Abstract:
A device is designed to facilitate operation of a separable slide fastener having a pair of stringers, respectively carrying first and second rows of interlocking elements, the rows respectively terminating at a stop member and a lug, the fastener including at least one slider moveable along the first row and having an aperture therethrough alignable with an aperture in the stop member when the slider is disposed in a terminal position. The device includes a handle and retention structure receivable in an aligning position in the apertures when the slider is in or is moved to its terminal position and engageable with the slider and the stop member to hold the slider in its terminal position so that the user does not have to manually do so during insertion of the lug into the apertures to join the stringers. When the lug is inserted it displaces the retention structure from the apertures. Several embodiments of the device are disclosed. They are usable with single-slider fasteners openable from one end or with dual slider fasteners openable from opposite ends.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
   This application relates to the operation of separable slide fasteners, such as zippers, and relates in particular to techniques for facilitating the operation of such fasteners. 
   A separable zipper is used to join separable items, such as portions of a garment or other object. Such a zipper may be used on a jacket, sweater, vest or the like, and has two stringers, typically formed of a suitable fabric, and each carrying a row of interlocking elements, such as teeth. One row terminates at a stop member which has an aperture therein and, in one type of separable zipper, this aperture extends all the way through the stop member. The other row of interlocking elements terminates in a lug. A slider has a generally Y-shaped channel extending therethrough, the slider being captured on the first row of interlocking elements by receiving that row through one side of the Y-shaped channel. 
   To operate the zipper to a closed condition, the slider is moved to a terminal position against the stop member, wherein the stem of the Y-shaped channel aligns with the aperture in the stop member. Then the lug of the other stringer is inserted in the aperture formed by the other side of the Y-shaped channel in the slider and downwardly through the stem portion of the channel and into the aligned aperture of the stop member, pulling the other row of interlocking elements into the channel of the slider. Then, as the lug is held in the aperture of the stop member, the slider is moved upwardly away from the stop member, drawing the two rows of interlocking elements sequentially into interlocking engagement with each other, all in a well-known manner. 
   In some zippers, the stop member does not have an aperture therein. Instead, two sliders are provided, disposed in back-to-back arrangement on the one row of interlocking elements. To operate the zipper, the lower slider is moved to a terminal position against the stop member and the upper slider is moved against the lower slider. Then the lug of the other stringer is inserted in the apertures formed by the two sliders. When the upper slider is moved upwardly away from the lower slider, the two rows of interlocking elements are drawn into interlocking engagement with each other in the same manner as described above. However, in this case, the closed zipper can be opened from either end, by lowering the upper slider or raising the lower slider. 
   It is significant that, during insertion of the lug into the apertures, the slider must be held in its terminal position against the stop member or, in the two-slider zipper, the upper slider must be held against the lower slider while in its terminal position. This requires some manual dexterity and is often a difficult, and perhaps impossible, operation for persons with impaired dexterity, such as persons suffering from arthritis and the like. Efforts have heretofore been made to provide zipper arrangements which facilitate operation. However, such prior arrangements have all involved modifications to the zipper itself. Thus, in order to use such an arrangement, the user would have to purchase a garment or other object having such a modified zipper already installed thereon, or replace a standard zipper with the modified zipper design, which may be relatively expensive and inconvenient. 
   SUMMARY 
   This application discloses a technique for operating a separable slide fastener which avoids disadvantages of prior techniques while affording additional structural and operating advantages. 
   An aspect is the provision of a method and device for holding the slider of a separable slide fastener in a terminal position to facilitate fastening of the slide fastener. 
   A further aspect is the provision of a method and device of the type set forth for facilitating the operation of dual-slider slide fasteners. 
   Another aspect is the provision of a method and device of the type set forth which is of simple and economical construction. 
   Yet another aspect is the provision of the device of the type set forth which can easily be carried on or attached to the separable slide fastener or the object of which the fastener is a part. 
   Still another aspect is the provision of a technique of the type set forth which requires minimal manual dexterity. 
