Patent Publication Number: US-9883720-B1

Title: Zipper capable of generating a distinctive sound

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The Present Application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application No. 62/183,702, filed on Jun. 23, 2015, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention generally relates to zippers. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     The prior art discusses various zippers that can generate sound. 
     Chang, U.S. Patent Publication Number 20060218758 for a Zipper discloses a zipper that includes sound and light arranged in a pulling member. 
     Crow, U.S. Patent Publication Number 20070135953 for a Zipper Speaker discloses a zipper that includes a small electronic device as part of a pull tab of the zipper. 
     Kosub et al, U.S. Patent Publication Number 20140331835 for an Apparatus For Manufacturing Reclosable Bag Material With Audible Closure discloses a reclosable bag which when opened or closed using a zipper generates a sound. 
     However, the prior art fails to disclose a zipper mechanism that generates a sound by movement of the zipper along the zipper tracks. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a zipper without electrical components that generates a distinctive sound when the zipper is opened or closed. 
     One aspect of the present invention is a zipper capable of generating music or a distinctive sound. The zipper comprises a slider, a first and a second track. The slider comprises a plurality of tone bars and a plurality of audio openings. The first track comprises a plurality of zipper teeth. The second track comprises a plurality of zipper teeth. Each zipper tooth of the plurality of zipper teeth of the first track and the second track comprises at least one raised portion. The slider is configured to generate a musical sound when the slider is slid over the first track and the second track. 
     Another aspect of the present invention is an article of clothing having a zipper capable of generating music or a distinctive sound. The article of clothing comprises a clothing body having an opening with a first side and a second side, a first track comprising a plurality of zipper teeth, the first track positioned on the first side of the opening of the clothing body, a second track comprising a plurality of zipper teeth, the second track positioned on the second side of the opening of the clothing body, and a slider comprising a plurality of tone bars and a plurality of audio openings. Each zipper tooth of the plurality of zipper teeth of the first track and the second track comprises at least one raised portion. The slider is configured to generate a musical sound when the slider is slid over the first track and the second track. 
     Yet another aspect of the present invention is an article having a zipper capable of generating music or a distinctive sound. The article comprises a body having an opening with a first side and a second side, a first track comprising a plurality of zipper teeth, the first track positioned on the first side of the opening of the body, a second track comprising a plurality of zipper teeth, the second track positioned on the second side of the opening of the body, and a slider comprising a plurality of tone bars and a plurality of audio openings. Each zipper tooth of the plurality of zipper teeth of the first track and the second track comprises at least one raised portion. The slider is configured to generate a musical sound when the slider is slid over the first track and the second track. The article can be hand bags, luggage, duffels, a wallet, a purse or clothing. 
     A modified zipper incorporates a sound comb that has a mechanism that produces desired tones. A channel system is preferably used to activate and deactivate the sound comb. Pins are each zipper tooth strike the sound comb when a zipper is moved up and down along zipper tracks. 
     Having briefly described the present invention, the above and further objects, features and advantages thereof will be recognized by those skilled in the pertinent art from the following detailed description of the invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an isolated view of a zipper for generating a distinctive sound showing the slider and the tracks. 
         FIG. 2  is a top plan view of a zipper for generating a distinctive sound showing the slider and the tracks. 
         FIG. 3  is an isolated view of a slider for a zipper for generating a distinctive sound. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates clothing having a zipper for generating a distinctive sound. 
         FIG. 5  is a top perspective view of a sound comb for a slider for a zipper for generating a distinctive sound. 
         FIG. 6  is a front elevation view of a sound comb for a slider for a zipper for generating a distinctive sound. 
         FIG. 7  is a side elevation view of a sound comb for a slider for a zipper for generating a distinctive sound. 
         FIG. 8  is a bottom plan view of a sound comb for a slider for a zipper for generating a distinctive sound. 
         FIG. 9  is a top perspective view of a slider for a zipper for generating a distinctive sound. 
         FIG. 10  is a top plan view of a slider for a zipper for generating a distinctive sound. 
         FIG. 11  is a side elevation view of a slider for a zipper for generating a distinctive sound. 
         FIG. 12  is a front elevation view of a slider for a zipper for generating a distinctive sound. 
         FIG. 13  is a top perspective view of an alternative embedment of a slider for a zipper for generating a distinctive sound. 
         FIG. 14  is a side elevation view of the slider of  FIG. 13 . 
         FIG. 15  is a front elevation view of the slider of  FIG. 13 . 
         FIG. 16  is a top plan view of the slider of  FIG. 13 . 
         FIG. 17  is an exploded view of the slider of  FIG. 13 . 
