Patent Publication Number: US-7213306-B2

Title: Pull tab apparatus for slide fastener

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention generally relates to a pull tab apparatus, and more particularly, to a pull tab apparatus that may be easily connected to and disconnected from a slide fastener by a user. 
   2. Background Information 
   Slide fasteners often rely on a pull tab apparatus for effective operation. For example, a pull tab apparatus may be manipulated by a user to move a slide fastener such as a zipper in various directions. Pull tab apparatuses and slide fasteners may be used for various articles such as clothing garments, garment bags, backpacks, purses, luggage, camping equipment, vehicle/boat covers, and/or other articles. 
   With current pull tab apparatuses and slide fasteners, a problem arises when a pull tab apparatus breaks. In particular, when such breakage occurs, a user may be prevented from using the slide fastener. For example, certain slide fasteners such as zippers may include a locking mechanism in the zipper head that must be disengaged before the zipper can be moved in any direction. Accordingly, when a pull tab apparatus breaks with such a zipper, the locking mechanism may remain engaged and thereby prevent the zipper from being used. One solution to the foregoing problem is to replace the entire zipper head. While the cost of replacement parts with this approach may be relatively small, the labor costs can be cost-prohibitive for many users. 
   Accordingly, there is a need for a pull tab apparatus which avoids the foregoing deficiencies, and can thereby be easily connected to and disconnected from a slide fastener by a user. The present invention addresses these and/or other issues. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a pull tab apparatus for a slide fastener is disclosed. According to an exemplary embodiment, the pull tab apparatus comprises a coil having a first end and a second end. The coil is configured to include a first section and a second section. At least one of the first and second sections includes a plurality of layers and a path exists between the layers. One of the first and second sections includes a circular portion and the other one of the first and second sections includes a plurality of parallel portions coupled to the circular portion. A circular disc is capable of being fixedly inserted into the circular portion. A portion of the slide fastener is movable along the path from one of the first and second ends where the pull tab apparatus is disconnected from the slide fastener to a predetermined position where the pull tab apparatus is connected to the slide fastener. 
   In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, an article of manufacture is disclosed. According to an exemplary embodiment, the article comprises a slide fastener and a pull tab apparatus capable of being connected to the slide fastener. The pull tab apparatus includes a coil having a first end and a second end. The coil is configured to include a first section and a second section. At least one of the first and second sections includes a plurality of layers and a path exists between the layers. One of the first and second sections includes a circular portion and the other one of the first and second sections includes a plurality of parallel portions coupled to the circular portion. A circular disc is capable of being fixedly inserted into the circular portion. A portion of the slide fastener is movable along the path from one of the first and second ends where the pull tab apparatus is disconnected from the slide fastener to a predetermined position where the pull tab apparatus is connected to the slide fastener. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a pull tab apparatus according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a plan view of the pull tab apparatus of  FIG. 1  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is a side view of the pull tab apparatus of  FIG. 1  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a pull tab apparatus according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 5  is a plan view of the pull tab apparatus of  FIG. 4  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 6  is a side view of the pull tab apparatus of  FIG. 4  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a pull tab apparatus according to a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 8  is a plan view of the pull tab apparatus of  FIG. 7  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 9  is a side view of the pull tab apparatus of  FIG. 7  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and 
       FIG. 10  is plan view of a disc element according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 11  is a side view of the disc element of  FIG. 10  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and 
       FIG. 12  is an article of manufacture according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   The exemplifications set out herein illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention, and such exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner. 
   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to  FIG. 1 , a perspective view of a pull tab apparatus  100  according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown. An exemplary plan view of pull tab apparatus  100  is shown in  FIG. 2 , and an exemplary (right and left) side view of pull tab apparatus  100  is shown in  FIG. 3 . Pull tab apparatus  100  of  FIGS. 1 to 3  comprises a coil  110  having a first end  120  and a second end  130 . Coil  110  may be constructed using any material of suitable strength to enable use of pull tab apparatus  100  with a slide fastener such as a zipper. For example, coil  110  may be constructed using a metallic, polymeric, and/or other material. Coil  110  may also include a coating (not expressly shown in FIGS.) such as a vinyl and/or other type of coating. The body of coil  110  may be formed in any suitable shape such as a columnar and/or cylindrical shape. 