   Certain ones of these and other aspects may be attained by providing, a device for facilitating operation of a separable slide fastener having a pair of stringers respectively carrying first and second rows of interlocking elements, the first row terminating at a stop member having a first aperture therethrough, and a slider movable along the first row and having a second aperture therethrough and disposable in a terminal position against the stop member with the second aperture aligned with the first aperture, wherein the second row terminates in a lug receivable in the aligned apertures from the second aperture to the first aperture when the slider is in the terminal position to permit interlocking of the rows of elements by movement of the slider therealong, the device comprising: a device for facilitating operation of a separable slide fastener having a pair of stringers respectively carrying first and second rows of interlocking elements, the first row terminating at a stop member having a first aperture therethrough, and a slider movable along the first row and having a second aperture therethrough and disposable in a terminal position against the stop member with the second aperture aligned with the first aperture, wherein the second row terminates in a lug receivable in the aligned apertures from the second aperture to the first aperture when the slider is in the terminal position to permit interlocking of the rows of elements by movement of the slider there along, the device comprising: a handle adapted to be easily grasped by a user; and retention structure coupled to the handle and engageable with the slider and the stop member in a retaining position for holding the slider in its terminal position, the retention structure being displaceable from its retaining position during insertion of the lug into the aligned second and first apertures. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of the subject matter sought to be protected, there are illustrated in the accompanying drawings embodiments thereof, from an inspection of which, when considered in connection with the following description, the subject matter sought to be protected, its construction and operation, and many of its advantages should be readily understood and appreciated. 
       FIG. 1  is a fragmentary front elevational view of a portion of a separable zipper illustrating use of a facilitating device in accordance with a first embodiment shown engaged with a stop member of the zipper; 
       FIG. 2  is a view similar to  FIG. 1 , illustrating the slider in its terminal position and the facilitating device in engagement with the slider; 
       FIG. 3  is a view similar to  FIG. 2 , illustrating insertion of the zipper lug; 
       FIG. 4  is a view similar to  FIG. 3 , showing the fastened zipper and illustrating attachment of the facilitating device to the slider; 
       FIG. 5  is a view similar to  FIG. 2 , illustrating another embodiment of the facilitating device; 
       FIG. 6  is a view similar to  FIG. 5 , illustrating yet another embodiment of facilitating device; 
       FIG. 7  is a front elevational view of the facilitating device of  FIG. 1  in its normal rest position; 
       FIG. 8  is a front elevational view of the facilitating device of  FIG. 5  in its normal rest position; 
       FIG. 9  is a front elevational view of the facilitating device of  FIG. 6 , in it is normal rest position; 
       FIG. 10  is a view similar to  FIG. 1 , illustrating operation of the facilitating device thereof with a dual-slider zipper; 
       FIG. 11  is a view similar to  FIG. 2 , illustrating operation of the device with a dual-slider zipper; and 
       FIG. 12  is a view similar to  FIG. 3 , illustrating operation of the device with a dual-slider zipper. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1-4 , there is illustrated an object  10 , which may be in the nature of a garment, such as a jacket or the like, incorporating a slide fastener  11  in the nature of a zipper of known construction. The zipper includes two stringers  12  and  13 , which may be formed of a suitable fabric, and are respectively fixedly secured by suitable means to the portions of the object  10  to be joined by the slide fastener  11 . The stringers  12  and  13  respectively carry rows of interlocking elements or teeth  14  and  15 , the row of teeth  15  terminating in an elongated lug  16 . The row of teeth  14  terminates in a stop member  20 , which has an elongated base portion  21  integral with the stringer  12  and a socket portion  22  which projects laterally from the base portion  21 . The socket portion  22  includes a pair of parallel, rectangular legs  23  and  23   a  (see  FIGS. 1 and 4 ) respectively provided at their distal ends with flanges  24  (one shown) which project toward each other. The legs  23 ,  23   a  cooperate to define therebetween an aperture  25  which extends longitudinally through the stop member  20 , the flanges  24  being spaced apart by a narrow gap which defines a slot  26  communicating with the aperture  25 . 
