Patent Publication Number: US-9901146-B2

Title: Zip slider structure

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The instant disclosure relates to a zip slider structure, in particular, to a zip slider structure with the pull-tab positioned between the tab-holder and the slider body. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     There are a plenty of types of zip slider structure in the market. However, the above zip slider structures have complicated structures and must be manufactured by a stamping process to engage the pull-tab with the slider body. In addition, as shown in the TW558966 patent, the structure has a sleeve 23 and a circle 21 arranged on a hook strip 31 for enabling the user to pull on it. However, the above structure is not able to secure the sleeve 23 and the circle 21 on the hook strip 31 to limit the positions of the sleeve 23 and the circle 21. Furthermore, in the zip slider structure, the slider body may be disengaged and the plurality of serrated structures arranged on two separate fabrics would separate from each other when the user moves or jumps. 
     SUMMARY 
     In view of the above problem, the embodiment of the instant disclosure provides a zip slider structure that may eliminate the complication of the arrangement of the zip slider structure and may further limit the slider body on the zip slider structure. In the meantime, by arranging a stopping end on the tab-holder, the zip slider structure would not disengage during the movement of the user (for example, the zip slider structure would not disengage when the user jumps). 
     In order to achieve the above purpose, an exemplary embodiment of the instant disclosure provides a zip slider structure comprising a slider body, a tab-holder and a pull-tab. The slider body comprises a first slide portion, a second slide portion arranged corresponding to the first slide portion, and a connecting portion connecting the first slide portion and the second slide portion, in which an accommodating space is positioned between the first slide portion and the second slide portion. The first slide portion has a first slide surface, an arranging surface, a first recess, a second recess, and a first extension end, the second slide portion has a second slide surface, the first slide surface faces the second slide surface, the arranging surface and the first slide surface are positioned on two opposite surfaces of the first slide portion respectively, and the connecting portion has a joining recess. The tab-holder comprises a body portion, a first bending portion extending from an end of the body portion and passing through the first recess, and a second bending portion extending from the other end of the body portion, in which the first bending portion has a slot joining and fixing with the first extension end, the second bending portion has a holding end joining and fixing with the joining recess, the body portion has an attaching member extending from the body portion and joining and fixing with the second recess. The attaching member has an extending body and a securing bump connecting to the extending body and extending from two sides of the extending body, the securing bump abuts the second recess. The pull-tab comprises a holding portion and a pivot portion, the pivot portion arranged between the tab-holder and the slider body. 
     The advantages of the instant disclosure reside in that by arranging the pivot portion of the pull-tab between the tab-holder and the slider body and arranging the stopping end on the tab-holder, it is able to avoid the zip slider structure from disengaging while the user moves or jumps. By attaching the slot of the tab-holder with the first extension end of the pull-tab, joining the attaching member of the tab-holder with the second extension end of the pull-tab and joining the holding end of the tab-holder and the joining recess of the pull-tab, the tab-holder and the pull-tab may be joined with each other. 
     In order to further understand the techniques, means and effects of the instant disclosure, 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 merely provided for reference and illustration, without any intention to be used for limiting the instant disclosure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the instant disclosure, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate exemplary embodiments of the instant disclosure and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the instant disclosure. 
         FIG. 1  is a 3-dimensional exploded view of a zip slider structure of an embodiment of the instant disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a 3-dimensional assembled view of the zip slider structure of the embodiment of the instant disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is another 3-dimensional assembled view of the zip slider structure of the embodiment of the instant disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a top schematic view of a tab-holder of the zip slider structure of the embodiment of the instant disclosure before bending. 
         FIG. 5  is a side schematic view of a tab-holder of the zip slider structure of the embodiment of the instant disclosure after bending. 
         FIG. 6  is a top schematic view of the slider body of the zip slider structure of the embodiment of the instant disclosure. 
         FIG. 7  is a sectional schematic view of the slider body of the zip slider structure of the embodiment of the instant disclosure. 
         FIG. 8  is a top schematic view of the pull-tab of the zip slider structure of the embodiment of the instant disclosure. 
         FIG. 9  is a sectional schematic view of the pull-tab of the zip slider structure of the embodiment of the instant disclosure. 
         FIG. 10  is a sectional schematic view taken along the X-X sectional line in  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 11  is a sectional schematic view of the zip slider structure of the embodiment of the instant disclosure in use. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the exemplary embodiments of the instant disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts. 
     First, please refer to  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7 . The embodiment of the instant disclosure provides a zip slider structure Z comprising a slider body  1 , a tab-holder  2  and a pull-tab  3  that may be arranged between the tab holder  2  and the slider body  1 . For example, the material of the tab-holder  2  may be a spring sheet with elastic property or other elastic materials with elastic property and hence, the elastic property of the tab-holder  2  may secure the tab-holder  2  on the slider body  1  to fix the position of the pull-tab  3 . 
