Patent Abstract:
A zipper pull for sliding a slider head of a zipper along locking teeth to selectively engage and separate the teeth includes a resilient loop and a coupling. The coupling defines one end which is fixed to the loop at an angular orientation therewith and another end which is pivotally attached to the slider head. The positioning and resilience of the loop acts to reduce the tendency of a zipper pull to bounce around when a user is enggaged in an activity.

Full Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention pertains to a zipper pull, and in particular, to a zipper pull specially adapted for athletic activities. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In general, zipper pulls facilitate easy movement of the slider head used to engage and separate the teeth of a zipper. Typically, a zipper pull is comprised of a planar, generally rectangular hand grip pivotally attached to the slider head. The zipper pull is ordinarily loosely attached to permit easy grasping and movement of the head in either direction and provide a structure adapted for easy and economical manufacture. Known zipper pulls must ordinarily be grasped between a user&#39;s thumb and index finger to operate, which is difficult to accomplish when wearing gloves. Gloves are commonly worn, for example, when a user jogs outdoors in a cool climate. 
     Zippers are commonly used to fasten articles of clothing, such as jackets, sweat suits, etc. However, when an individual wearing the clothing engages in an activity, the zipper pull may bounce against the person. This action can be particularly annoying to one involved in a rhythmic activity, such as jogging. In the past, zippers have been developed with zipper pulls which are frictionally lodged or hooked into engagement with the slider head to prevent its bouncing. An example of such a construction is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 1,900,152 to Bebel, entitled &#34;Safety Removable Fastener.&#34; This type of construction, though, increases the manufacturing costs, reduces the ease in which the zipper pull is grasped by the user, and is subject to disrepair as the pegs become worn through use. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the present invention, a zipper pull having a unique two-part construction is provided to overcome the aforementioned problems. 
     More specifically, the zipper pull is comprised of a resilient loop fixed to a coupling. The coupling, in turn, pivotally attaches the zipper pull to the slider head. The loop is angularly oriented with respect to the coupling to apply a biasing force so that the pull ordinarily is urged against the zipper teeth. This arrangement functions to decrease the tendency of the zipper pull to bounce. Further, the resilience of the loop acts to dampen the jarring experienced by the zipper pull during the user&#39;s activities. 
     As can be readily appreciated, the zipper pull of the present invention eliminates the undesirable bouncing experienced by a typical zipper pull of the prior art as well as the annoying clicking noise of metal hitting metal (i.e., the hand grip against the zipper teeth). Moreover, the zipper pull is easily and economically fabricated to facilitate commercial mass production. In addition, the resilient nature of the loop permits the pull to be conveniently grasped and facilitates bending of the loop to positions which ease the pulling of the head. The zipper pull is also durable and not susceptible to premature wear or breakage. 
     In addition, the loop preferably defines an opening having a diameter sufficient to permit the ingress of a user&#39;s finger when wearing gloves. This construction permits the present zipper to be easily operated, even when wearing gloves, by simply hooking a finger into the loop and pulling the head in the desired direction. 
     These and other objects, advantages, and features of the present invention will be more fully understood and appreciated by reference to the specification and the appended drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a zipper pull of the present invention in its rest position; 
     FIG. 2 is a front elevational view thereof; 
     FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3--3 in FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 4 is a top plan thereof; 
     FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the zipper pull when being pulled upwardly to close the zipper; 
     FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the zipper pull when it is being pulled downwardly to open the zipper; 
     FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the zipper pull prior to its attachment to the sliding tab; 
     FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the zipper pull being pulled upwardly via an alternative grasping arrangement; and 
     FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the zipper pull of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     In the present invention, a zipper pull 10 is used in conjunction with a zipper 12 (FIGS. 1-4). The zipper is intended primarily for being used in an article of clothing (not shown), although other uses are possible. The zipper includes two series of locking teeth 14, 16 each secured to a fabric strip 18 in a well known manner for attaching the zipper 12 into the clothing. A slideable tab or slider head 20 is also employed to engage and separate the teeth to thereby affect closing and opening of the zipper, respectively, in a well known manner. 
     Zipper pull 10 is operably connected to head 20 so that the user may easily grasp the pull and manually slide the head along teeth 14, 16 in either direction. More specifically, zipper pull 10 is comprised of a unique two-part construction which includes a loop 22 and a coupling 24. 