   The slide fastener  11  also includes slider  30 , which includes a pair of plates  31  (see  FIGS. 1 and 4 ) joined at one end thereof by a bridge  32 . Each plate  31  is provided along opposite side edges thereof with a flange  33  (one shown) projecting toward the opposite plate, the flanges  33  on a side being spaced apart to define a narrow slot  34  therebetween (see FIG.  2 ). Thus, the plates  31 , the bridge  32  and the flanges  33  cooperate to define in the slider  30  a generally Y-shaped channel  35  having a pair of arm portions  36  and  37  which converge to form a stem portion  38  (see FIG.  1 ). The slider  30  is trapped on the row of teeth  14 , which are received through one side of the Y-shaped channel  35 , the stringer  12  being accommodated in the slot  34  between the flanges  33 , so that the slider  30  is freely slidably moveable along the row of teeth  14 , all in a known manner. The slider  30  has a lug  39  which pivotally carries a pull tab  39   a . The rows of teeth  13  and  14 , the lug  16 , the stop member  20  and the slider  30  may all be formed of metal or a suitable plastic or composite material. 
   In normal operation, in order to close the slide fastener  11 , the slider  30  is first slid down to a terminal position against the socket portion  22  of the stop member  20 , with the upper end of the base portion  21  of the stop member  20  being received in the stem portion  38  of the Y-shaped channel  35 , as shown in FIG.  2 . The slider  30  must then be manually held in this terminal position while the lug  16  is inserted downwardly through the arm portion  37  and stem portion  38  of the Y-shaped channel  35 , and then sent to the aperture  25  in the socket portion  22  of the stop member  20 , the stringer  13  being accommodated in the slot  34  of the slider  30  and the slot  26  of the stop member  20 . The slider  30  may then be slid upwardly away from the stop member  20 , drawing the rows of teeth  14  and  15  sequentially into interlocking engagement with each other, as seen in  FIG. 4 , all in a known manner. As was indicated above, this process, and particularly manually holding the slider  30  against the stop member  20 , requires a degree of manual dexterity which may be difficult or nearly impossible for certain persons, such as those suffering from arthritis or the like. 
   Referring also to  FIG. 7 , in order to alleviate this situation, there is provided a facilitating device, generally designated by the numeral  40 , which includes a base or handle  41 , which may be of any desired size and shape and may be formed of any suitable relatively rigid material. The handle  41  may have an opening  42  formed therethrough. Integral with the handle  41  and projecting from one side thereof is a retention structure  48 , which includes a post  43 , which may be substantially cylindrical in the shape and may be formed of any suitable, relatively rigid material. The post  43  is dimensioned to be freely receivable in the aperture  25  of the stop member  20  and in the stem portion  38  and arm portion  37  of the Y-shaped channel  35  of the slider  30 . The retention structure  48  also includes a grip arm  44 , which is integral with the handle  41  and projects therefrom generally alongside the post  43 . The grip arm  44  may be undulating in shape, having plural longitudinally spaced-apart peaks or crests, two of which,  45  and  46 , are illustrated. Preferably, in the at-rest condition of the facilitating device  40 , the crests  45  and  46  of the grip arm  44  are spaced from the post  43  a distance slightly less than the thickness of the flanges  24  and  33  of the stop member  20  and slider  30 . The post  43  and the grip arm  44  may be formed of the same or different materials, but both are relatively rigid and, at least the grip arm  44  is somewhat flexible and resilient, so that it may be resiliently flexed from its at-rest condition toward and away from the post  43 . The post  43  and the grip arm  44  may be formed of a suitable metal, such as a spring steel or the like. The distal end of the grip arm  44  may diverge from the post  43  to form a relatively wide entry opening  47  (see FIG.  7 ). Each of the grip arm  44  and post  43  may be slightly thicker than the width of either of the slots  26  and  34  to prevent passage therethrough. 