         FIG. 18  is a table of properties for various embodiments of sound combs. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , the zipper  20  comprises a slider  25 , a first track  30  and a second track  32 . The slider  25  comprises a plurality of tone bars  29  and a plurality of audio openings  22 . The first track  30  comprises a plurality of zipper teeth  40 . The second track  32  comprises a plurality of zipper teeth  40 . Each zipper tooth  40  of the plurality of zipper teeth  40  of the first track  30  and the second track  32  comprises at least one raised portion  45 . The slider  25  is configured to generate a musical sound when the slider  25  is slid over the first track  30  and the second track  32 . 
     The slider  25  comprises a first opening  28  and a second opening  31  (or multiple second openings  31   a  and  31   b ) for joining the first track  30  with the second track  32  and separating the first track  30  from the second track  32 . 
     The slider  25  comprises a pull mechanism  27 , a first body  26   a  and a second body  26   b , wherein the tone bars  29  and the audio openings  22  are preferably positioned on the first body  26   a . The audio openings  22  preferably range from four to twenty openings  22 , and more preferably eight to sixteen openings  22 . The tone bars  29  preferably range from four to twenty bars  29 , and more preferably eight to sixteen bars  29 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 , each zipper tooth  40  of the plurality of zipper teeth  40  of the first track  30  and the second track  32  comprises from one to four raised portions  45 . As the sliding body  26  is slid over the raised portions  45 , the tone bars  29  are struck generating a distinctive sound through the audio openings  22 . The sliding body  26  is preferably shaped to have a sound chamber  34  below the audio openings  22  which amplifies the sound generated as the tone bars  29  strike the raised portions. 
     The distinctive sound is preferably a song, a tone, or a jingle. 
     The slider  25  is preferably composed of a metal or plastic material. If metal, preferred metals are brass, tin and stainless steel. The slider  25  preferably has a length ranging from 0.5 inch to 2 inches. The tracks  30  and  32  are preferably composed of a metal material, preferably brass, tin or stainless steel. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , an article of clothing  60  has a zipper  20  capable of generating music or a distinctive sound. The clothing  60  is preferably pants, a jacket, or a shirt. The article of clothing comprises a clothing body  65 , a slider  25 , a first track  30  and a second track  32 . The clothing body  65  has an opening  66  with a first side  67   a  and a second side  67   b . The slider  25  comprises a plurality of tone bars  29  and a plurality of audio openings  22 . The first track  30  comprises a plurality of zipper teeth  40 , and is positioned on the first side  67   a  of the clothing body  65 . The second track  32  comprises a plurality of zipper teeth  40 , and is positioned on the second side  67   b  of the clothing body  65 . Each zipper tooth  40  of the plurality of zipper teeth  40  of the first track  30  and the second track  32  comprises at least one raised portion  45 . The slider  25  is configured to generate a musical sound when the slider  25  is slid over the first track  30  and the second track  32 . 
     Another aspect of the present invention is an article having a zipper capable of generating music or a distinctive sound. The article is preferably hand bags, luggage, duffels, wallet, or purse. The article comprises a body, a slider, a first and a second track. The body has an opening with a first side and a second side. The slider comprises a plurality of tone bars and a plurality of audio openings. The first track comprises a plurality of zipper teeth, and is positioned on the first side of the body. The second track comprises a plurality of zipper teeth, and is positioned on the second side of the body. Each zipper tooth of the plurality of zipper teeth of the first track and the second track comprises at least one raised portion. The slider is configured to generate a musical sound when the slider is slid over the first track and the second track. 
     Those skilled in the pertinent art will recognize that the zipper capable of generating music or a distinctive sound may be utilized without type of article requiring a zipper without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. 
     A sound comb  70  is shown in  FIGS. 5-8 . The sound comb  70  comprises a main body  77 , a plurality of prongs  71  with weighted cantilever bases  72 . The sound comb  70  preferably has a length Lc ranging from 10 millimeters (mm) to 20 mm, and most preferably 14.9 mm, a thickness Tc ranging from 0.1 mm to 0.5 mm, and most preferably 0.250 mm, a width We ranging from 2 mm to 5 mm, and most preferably 3.35 mm. The bases have a length L B  ranging from 1 mm to 3 mm, and most preferably 1.95 mm, and a thickness T B  ranging from 0.25 mm to 1 mm, and most preferably 0.5 mm. A distance Td preferably ranges from 1 mm to 2 mm, and most preferably is 1.25 mm. The first prong  71   a  preferably has a length L P1  ranging from 4 mm to 9 mm, and most preferably 5 mm to 7.25 mm, the second prong  71   b  preferably has a length L P2  ranging from 4 mm to 9 mm, and most preferably 5 mm to 8 mm, the third prong  71   c  preferably has a length L P3  ranging from 6 mm to 11 mm, and most preferably 7 mm to 9.5 mm. The third prong  71   c  is preferably longer than the second prong  71   b , and the second prong  71   b  is preferably longer than the first prong  71   a . The distance between prongs is preferably 1 mm. The sound comb  70  is preferably designed to be a compact 15 mm×3.5 mm×2 mm. The sound comb  70  preferably has multiple prongs  71  depending on how many tones are desired but is limited to the width of the zipper teeth  40  in a combined position. The lengths of the prongs  71  are preferably determined by balancing the Equation: 
     