     Loop 22 is preferably a resilient, annular member in the form of a rubber o-ring. Nevertheless, other elastomeric materials, such as various plastics, could also be used, as well as a resilient metallic member 30a (which may be coated with plastic or rubber 30b) (FIG. 9). Further, although loop 22 is shown as a circular member in the drawings, nearly any geometric shape could be provided. Loop 22 defines an opening 26 through which the user may insert at least one finger in order to grasp pull 10 and move head 20. Loop 22 further includes a free end 28 and an end 30 attached to coupling 24. 
     Coupling 24 is generally a planar member having a body 32 and a fixing section 34 at one end. Body 32 is generally rectangular in shape, although other shapes could be used. Further, body 32 includes a central hole 36 which defines a rectangular, marginal edge 38. Marginal edge 38 is comprised in part by first and second opposed legs 40, 42. 
     Coupling 24 is attached to slider head 20 for free pivotal movement. In particular, head 20, as is common in the prior art, includes a ridge 44 which overlies the main body 46 thereof. Ridge 44 further defines an aperture 48 between itself and body 46. To effect the pivotal attachment of coupling 24 to head 20, first leg 40 of coupling 24 is loosely received into and through aperture 48. In the preferred construction, marginal edge 38 is a closed structure which is received in aperture 48 before ridge 44 is closed over body 46, as is well known in the prior art. 
     Fixing section 34 is fixed to second leg 42 of coupling 24. Fixing section 34 defines a small opening 50 through which loop 22 is received. In its fabrication, fixing section 34 is formed as a closed loop of die cast metal. The loop 22 is injection molded through the opening 50 defined therein. As seen in FIG. 3, the interior of opening 50 has a square shape and is provided with a small projection 50a which extends into the loop material to additionally ensure that no relative rotation is experienced between coupling 24 and loop 22. Of course, other means of fixedly attaching the components, such as crimping the coupling to the loop, could be used (FIG. 9). Coupling 24 and loop 22 are fixedly oriented so as to form a substantially V-shaped configuration when unattached to zipper 12 (FIG. 7). Preferably, loop 22 is set at an angle of approximately 30° to coupling 24. Nevertheless, this angle could be modified without losing the intended objectives of the invention. 
     When zipper pull 10 is attached to zipper 12, loop 22 is resiliently bent toward coupling 24 (in the direction indicated by arrow A in FIG. 7) so that the two components are generally coplanar with one another in the rest position (FIGS. 1-4). As can be readily appreciated, loop 22 applies a continual biasing force against the teeth 14, 16, fabric strips 18 and/or the substrate (e.g., a garment) to which the zipper is attached. Also, when the loop is pulled outward for movement of the slider head (as described below), the loop is bent even further from its naturally assuming position (shown in FIG. 7). This further bending draws the loop back to its rest position (FIGS. 1-4) once the head has been moved a desired amount and the zipper pull released. 
     When the user intends to close the zipper (i.e., move zipper pull 10 and slider head 20 in a direction indicated by arrow B in FIG. 5), loop 22 is grasped and lifted upwardly on a pull 10. Loop 22 can also be grasped by simply inserting one or two fingers into the loop (FIG. 8). The resilient nature of loop 22 permits pull 10 to be easily grasped by the user and lifted away from the zipper teeth 16. This pulling by the user, pivots coupling 24 about head 20 and bends loop 22 into a substantially linear configuration to ease the sliding of the head for the user. However, due to the fixed engagement between loop 22 and coupling 24 the resilient biasing force exerted by the loop 22 is always present. Once the zipper has been closed the desired amount, the user simply lets go of loop 22 and it assumes its rest position (as seen in FIGS. 1-4). 
     When a user desires to open the zipper (i.e., move zipper pull 10 and slider head 20 in a direction indicated by arrow C in FIG. 6), loop 22 is grasped and pulled downwardly on pull 10 (FIG. 5). Of course, loop 22 may also be grasped by merely inserting one or two fingers through opening 26. This action, pivotally moves coupling 24 about head 20 and bends loop 22. Loop 22 is bent generally in the same direction as when the zipper pull is moved to close the zipper (FIG. 5). Hence, loop 22 is bent such that it assumes a relatively more linear relationship with coupling 24. As with closing the zipper, once the zipper has been opened to its desired position, the user simply lets go of loop 22 and it naturally assumes its rest position (FIGS. 1-4). 
     The above description is that of preferred embodiments of the invention. Various alterations and changes can be made without departing from the spirit and broader aspects of the invention as set forth in the appended claims, which are to be interpreted in accordance with the principles of patent law including the doctrine of equivalents.

Technology Classification (CPC): 8