   Coil  110  is configured (e.g., wound) to include a first section  140  exhibiting a first shape and a second section  150  exhibiting a second shape. According to an exemplary embodiment, first section  140  generally exhibits a circular shape (or at least a portion of a circle), and second section  150  generally exhibits an oblong, elongated shape. However, first and second sections  140  and  150  of coil  110  may exhibit other shapes, and the specific shape used for each section  140  and  150  is a matter of design choice. Also according to an exemplary embodiment, first and second sections  140  and  150  of coil  110  both include a plurality of layers that contact each other or are substantially close to each other. As indicated in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , first and second sections  140  and  150  of coil  110  both include two layers, although a different number of layers may also be used in accordance with design choice. According to an exemplary embodiment, a portion of coil  110  between first and second ends  120  and  130  is curved so that first and second ends  120  and  130  lie in substantially the same plane, as represented in  FIG. 3 . However, this portion of coil  110  between first and second ends  120  and  130  could also be substantially straight so that first and second ends  120  and  130  of coil  110  lie in different planes. 
   A path  160  exists between the layers of coil  110 . According to an exemplary embodiment, a user may insert a latch portion of a slide fastener (not shown in  FIGS. 1 to 3 ) into path  160  at either first end  120  or second end  130  of coil  110 . The user may then manipulate the slide fastener and/or pull tab apparatus  100  to move the inserted latch portion of the slide fastener along path  160  from one end (e.g., first end  120 ) of coil  110  where pull tab apparatus  100  is disconnected from the slide fastener to the other end (e.g., second end  130 ) of coil  110  where pull tab apparatus  100  is connected to the slide fastener. The reverse operation may be performed to disconnect pull tab apparatus  100  from the slide fastener. As previously indicated herein, the respective layers of coil  110  may contact each other or be substantially close to each other. Accordingly, as the latch portion of the slide fastener is moved along path  160  to connect or disconnect pull tab apparatus  100  to or from the slide fastener, the respective layers of coil  110  may become separated from each other and thereby displaced from their original orientation (represented in  FIG. 1 ) to accommodate passage of the latch portion along path  160 . In the aforementioned manner, pull tab apparatus  100  may be easily connected to and disconnected from a slide fastener. 
   Referring to  FIG. 4 , a perspective view of a pull tab apparatus  200  according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown. An exemplary plan view of pull tab apparatus  200  is shown in  FIG. 5 , and an exemplary (right) side view of pull tab apparatus  200  is shown in  FIG. 6 . Pull tab apparatus  200  of  FIGS. 4 to 6  comprises a coil  210  having a first end  220  and a second end  230 . Like coil  110  of  FIGS. 1 to 3 , coil  210  may also be constructed using any material of suitable strength to enable use of pull tab apparatus  200  with a slide fastener such as a zipper. For example, coil  210  may be constructed using a metallic, polymeric, and/or other material. Coil  210  may also include a coating (not expressly shown in FIGS.) such as a vinyl and/or other type of coating. The body of coil  210  may be formed in any suitable shape such as a columnar and/or cylindrical shape. 