     The slider body  1  has a first slide portion  11 , a second slide portion  12  arranged corresponding to the first slide portion  11 , and a connecting portion  13  connecting the first slide portion  11  and the second slide portion  12 . An accommodating space  13  is positioned between the first slide portion  11  and the second slide portion  12 . In the embodiment of the instant disclosure, the shape constituted by the first slide portion  11 , the second slide portion  12 , and the connecting portion  13  may be a structure with a side down-U shape (“ ” shape). 
     Next, the first slide portion  11  has a first slide surface  111 , an arranging surface  112 , a first recess  113 , a second recess  114 , and a first extension end  115 . The arranging surface  112  and the first slide surface  111  are positioned on the upper surface and the lower surface of the first slide portion  11  respectively. The first recess  113  and the second recess  114  pass through the first slide portion  11  respectively to connect the first slider surface  111  and the arranging surface  112 . For example, the first extension end  115  may be arranged between the first recess  113  and the second recess  114 , and the first extension end  115  extends to above the first recess  113 . However, the instant disclosure is not limited thereto. The second slide portion  12  may have a second slide surface  121 , the first slide surface  111  faces the second slide surface  121  so that the first slide surface  111  and the second slide surface  121  face each other, thereby enabling a plurality of serrated structures (not shown) slide in the accommodating space S formed between the first slide surface  111  and the second slide surface  121 . 
     The first slide portion  11  further comprises a second extension end  116  that may be arranged on the arranging surface  112 , and the second extension end  116  is extended from the second recess  114 . For example, the second extension end  116  may be arranged on two sides of the second recess  114  for arranging the tab-holder  2 . It is worthwhile to mention that as shown in  FIG. 6 , the second recess  114  and the second extension end  116  may form a through hole with a convex shape. In addition, the connecting portion  13  has a joining recess  131  and a top surface  132 . In the embodiment of the instant disclosure, the joining recess  131  and the top surface  132  are positioned at two opposite ends of the connecting portion  13 , the top surface  132  may be positioned in the accommodating space S, and the joining recess  131  may be positioned on the other side surface of the top surface  132 . 
     Please refer to  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 . The tab-holder  2  has a body portion  21 , a first bending portion  22  extending from an end of the body portion  21  and passing through the first recess  133 , and a second bending portion  23  extending from the other end of the body portion  21 . For example, in the embodiment of the instant disclosure, the first bending portion  22 , the body portion  21  and the second bending portion  23  may form a structure with a side down-U shape (“ ” shape), and the tab-holder  2  is connected with the slider body  1  through the first bending portion  22  and the second bending portion  23 . 
     To be specific, the first bending portion  22  has a slot  221  joining and fixing with the first extension end  115  and a stopping end  222  for avoiding the zip slider structure Z from disengaging. The slot  221  is arranged between the stopping end  222  and the body portion  21 , and the second bending portion  23  has a holding end  231  joining and fixing with the joining recess  131 . The body portion  21  has an attaching member  211  extending from the body portion  21  and joining and fixing with the second recess  114  on the slider body  1 . In addition, it is worthwhile to mention that the attaching member  211  on the body portion  21  may be directly formed by a stamping process. Therefore, an opening  212  having the same shape as the attaching member  211  may be formed on the body portion  21 . In other words, the attaching member  211  and the opening  212  have a convex shape. Specifically, the attaching member  211  has an extension body  2111  and a securing bump  2112  connecting to the end of the extension body  2111  and extending from the two sides of the extension body  2111 , and the securing bump  2112  may abut the second recess  114 . Therefore, abutting the securing bump  2112  on the second recess  114  and the second extension end  116 , serves to avoid the tab-holder  2  separating from the slider body  1 . It is worthwhile to mention that in order to increase the rigidity of the attaching member  211  and the securing force between the slider body  1  and the tab-holder  2 , the attaching member  211  does not have any through holes or a recess thereon. In addition, the width W 1  of the securing bump  2112  is larger than the width W 2  of the extension body  2111  to increase the contact area between the securing bump  2112  having larger width and the abut surface  117  and the inner surface  1141 . Therefore, the stress applied by the attaching member  211  on the abut surface  117  and the inner surface  1141  would be evenly distributed, and the engaging force applied by the attaching member  211  on the abut surface  117  and the inner surface  1141  may be increased at the same time. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 8  and  FIG. 9  at the same time. The pull-tab  3  has a holding portion  31 , a pivot portion  32  and a recess portion  33 . The recess portion  33  may be positioned between the holding portion  31  and the pivot portion  32 , and by passing the first bending portion  22  through the recess  33 , the pivot portion  32  is arranged between the tab-holder  2  and the slider body  1 . To be specific, the pivot portion  32  may be arranged between the first bending portion  22  and the attaching member  211  of the tab-holder  2 , thereby enabling the pivot portion  32  to pivot between the tab-holder  2  and the pull-tab  1 . 
     Next, please refer to  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 10  at the same time. The securing bump  2112  has an attaching surface  2113  extending from two sides, the second extension end  116  has an abut surface  117  and a side surface  118 , and the side surface  118  connects to the abut surface  117 . In the embodiment of the instant disclosure, the attaching member  211  is in reverse-T shape (convex shape). However, the instant disclosure is not limited thereto. In addition, the second recess  114  has an inner surface  1141  therein, the inner surface  1141  of the second recess  114  may connect the abut surface  117 , and hence, the inner surface  1141 , the abut surface  117  and the side surface  118  may connect with each other sequentially. 
