Patent Publication Number: US-11653725-B1

Title: Anti-pinch zipper

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     (a) Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to zipper technology and more particularly to an anti-pinch zipper that can prevent the zipper slider from being caught in the cloth of the garment. 
     (b) Description of the Prior Art 
     The zippers commonly used on clothing today, whether they are used in the pockets of clothing, the opening of the trousers/skirts, or the two plackets of the jacket, as long as the clothing has an inner lining, when the zipper slider moves, it may clamp the fabric inside, causing the zipper slider to move unevenly. If it is seriously involved in the inner fabric, the entire zipper slider may be stuck and unable to advance or retreat. It often requires destructive repairs to restore the original functions of the clothing and the zipper. 
     In order to prevent the zipper slider from being caught in the inner fabric of the garment, the patent cases of WO2014033926A1 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,701,584B2 propose a technology to install a guide at the front end of the zipper slider. Through the guide, the angle of the chain separated on both sides into the zipper slider is reduced, and the inner fabric is prevented as much as possible from being drawn into the zipper slider with the chain. However, the added guide makes the zipper slider larger and destroys the overall appearance of the clothing. Moreover, as the shape and size of the original zipper slider are different, matching guides must be implemented, so it is not widely used in clothing. 
     Other known anti-pinch zipper slider technologies, such as EP3289908A1, Japanese Patent Publication JP2004024740A, JP5715576B2, and Chinese Patent Publication CN107567291A, CN106333432A, CN104106888A, CN211298642U, etc., only use the zipper slider to push open the inner fabric, in an attempt to avoid the zipper slider from getting into the inner fabric of the clothes, instead of using the zipper cloth to completely separate the inner fabric from the zipper slider, so the actual anti-pinch effect is not ideal. 
     Also refer to the U.S. Pat. No. 8,225,466B2 disclosing a slider for a concealed type slide fastener with a separable bottom end stop, the side edge portion  37  of each of its two chain cloths implements a reflexed portion, and then combines the chain teeth on the reflexed portion, and then combines an concealed zipper slider between the two chain teeth. However, the lower blade  5  of the zipper slider is on the inner surface of the two chains, and the tab attaching portion  7  passes through the middle of the two chains to protrude from the front of the two chains, and then a tab  3  is combined on the tab attaching portion  7 . Therefore, when the user pulls the tab  3 , the lower blade  5  located on the inner side of the two chain cloths may still be caught in the inner fabric of the clothes, causing the zipper slider to jam. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is the main object of the present invention to provide an anti-pinch zipper which has the chain cloths and the zipper sliders so designed that the chain cloths can cover the bottom surface of the zipper slider to prevent the zipper slider from being caught in the clothing, and which allows the zipper to be implemented as a closed-end zipper, a single open end zipper, or a double open end zipper. 
     To achieve the above object, the anti-pinch zipper of the present invention comprises two zipper tapes and a zipper slider. The inner side of the chain cloth of each zipper tape is folded back to the front to form a chain belt portion and a sliding space. The rows of teeth are located on the respective chain belt portions. The zipper slider has a top plate. A connecting device and a pull tab are installed outside the top plate. The inner surface of the top plate is provided with a structure to guide the two rows of teeth to be interlocked with each other. In this way, the rows of teeth and chain belt portions are passed through the zipper slider, so that the top plate and the pull tab of the zipper slider are located on the front of the zipper, and the two chain cloths cover the back of the zipper slider, thereby forming a structure without any part of the zipper slider present on the back of the zipper. Since the zipper slider has no structure or parts protruding from the back of the chain cloths, when the anti-pinch zipper is applied to the clothing, it can prevent the zipper slider from being caught in the clothing when it moves. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is an elevational schematic diagram of the combined state of the anti-pinch zipper according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  2    is an elevational schematic view of the separated state of the anti-pinch zipper according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  3    is a schematic cross-sectional view of the anti-pinch zipper according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  4    is a schematic bottom view of the zipper slider of the anti-pinch zipper according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  5    is a schematic diagram of the I-I cross-section of the zipper slider of the present invention combined with the two chain cloths. 