   Coil  210  is configured (e.g., wound) to include a first section  240  exhibiting a first shape and a second section  250  exhibiting a second shape. According to an exemplary embodiment, first section  240  generally exhibits a circular shape (or at least a portion of a circle), and second section  250  generally exhibits an oblong, elongated shape. However, first and second sections  240  and  250  of coil  210  may exhibit other shapes, and the specific shape used for each section  240  and  250  is a matter of design choice. Also according to an exemplary embodiment, first section  240  of coil  210  includes a plurality of layers that contact each other or are substantially close to each other, and second section  250  of coil  210  includes a single layer. As indicated in  FIGS. 4 and 6 , first section  240  of coil  210  includes two layers, and second section  250  of coil  210  includes only a single layer, although a different number of layers may also be used in accordance with design choice. According to an exemplary embodiment, a portion of coil  210  between first and second ends  220  and  230  is curved so that first and second ends  220  and  230  lie in substantially the same plane, as represented in  FIG. 6 . However, this portion of coil  210  between first and second ends  220  and  230  could also be substantially straight so that first and second ends  220  and  230  of coil  210  lie in different planes. 
   A path  260  exists between the layers of coil  210  in first section  240 . According to an exemplary embodiment, a user may insert a latch portion of a slide fastener (not shown in  FIGS. 4 to 6 ) into path  260  at first end  220  of coil  210 . The user may then manipulate the slide fastener and/or pull tab apparatus  200  to move the inserted latch portion of the slide fastener along path  260  from first end  220  of coil  210  where pull tab apparatus  200  is disconnected from the slide fastener to second end  230  of coil  210  where pull tab apparatus  200  is connected to the slide fastener via first section  240  of coil  210 . The reverse operation may be performed to disconnect pull tab apparatus  200  from the slide fastener. According to another exemplary embodiment, a user may insert a latch portion of a slide fastener (not shown in  FIGS. 4 to 6 ) into path  260  at second end  230  of coil  210 . The user may then manipulate the slide fastener and/or pull tab apparatus  200  to move the inserted latch portion of the slide fastener along path  260  from second end  230  of coil  210  where pull tab apparatus  200  is disconnected from the slide fastener to a predetermined point within second section  250  of coil  210  where pull tab apparatus  200  is connected to the slide fastener via second section  250  of coil  210 . The reverse operation may be performed to disconnect pull tab apparatus  200  from the slide fastener. As previously indicated herein, the respective layers of coil  210  in first section  240  may contact each other or be substantially close to each other. Accordingly, with both exemplary embodiments, as the latch portion of the slide fastener is moved along path  260  to connect or disconnect pull tab apparatus  200  to or from the slide fastener, the respective layers of coil  210  in first section  240  may become separated from each other and thereby displaced from their original orientation (represented in  FIG. 4 ) to accommodate passage of the latch portion along path  260 . In the aforementioned manner, pull tab apparatus  200  may be easily connected to and disconnected from a slide fastener via first and second sections  240  and  250  of coil  210 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 7 , a perspective view of a pull tab apparatus  300  according to a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown. An exemplary plan view of pull tab apparatus  300  is shown in  FIG. 8 , and an exemplary (right) side view of pull tab apparatus  300  is shown in  FIG. 9 . Pull tab apparatus  300  of  FIGS. 7 to 9  comprises a coil  310  having a first end  320  and a second end  330 . Like coils  110  and  210  previously described herein, coil  310  may also be constructed using any material of suitable strength to enable use of pull tab apparatus  300  with a slide fastener such as a zipper. For example, coil  310  may be constructed using a metallic, polymeric, and/or other material. Coil  310  may also include a coating (not expressly shown in FIGS.) such as a vinyl and/or other type of coating. The body of coil  310  may be formed in any suitable shape such as a columnar and/or cylindrical shape. 
   Coil  310  is configured (e.g., wound) to include a first section  340  exhibiting a first shape and a second section  350  exhibiting a second shape. According to an exemplary embodiment, first section  340  generally exhibits a circular shape (or at least a portion of a circle), and second section  350  generally exhibits an oblong, elongated shape. However, first and second sections  340  and  350  of coil  310  may exhibit other shapes, and the specific shape used for each section  340  and  350  is a matter of design choice. Also according to an exemplary embodiment, first section  340  of coil  310  includes a plurality of layers that contact each other or are substantially close to each other, and second section  350  of coil  310  includes a single layer. As indicated in  FIGS. 7 and 9 , first section  340  of coil  310  includes two layers, and second section  350  of coil  310  includes only a single layer, although a different number of layers may also be used in accordance with design choice. 