     After arranging the pivot portion  32  of the pull-tab  3  between the first extension end  115  and the second extension end  116  of the slider body  1 , the stopping end  222  of the tab-holder  2  may be inserted into the first recess  113 . Afterward, the first extension end  115  may be arranged in the slot  221 , then pressing the attaching member  211  and the holding end  231  into the second recess  114  and the joining recess  313  respectively, thereby securing the tab-holder  2  and the slider body  1 . 
     It is worthwhile to mention that since the tab-holder  2  is made from a material with elastic property and the distance between the inner surface  1141  of the second recess  114  and the top surface  132  of the connecting portion  13  is smaller than the distance between the side surface  118  of the second extension end  116  and the top surface  132 , when the attaching member  211  and the holding end  231  are pressed into the second recess  114  and the joining recess  131  respectively, the attaching member  211 , first being abutted by the side surface  118  of the second extension end  116 , bends, and when the securing bump  2112  of the attaching member  211  slides apart from the side surface  118  to the second recess  114 , the attaching member  211 , no longer being abutted by the side surface  118 , goes backward, and hence, the attaching surface  2113  of the securing bump  2112  of the attaching member  211  abuts the abut surface  117  of the second extension end  116 . In other words, the securing bump  2112  of the attaching member  211  may abut the abut surface  117  of the second extension end  116  and the inner surface  1141  of the second recess  114  at the same time. In addition, the holding end  231  of the second bending portion  23  may first slide along the inclined surface  133  of the connecting portion  31 , and the second bending portion  23  will move outwardly based on the elastic property of the material until the holding end  231  slides into the joining recess  131 . Thereby, by abutting the attaching member  211  and the holding end  231  on the tab-holder  2  on the second recess  114  and the joining recess  131  respectively, the tab-holder may be positioned on the slider body  1 . 
     In other words, the instant disclosure utilizes the attachment of the slot  221  and the first extension end  115 , the engagement of the attaching member  211  and the second extension end  116 , and the engagement of the holding end  231  and the joining recess  131  to secure the tab-holder  2  on the slider body  1 . 
     Please refer to  FIGS. 9 to 11 . As mentioned above, the two surfaces vertical to each other on the pivot portion  32  of the pull-tab  3  have a predetermined width W and a predetermined height H, in which the predetermined width W is larger than the predetermined height H. In other words, in the embodiment of the instant disclosure, the pivot portion  32  may be a structure with a rectangular shape. However, the instant disclosure is not limited thereto. As shown in  FIG. 10 , when the surface having the predetermined width W is parallel to the first slide surface  111 , the stopping end  222  of the tab-holder  2  will project from the first recess  113  and position in the accommodating space S, and hence, the stopping end  222  will be stuck between two adjacent serrate structures (not shown), thereby avoiding the zip slider structure Z from disengaging from the plurality of serrate structures. Next, as shown in  FIG. 11 , since the predetermined width W is larger than the predetermined height H, when the surface having the predetermined height H is parallel to the first slide surface  111 , the tab-holder  2  would be jacked up by the pivot portion  32  of the pull-tab  3  and hence, the tab-holder  2  displaces and the stopping end  222  of the tab-holder  2  will be received in the first recess  113  and does not extend into the accommodating space S. Therefore, the stopping end  222  may disengage from two adjacent serrate structures (not shown), and the zip slider structure Z may slide on the plurality of serrate structures to control the hinge or disengagement of the serrate structure. 
     [Effects Achieved by the Embodiment] 
     In sum, the zip slider structure Z provided by the instant disclosure arranges the pivot portion  32  of the pull-tab  3  between the tab-holder  2  and the slider body  1  for the user to pull on, and the zip slider structure Z is constituted by the slider body  1 , the tab-holder  2  and the pull-tab  3  and hence, is easy to assemble. In addition, by utilizing the attachment between the slot  221  of the tab-holder  2  and the first extension end  115  of the slider body  1 , the engagement between the attaching member  211  of the tab-holder  2  and the second extension end  116  of the slider body  1 , and the engagement between the holding end  231  of the tab-holder  2  and the joining recess  131  of the slider body, the tab-holder  2  and the slider body  1  are able to engage with each other. Furthermore, based on the elastic property of the material of the tab-holder  2  in conjunction with the pull-tab  3  having the pivot portion  32  with a rectangular shape, the pull-tab  3  may be limited in a predetermined position such as a horizontal position as shown in  FIG. 10 , or a vertical position as shown in  FIG. 11 . Moreover, the stopping end  222  arranged on the tab-holder  2  may avoid the zip slider structure Z from disengaging during the movement or jumping of the user. 
     The above-mentioned descriptions represent merely the exemplary embodiment of the instant disclosure, without any intention to limit the scope of the instant disclosure thereto. Various equivalent changes, alterations or modifications based on the claims of instant disclosure are all consequently viewed as being embraced by the scope of the instant disclosure.