rear end  122  of the cap body  12  abuts and is limited by the extension around the first groove  1131  on the upper board  111 . 
     The securing member  2  is roughly branch shaped having three branches. The three branches are respectively a pivot base  21 , a hook portion  22  and a latch portion  23 . The lower side of the pivot base  21  has a concave second fixing portion  211  corresponding to the first fixing portion  1132 . A stop hook  212  extends away from the pivot base  21 . The securing member  2  is inserted into the upper board  111  of the zipper head  11 . The hook portion  22  extends into the second groove  1111 . The pivot base  21  presses against the flexible member  6 . The pivot base  21 , the first holes  1113  of the clips  1112  and the second holes  1221  of the cap body  12  correspond to each other such that a shaft  7  can pass through to pivotally connect to the first holes  1113 , the second holes  1221  and the pivot base  21 . It is worth noting that, since the cap body  12  is pressed against the upper board  111 , only the securing member  2  can rotate about the shaft  7 . When the securing member  2  is in static equilibrium, the stop hook  212  abuts the second retaining point  1223 , the convex edge on the upper part of the pivot base  21  abuts the first retaining point  1222 , the bottom part of the pivot base abuts the flexible member  6 , and the second fixing portion  211  abuts the first fixing portion  1132 . However, when the securing member  2  is driven by an external force (e.g., the user pulls on the zipper), the securing member  2  can flip upward and press against the flexible member  6 . When the external force abates, the flexible member  6  restores the securing member  2  to its original position. 
     The guiding member  3  is a specially designed piece that allows the instant disclosure to replace replaceable pull tabs  5 . Two sides on one end of the guiding member  3  each have a recessed portion  31  for pivoting with the protrusion portion  1211  of the cap body  12 . The shape of the guiding member  3  gradually tapers inward from the periphery of the recessed portion  31 . The guiding member  3  has a slanted face and a level face. The slanted face has a sliding groove  32 . The other end of the guiding member  3  opposite to the recessed portions  31  has a fin  33  on each of the two sides. The two fins  33  each have a holding hole  331  for adjusting the guiding member  3  when replacing the replaceable pull tab  5 . The two recessed portions  31  are pivotally connected to the protrusion portions  1211  such that the operator can rotate the guiding member  3  by applying force on the holding hole  331  (can insert a pin shaped object into the holding hole  331 ) when replacing the replaceable pull tab  5 . The sliding groove  32  and the latch portion  23  of the securing member  2  match each other such that the latch portion  23  can move along the sliding groove  32  as the securing member  2  rotates. In normal use of the zipper, regardless of which direction the user pulls on the replaceable pull tab  5 , the guiding member  3  closes upon the gap between the zipper head  11  and the cap body  12  to ensure that the replaceable pull tab  5  does not become detached. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 5A , the blocking piece  4  is disposed within the hollow portion of the cap body  12 , and has a first bend  41 , a second bend  42  and an opening  43 . The first bend  41  abuts the top part of the clip  1112 . The second bend  42  abuts an abutting face  34  of the guiding member  3 . One end of the opening  43  is disposed around the first protruding block  123  of the cap body  12 . The two second protruding blocks  124  abut against the first bend  41  and the second bend  42 . The first bend  41  and the second bend  42  bends at an angle toward the direction of the zipper head  11 . This angle allows the blocking piece  4  to resist unintentional movement of the guiding member  3  (e.g. pushing by water flow during washing). The size of the opening  43  can coincide with the latch portion  23  of the securing member  2 . Therefore, when the pivot base  21  of the securing member  2  rotates about the shaft  7 , the latch portion  23  can pass through the blocking piece  4  without being blocked. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5A  to  FIG. 5C , the zipper head  11 , the securing member  2  and the guiding member  3  define a receiving space  8 . The replaceable pull tab  5  can have different patterns printed on its surface (not shown in the figures) and has a fixing end  51 . The fixing end  51  is disposed within the receiving space  8 . When the securing member  2  or the guiding member  3  is subject to force and rotates, the receiving space  8  accommodating the fixing end  51  changes shape accordingly. When a gap  81  emerges at the receiving space  8 , the operator can withdraw or insert replaceable pull tabs  5 . 