   A path  360  exists between the layers of coil  310  in first section  340 . According to an exemplary embodiment, a user may insert a latch portion of a slide fastener (not shown in  FIGS. 7 to 9 ) into path  360  at either first end  320  or second end  330  of coil  310 . The user may then manipulate the slide fastener and/or pull tab apparatus  300  to move the inserted latch portion of the slide fastener along path  360  from one end (e.g., first end  320 ) of coil  310  where pull tab apparatus  300  is disconnected from the slide fastener to a predetermined point within second section  350  of coil  310  where pull tab apparatus  300  is connected to the slide fastener via second section  350  of coil  310 . The reverse operation may be performed to disconnect pull tab apparatus  300  from the slide fastener. As previously indicated herein, the respective layers of coil  310  in first section  340  may contact each other or be substantially close to each other. Accordingly, as the latch portion of the slide fastener is moved along path  360  to connect or disconnect pull tab apparatus  300  to or from the slide fastener, the respective layers of coil  310  in first section  340  may become separated from each other and thereby displaced from their original orientation (represented in  FIG. 7 ) to accommodate passage of the latch portion along path  360 . In the aforementioned manner, pull tab apparatus  300  may be easily connected to and disconnected from a slide fastener. 
   Referring to  FIG. 10 , a plan view of a disc element  400  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown. An exemplary (right and left) side view of disc element  400  is shown in  FIG. 11 . According to an exemplary embodiment, disc element  400  may be combined with pull tab apparatuses  100 ,  200  and/or  300  as previously described herein. As indicated in  FIG. 11 , recesses  450  are formed in an outer periphery of disc element  400  and thereby enable disc element  400  to be fixedly inserted (e.g., “snap fit”) into at least one section of coil  110 ,  210  and/or  310 . The number of recesses  450  formed in disc element  400  preferably corresponds to the number of layers in the section(s) of coil  110 ,  210  and/or  310  that disc element  400  is inserted. According to an exemplary embodiment, disc element  400  includes two recesses  450  in its outer periphery and may be fixedly inserted into first sections  140 ,  240  and/or  340  of pull tab apparatuses  100 ,  200  and/or  300 , respectively.  FIG. 12  shows an example of how disc element  400  may be combined with pull tab apparatus  100 . 
   Also according to an exemplary embodiment, disc element  400  may be constructed using a metallic, polymeric, and/or other material. Disc element  400  may also be produced in various colors. For example, disc element  400  may exhibit a color that blends and/or contrasts with the surrounding materials. Disc element  400  may also include a custom logo, emblem, symbol, writing, decal, and/or other visually observable item. For example, disc element  400  may include the name of a sports team, pet, school, mascot, alma matter, and/or other item. For purposes of example and explanation, disc element  400  of  FIGS. 10 and 12  includes the initial “M”. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 12 , an article of manufacture  600  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown. Article  600  may, for example, be embodied as a clothing garment, garment bag, backpack, purse, luggage, camping equipment, vehicle/boat cover, and/or other article. Article  600  of  FIG. 12  includes pull tab apparatus  100  of  FIGS. 1 to 3 , disc element  400  of  FIGS. 10 and 11 , and a slide fastener  500  embodied as a zipper having a latch portion  510  and teeth  520 . As shown in  FIG. 12 , pull tab apparatus  100  may be connected to (and disconnected from) slide fastener  500  via latch portion  510  in the manner previously described herein. Moreover, disc element  400  may be fixedly inserted into one or more sections of pull tab apparatus  100 . Pull tab apparatuses  200  and  300 , as described herein, may also be combined with disc element  400  and/or slide fastener  500  in a similar manner. 
   As described herein, the present invention provides a pull tab apparatus that may be easily connected to and disconnected from a slide fastener by a user. While this invention has been described as having a preferred design, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.