Abstract:
A sliding controller for a zipper has a slider, a close-ended connecting rack, a U-shaped connecting sheet, an elastic plastic tab and at least three embedded through-holes. The zipper&#39;s sliding controller features lower manufacturing cost, resistance to rust, stronger robustness and longer service life.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED U.S. APPLICATIONS 
     Not applicable. 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable. 
     NAMES OF PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
     Not applicable. 
     REFERENCE TO AN APPENDIX SUBMITTED ON COMPACT DISC 
     Not applicable. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to a partial structure of a zipper, and more particularly to an innovative one which is designed with a sliding controller having a slider and a tab. 
     2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 37 CFR 1.98 
     A zipper refers to a strip-type fastener that can be opened or closed alternatively. They are widely applied to bags, clothing, luggage and backpacks, due to unique advantages including ease of operation. 
     The zipper structurally comprises a strip-type, toothed zipper strap and a sliding controller for controlling the toothed state of the zipper strap. Of which, the sliding controller comprises a slider and a tab. The present invention is intended for discussing said sliding controller. 
     The following shortcomings of typical zipper&#39;s sliding controller are still observed during actual applications. 
     First, the tab of typical sliding controller is generally made of metal materials, so the manufacturing cost of a zipper increases markedly due to growing cost of metal materials. In terms of application, said tab is exposed outside of the product, so the metal material is vulnerable to moisture and rustiness, leading to breakage and damage during pulling process. 
     Second, the tab and slider of typical sliding controller are assembled in such a manner that a through-hole set at end of the tab is often sleeved into a hook-shaped seat protruded at the surface of the slider. In order to prevent reverse disengagement of the tab from the opening of the hook-shaped seat, the hook-shaped seat must be pressed to reduce the gap of the opening after assembly of the tab and hook-shaped seat. In such a case, the structure and strength of the hook-shaped seat may be compromised against its robustness and durability. 
     Thus, to overcome the aforementioned problems of the prior art, it would be an advancement if the art to provide an improved structure that can significantly improve the efficacy. 
     Therefore, the inventor has provided the present invention of practicability after deliberate design and evaluation based on years of experience in the production, development and design of related products. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Based on the structural configuration and technical characteristics of the present invention wherein “the sliding controller of zipper” mainly comprises a slider, a close-ended connecting rack, a U-shaped connecting sheet, an elastic plastic tab and at least three embedded through-holes, the zipper&#39;s sliding controller of the present invention features lower manufacturing cost, resistance to rustiness, stronger robustness and longer service life. 
     Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an assembled perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the sliding controller of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a first lateral sectional view of the preferred embodiment of the sliding controller of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a second lateral sectional view of the preferred embodiment of the sliding controller of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is an application view of the present invention wherein the sliding controller and zipper strap form an integral zipper. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIGS. 1-3  depict preferred embodiments of the zipper&#39;s sliding controller of the present invention, which, however, are provided for only explanatory objective;. Said sliding controller A comprises a slider  10 , formed into a seating structure made of metal or solid plastics. Said slider  10  comprises of an external surface  11 , a zipper strap groove  12  and a separation rib  13  set at middle of the zipper strap groove  12 . 
     A close-ended connecting rack  20  is protruded outside the external surface  11  of the slider  10 . Said close-ended connecting rack  20  comprises of two ends  21  set at interval in an arched state. Two ends  21  are linked integrally to the external surface  11  of the slider  10 , so a steel sheet buckling portion  22  is formed between the close-ended connecting rack  20  and the external surface  11  of the slider  10 . 
     A U-shaped connecting sheet  30  is provided and is made of steel and designed into a “U” shape. The U-shaped connecting sheet  30  comprises of a folding portion  31  and two connecting ends  32 . Of which, the folding portion  31  penetrates the steel sheet buckling portion  22 . 
     An elastic plastic tab  40  is made of elastic plastics featuring stress bending and automatic recovery (marked by arrow L 1  in  FIG. 2 ). Said elastic plastic tab  40  comprises of a pulling end  41  and a coupling end  42 . Of which, the coupling end  42  is covered onto two connecting ends  32  of the U-shaped connecting sheet  30  by means of ejection molding. 
     At least three embedded through-holes  50  are set separately at two connecting ends  32  of the U-shaped connecting sheet  30 . Said embedded through-links  50  are perforated such that the plastic structure in the coupling end  42  of the elastic plastic tab  40  can be embedded into the embedded through-holes  50  (marked by L 2  in  FIG. 2 ), and the elastic plastic tab  40  can be mated securely with the U-shaped connecting sheet  30 . 
     Of which, the embedded through-holes  50  are set onto two connecting ends  32  of the U-shaped connecting sheet  30  with expanded width (marked by W in  FIG. 3 ). 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 3 , four embedded through-holes  50  can be separately arranged at two connecting ends  32  of the U-shaped connecting sheet  30  in two pairs. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , at least a through-portion  43  is set at the pulling end  41  of the elastic plastic tab  40 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , said embedded through-holes  50  are of an elliptical pattern as a preferred embodiment, since said elliptical embedded through-holes  50  allow to expand the aperture in tune with the elongated shape of the elastic plastic tab  40 , thus obtaining a bigger embedding space for the plastic structure with better effect 
     Based on above-specified structural design, said sliding controller A of the present invention is operated in a way that, as shown in  FIG. 4 , a zipper strap  60  passes through the zipper strap groove  12  of the slider  10  to form an integral zipper product. As for the manufacturing of said sliding controller A of the present invention, the folding portion  31  of the U-shaped connecting sheet  30  is allowed to pass through the external steel sheet buckling portion  22  formed between the close-ended connecting rack  20  and the external surface  11  of the slider  10 , then the elastic plastic tab  40  is covered onto two connecting ends  32  of the U-shaped connecting sheet  30  by a plastics ejection molding device. In such a case, the plastic structure inside the coupling end  42  of the elastic plastic tab  40  could be separately embedded into various embedded through-holes  50  of these two connecting ends  32  of the U-shaped connecting sheet  40  (indicated by arrow L 2  in  FIG. 2 ), so that the elastic plastic tab  40  and U-shaped connecting sheet  30  can be fastened securely. Since at least four embedded through-holes  50  are arranged in two pairs, the coupling strength could be multiplied; and the folding portion  31  of the U-shaped connecting sheet  30  passes through the external steel sheet buckling portion  22  formed by the close-ended connecting rack  20 , so the problem of disengagement of conventional tab from one opening side could be resolved; as for the manufacturing cost, the elastic plastic tab  40  of the present invention could replace conventional metal tab, thus reducing remarkably the material cost of the zipper&#39;s sliding controller. Meanwhile the elastic plastic tab  40  could be used more robustly due to absence of metal rustiness.