         FIG.  6    is a schematic diagram of the II-II cross-section of the zipper slider of the present invention combined with the two chain cloths. 
         FIG.  7    is a schematic diagram of the III-III cross-section of the zipper slider of the present invention combined with the two chain cloths. 
         FIG.  8    is a schematic diagram of the back of the zipper slider of the present invention combined with the two chain cloths. 
         FIG.  9    is a schematic diagram of an implementation of the anti-pinch zipper of the present invention as a one-way closed-end zipper with one zipper slider. 
         FIG.  10    is a schematic diagram of an implementation of the anti-pinch zipper of the present invention as an X-shaped two-way closed-end zipper with two zipper sliders. 
         FIG.  11    is a schematic diagram of an implementation of the anti-pinch zipper of the present invention as an O-shaped two-way closed-end zipper with two zipper sliders. 
         FIG.  12    is a schematic diagram of an implementation of the anti-pinch zipper of the present invention as a single open end zipper with one zipper slider. 
         FIG.  13    is a schematic diagram of an implementation of the anti-pinch zipper of the present invention as a double open end zipper with two zipper sliders and two insert pins. 
         FIG.  14    is an elevational schematic diagram of the combined state of the lower stop block and the insert pin of the present invention. 
         FIG.  15    is an elevational schematic diagram of the separated state of the lower stop block and the insert pin of the present invention. 
         FIG.  16    is an elevational front view of the preferred embodiment of the lower stop block and insert pin of the present invention. 
         FIG.  17    is an elevational rear view of the preferred embodiment of the lower stop block and insert pin of the present invention. 
         FIG.  18    is a schematic cross-sectional view of the combined state of the lower stop block and the insert pin of the present invention. 
         FIG.  19    is an elevational schematic diagram of the shrapnel-type locking device of the present invention. 
         FIG.  20    is a schematic cross-sectional view of the shrapnel type locking device of the present invention. 
         FIG.  21    an elevational schematic diagram of the European-style locking device of the present invention. 
         FIG.  22    is a schematic cross-sectional view of the European-style locking device of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     As illustrated in  FIGS.  1 - 3   , an anti-pinch zipper of the present invention according to a preferred embodiment comprises two zipper tapes  10  and a zipper slider  20 . 
     As shown in  FIGS.  1 ,  2  and  5   , the two zipper tapes  10  each have a chain cloth  11  and a row of teeth  12 . The inner side edge of the chain cloth  11  is folded back to the front  111  of the chain cloth  11  to form a chain belt portion  13 . A sliding space  14  is formed between the chain belt portion  13  and the chain cloth  11 . The opening  141  of the sliding space  14  faces the outer side of the chain cloth  11 . The row of teeth  12  can be one of nylon row of teeth (as shown in  FIG.  1    and  FIG.  9   ), plastic steel row of teeth (as shown in  FIG.  10   ) or metal row of teeth (as shown in  FIG.  12   ). The row of teeth  12  is combined with the chain belt portion  13  on the front of the chain cloth  11 , so that the row of teeth  12  is located on the front  111  of the chain cloth  11 , and the back  112  of the chain cloth  11  covers the row of teeth  12  and the zipper slider  20 . 
     As shown in  FIGS.  2 - 4   , the zipper slider  20  is used to slide between the two zipper tapes  10 . The zipper slider  20  comprises a top plate  21 , a connecting device  22 , a pull tab  23 , a base core  24  and two side plates  25 . The top plate  21  is integrally formed or combined with the connecting device  22  on the outside, and the front end of the pull tab  23  is combined with the connecting device  22 . The base core  24  is an integral block protruding from the center of the inner surface of the top plate  21 . The end of the base core  24  is provided with a first guide plate  241 . The width of the first guide plate  241  is greater than that of the rest of the base core  24 . A first chain tooth sliding groove  26  is formed between the first guide plate  241  and the top plate  21  on two sides of the base core  24 . The two side plates  25  are respectively connected vertically and integrally on both sides of the inner surface of the top plate  21 , and the bottom ends of the two side plates  25  are respectively provided with a second guide plate  27 . The inner edges of the two second guide plates  27  respectively have a convex plate  271  protruding toward the center, so that a second chain tooth sliding groove  28  is formed between the convex plates  271  of the two second guide plates  27  and the top plate  21 , respectively. Moreover, the inner edge of the convex plates  271  of the second guide plates  27  and the two sides of the first guide plate  241  are spaced by a Y-shaped guide cloth seam  29 . 