       
         
           
             
               
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     A frequency for a weighted cantilever beam. The determining factors of the length [L] are: the frequency of the tone desired, the modulus of elasticity [E] and density [ρ] of the material used, the base [b] and height [h] of the cantilever beam, and the mass [M] at the end of the cantilever beam. Carefully balancing these factors produce the lengths of the cantilever beams with the desired tones. Due to the nature of the Equation being quartic, MICROSOFT EXCEL was utilized to balance the equation, with respect to the determining factors, to produce multiple tone&#39;s corresponding lengths within a certain allowable frequency tolerance. The properties are shown in the tables in  FIG. 18 . The frequency tolerance is determined based on what tone is required and how large and forgiving the frequency is (e.g., the tone of tone C1, with a frequency of 32.7 Hz is less forgiving than the tone C4 with a frequency of 261.6 Hz. The tone C4 is more forgiving due to the frequency being larger). The material of the sound comb  70  is preferably 1095 spring steel, which was selected for its specific modulus of elasticity and its density. 
     One embodiment of a slider  25  for a zipper  20  capable of generating music or a distinctive sound is shown in  FIGS. 9-12 . The slider  25  has a first body  26   a , a second body  26   b , a pull member  27 , a first opening  28 , and a second openings  31   a  and  31   b . The sound chamber  34  is preferably below the audio openings  22   a    22   b  and  22   c , which are in the sound comb cover  37 . The components of the slider are attached to each other using press-fitting, soldering, chemical adhesion, or the like. 
     An alternative embodiment a slider  25  for a zipper  20  capable of generating music or a distinctive sound is shown in  FIGS. 13-17 . The slider  25  has a first body  26   a , a second body  26   b , a pull member/mounting bracket  27 , a first opening  28 , second openings  31   a  and  31   b , a sound comb  70 , a sound comb cover  37  and a tension wire  38 . 
     From the foregoing it is believed that those skilled in the pertinent art will recognize the meritorious advancement of this invention and will readily understand that while the present invention has been described in association with a preferred embodiment thereof, and other embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings, numerous changes modification and substitutions of equivalents may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention which is intended to be unlimited by the foregoing except as may appear in the following appended claim. Therefore, the embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined in the following appended claims.