     The instant disclosure provides a replaceable pull tab replacement method for a zipper head assembly structure with a replaceable pull tab, including the following steps: referring to  FIG. 5A , provide the mentioned zipper head assembly structure with a replaceable pull tab; referring to  FIG. 5B , when the replaceable pull tab  5  is to be pulled out, apply an external force on the replaceable pull tab  5  such that the fixing end  51  drives the securing member  2  to rotate about the shaft  7  and increase the receiving space  8  and press against the flexible member  6 ; referring to  FIG. 5C , then apply another external force on the guiding member  3  such that the guiding member  3  yields a gap  81  to the receiving space  8 , and the replaceable pull tab  5  is pulled out; stop applying force, and the flexible member  6  provides a restoring force to drive the securing member  2  to rotate about the shaft  7  back to the original position, and the securing member  2  in turn drives the guiding member  3  to move back to the original position; and when another replaceable pull tab  5  is to be inserted, apply an external force at the fixing end  51  of this replaceable pull tab  5  such that the fixing end  51  pushes the guiding member  3  inward to yield the gap  81 , and the guiding member  3  raises the securing member  2  and makes the securing member  2  press against the flexible member  6 ; when the fixing end  51  is pushed to an end, stop applying force, the flexible member  6  then provides a restoring force on the securing member  2  such that the securing member  2  drives the guiding member  3  back to the original position. In other words, when the guiding member  3  is rotated toward the receiving space  8  to form a gap  81  between the guiding member  3  and the zipper head  11 , the fixing end  51  can be received in the receiving space  8  or separated from the receiving space  8  through the gap  81 . 
     It is worth mentioning that the instant disclosure provides a zipper head assembly structure, comprising: a main structure  1 , a guiding member  3 , and a replaceable pull tab  5 . The main structure  1  includes a zipper head  11  and a cap body  12  disposed on the zipper head  11 . The cap body  12  has a first end portion  12 A and a second end portion  12 B opposite to each other, the first end portion  12 A of the cap body  12  is positioned on the zipper head  11 , and the second end portion  12 B of the cap body  12  is suspended above the zipper head  11 . The guiding member  3  has a first end portion  3 A and a second end portion  3 B opposite to each other. The first end portion  3 A of the guiding member  3  is movably and pivotally disposed on the second end portion  12 B of the cap body  12 , and the second end portion  3 B of the guiding member  3  is selectively downwardly abutted against the zipper head  11  or upwardly moved to separate from the zipper head  11 . The replaceable pull tab  5  has an end portion (such as the fixing end  51 ) disposed among the zipper head  11 , the cap body  12 , and the guiding member  3 . More precisely, the cap body  12  has two opposite first convex bodies  125  and at least one second convex body  126  disposed on an end of the cap body  12 , and the zipper head  11  has two opposite first abutting portions  115  respectively downwardly abutted against the two first convex bodies  125  and at least one second abutting portion  116  downwardly abutted against the at least one second convex body  126 , so as to firmly fix the first end portion  12 A of the cap body  12  on the zipper head  11 . 
     For example, when the guiding member  3  is pushed by the fixing end  51  of the replaceable pull tab  5 , the second end portion  12 B of the guiding member  12  is upwardly moved and separated from the zipper head  11 , so as to place the fixing end  51  of the replaceable pull tab  5  in the receiving space  8  among the zipper head  11 , the cap body  12 , and the guiding member  3 . 
     In general, the special feature of the instant disclosure lies in the design of the guiding member, which allows the operator to open a gap on the zipper head with simple tools, for removal and insertion of replaceable pull tabs. The procedure is convenient, and the assembly does not require a new machine, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost and raising efficiency. Additionally, the blocking piece prevents the guiding member from yielding the gap during washing and letting the replaceable pull tab fall out. 
     The aforementioned descriptions merely represent the preferred embodiments of the instant disclosure, without any intention to limit the scope of the instant disclosure which is fully described only within the following claims. Various equivalent changes, alterations or modifications based on the claims of the instant disclosure are all, consequently, viewed as being embraced by the scope of the instant disclosure.