     In this way, as shown in  FIGS.  5 - 7   , when the zipper slider  20  is combined between the two zipper tapes  10 , the rows of teeth  12  and chain belt portions  13  of the two zipper tapes  10  pass through the first chain tooth sliding groove  26  and the second chain tooth sliding groove  28 , and the two chain cloths  11  extend out of the bottom of the zipper slider  20  through the Y-shaped guide cloth seam  29 , and expand to both sides of the zipper slider  20 , so that the back of the two chain cloths  11  covers the zipper slider  20  (as shown in  FIG.  8   ). Through the above combined structure, the top plate  21 , the connecting device  22  and the pull tab  23  are formed at the front of the zipper, so that the top plate  21  leans against the rows of teeth  12  on the front of the zipper tapes  10 , and no parts of the zipper slider  20  are present on the back of the two zipper tapes  10 . 
     Referring to  FIG.  6    and  FIG.  8   , when the zipper slider  20  moves, the first guide plate  241  is between the inner sides of the chain belt portions  13  of the two chain cloths  10 , and the first guide plate  241  and the inner edge of the convex plate  271  guide the chain belt portions  13  through the Y-shaped guide cloth seam  29 , so that the convex plate  271  of the second guide plate  27  slides in the sliding space  14  within the chain belt portions  13 . 
     As shown in  FIGS.  2 ,  4  and  8   , the rear end of the above-mentioned first guide plate  241  forms a tapered portion  242  protruding from the rear end of the base core  24 , and both sides of the tapered portion  242  are used for guiding against the inner side of the chain cloths  11 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  2    and  FIG.  3   , the connecting device  22  and the top plate  21  of the zipper slider  20  mentioned above can be implemented in a variety of functional structures. For example, the connecting device  22  can be integrally formed with the top plate  21 , or the connecting device  22  can be assembled on the top plate  21 , so that a perforation  221  is formed between the connecting device  22  and the top plate  21 , and the front end of the pull tab  23  is implemented with a ring  231 , so that the ring  231  passes through the perforation  221  and is sleeved on the connecting device  22  to pull the zipper slider  20 . 
     The above-mentioned connecting device  22  can also be implemented in other functional structures, for example, a locking device  50  can be implemented. The locking device  50  can be any structure that can be used to prevent the sliding of the zipper slider  20 , such as a conventional automatic locking device (as shown in  FIGS.  3 - 6   ), a spring-type locking device (as shown in  FIGS.  19  and  20   ) or European locking device (as shown in  FIGS.  21  and  22   ), etc. The locking device  50  is used to prevent the zipper slider  20  from sliding, and the zipper slider  20  can only be made to slide when the locking device  50  is pulled through the pull tab  23 . 
     Referring to  FIGS.  3 - 6  and  19 - 22    again, the above-mentioned various locking devices  50  are specifically provided with a movable stopper pin  51  on or within the connecting device  22 . The shape of the stopper pin  51  is not limited. The front end of the stopper pin  51  is a hook-shaped tip  511 . The back end of the stopper pin  51  is provided with an elastic structure  52 . The elastic structure  52  can be a spring or a shrapnel formed by the back end of the stopper pin  51 . The elastic structure  52  is used to push the stopper pin  51  so that the hook-shaped tip  511  at the front end of the stopper pin  51  passes through a through hole  211  of the top plate  21 , and the hook-shaped tip  511  protrudes to the inner surface of the top plate  21  to be stuck on the interlocked rows of teeth  12  to prevent the zipper slider  20  from sliding down by itself. Only when the user pulls up the stopper pin  51  with the pull tab  23 , can the hook-shaped tip  511  be separated from the interlocked rows of teeth  12 , so that the zipper slider  20  can slide to open the zipper. 
     The anti-pinch zipper of the present invention uses the chain cloths  11  to cover the second guide plate  27  of the zipper slider  20 , so that the zipper slider  20  does not have a structure that protrudes from the back of the chain cloths  11 . When the anti-pinch zipper is applied to the garment, the zipper slider  20  is on the outside of the garment, and the back of the two zipper tapes  10  does not interact with any parts of the zipper slider  20 , and so can prevent the zipper slider  20  from being caught in the inner fabric of the garment when it moves, thereby achieving the anti-pinch function. 
     The invention can be implemented into various styles of zippers. As shown in  FIG.  9   , it can be implemented as a one-way closed-end zipper with a zipper slider  20 ; as shown in  FIG.  10   , it can also be implemented as an X-shaped two-way closed-end zipper with two zipper sliders  20 ; or as shown in  FIG.  11   , it can also be implemented as an O-shaped two-way closed-end zipper with two zipper sliders  20 . The term “closed-end zipper” refers to a zipper whose ends of two zipper tapes  10  are never removed from the zipper slider  20 . Or as shown in  FIG.  12   , the present invention can also be implemented as a single open end zipper, that is, the lower end of one of the two zipper tapes  10  can be pulled apart by the zipper slider  20 , which is usually used for the two plackets of a jacket. Or as shown in  FIG.  13   , it can also be implemented as a double open end zipper, that is, a zipper in which the upper and lower ends of the two zipper tapes  10  can be separated. 
     Since the chain cloths  11  of the present invention are each implemented with a reverse-folded chain belt portion  13  and the row of teeth  12  is combined on the chain belt portion  13 , when it is implemented as a single open end zipper or a double open end zipper, the required lower stop block and the insert pin must be improved together. For this, referring to  FIGS.  12  and  14 - 18   , in the present invention, a lower stop block  30  is provided at the proximal end of the chain belt portion  13  of one chain cloth  11 , and an insert pin  40  is provided at the proximal end of the chain belt portion  13  of the other chain cloth  11 . The lower stop block  30  and insert pin  40  can be alloy die-casting molding or plastic injection molding. 
     The lower stop block  30  has a rectangular block  31 , the first side of the center line  311  of the rectangular block  31  is provided with a first fixing groove  32 , and the second side of the center line  311  is provided with a slot  33 . The first fixing groove  32  and the slot  33  are grooves recessed from the upper end to the lower end of the rectangular block  31 , and the first fixing groove  32  is connected to the slot  33 . An opening  34  is provided on the back of the rectangular block  31 , and the opening  34  is connected to the first fixing groove  32  and the slot  33 . In this way, the chain belt portion  13  of one chain cloth  11  is folded back and passed through the opening  34 , and then fixed in the first fixing groove  32 , so that the lower stop block  30  is fixed to the chain belt portion  13  of the chain cloth  11  near the end. A convex pin  35  protrudes from the upper end of the first side of the center line  311  of the rectangular block  31 , and the first fixing groove  32  is recessed into the rectangular block  31  from the upper end of the convex pin  35  to the lower end. 
     The insert pin  40  is a bar corresponding to the slot  33 . The insert pin  40  has a second fixing groove  41  recessed from its upper end to its lower end, and the second fixing groove  41  is connected to the inner side  42  of the insert pin  40 . 
     In this way, the chain belt portion  13  of the other chain cloth  11  is folded back and fixed in the second fixing groove  41 . In this way, the insert pin  40  can be inserted into the lower stop block  30  and can also be detached in the reverse direction, so that the anti-pinch zipper can be used as a single open end zipper or a double open end zipper. 
     Referring again to  FIG.  13   , when the present invention is applied to a double open end zipper, the chain belt portion  13  of one chain cloth  11  of the double open end zipper is provided with a fixing pin  60  at the proximal end, and the chain belt portion  13  of the other chain cloth  11  is provided with an insert pin  40  at the proximal end, thereby forming a double insert pin open end zipper. The insert pin  40  and the fixing pin  60  are fixed to the respective chain belt portions  13 , as shown in  FIG.  13    and the structure on the right side of  FIG.  18   . 
     Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.