   In operation, the distal end of the post  43  is inserted upwardly through the aperture  25  in the stop member  20 , either before or after the slider  30  has been moved to its terminal position. The grip arm  44  will be flexed slightly away from the post  43  during this operation to permit passage of the flange  24  therebetween, this passage being facilitated by the wide entry opening  47 . Insertion continues until the distal end of the post  43  is disposed well within the Y-shaped channel  35  of the slider  30  (see FIG.  2 ). During this insertion, the post  43  and the grip arm  44  cooperate to frictionally grip therebetween a flange  33  of the slider  30  and a flange  24  of the stop member  20 , thereby frictionally holding the facilitating device  40  in place thereon and also frictionally holding the slider  30  in its terminal position against the stop member  20 , as seen in FIG.  2 . 
   The facilitating device  40  may then either be released or the user may continue to hold it while the lug  16  is inserted downwardly through the aperture defined by the right-hand side of the Y-shaped channel  35  in the slider  30  and into the aperture  25  of the stop member  20 , as viewed in FIG.  3 . While the user may choose to continue grasping the handle  41  of the device  40  during this operation, that will be much easier than it is to manually hold the slider  30  and the stop member  20  together. Alternatively, the user can simply release the device  40  and grasp an adjacent edge of the garment or the other object  10 . As the lug  16  passes through the Y-shaped channel  35  and the aperture  25 , it engages the distal end of the post  43  and displaces the post  43  from the apertures. If desired, the device  40  may be attached to the slider  30 , as by suitable cord  48 , or the like, extending between the opening  42  in the device  40  and a corresponding opening in the pull tab  39   a  of the slider  30 , as shown in FIG.  4 . This way the device  40  will not become detached when it is completely displaced from the stop member  20 . 
   After the lug  16  has been fully inserted in the slider  30  and stop member  20 , the slider  30  may be pulled upwardly to close the slide fastener  11  in the usual manner. 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 5 and 8 , there is illustrated an alternative facilitating device, generally designated by the numeral  50 , which has an enlarged base or handle  51 , which, in the illustrated embodiment, is generally knob-shaped, but may have any desired size and shape. Secured to the handle  51  is one end of a retention structure in the form of an elongated arch or hoop  52  which has a pair of legs  53  and  54  joined by a bight  55 . The arch  52  may be formed of any suitable flexible and resilient material, such as a suitable metal, plastic or composite. In the at-rest condition of the arch  52 , the legs  53  and  54  are spaced apart a distance greater than the distance between the base portion  21  and the flanges  24  of the stop member  20 , the arch  52  being relatively long and narrow so that the bight  55  is relatively pointed. 
   In operation, the bight  55  of the arch  52  is inserted upwardly through the aperture  25  in the stop member  20  and into the stem portion  38  of the Y-shaped channel  35  in the slider  30  in its terminal position, as illustrated in FIG.  5 . The arch  52  has a length such that it can be inserted well up into the Y-shaped channel  35 , the legs  53  and  54  being flexed together toward each other during this insertion operation, but the normal outward bias of the legs  53  and  54  holding them firmly in frictional engagement with the adjacent surfaces of the base portion  21  and flange  24  of the stop member  20  and the flange  33  of the slider  30 . Thus, the device  50  is retained in place in the apertures  25  and  35  and also serves to hold the slider  30  in its terminal position. 
   Thereafter, operation of the zipper  11  proceeds in the same manner as was described above in connection with  FIGS. 1-4 , the insertion of the lug  16  into the apertures  35  and  25  serving to displace the arch  52  therefrom. It will be appreciated that, if desired, the handle  51  could also be attached to the pull tab  39   a  of the slider  30  or to any other desired portion of the object  10  to retain the device  50  after its displacement from the stop member  20 . 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 6 and 8 , there is illustrated another embodiment of facilitating device, generally designated by the numeral  60 , which is of unitary one-piece construction and may be formed of any suitable relatively rigid but flexible and resilient material, such as suitable plastic or composite, or a metal, such as spring steel. The device  60  includes an elongated post  61 , which may be similar in size and shape to the post  43  of the device  40 , described above, and which is joined at one end thereof by a generally U-shaped bight  62  to an elongated grip arm  63 , which is substantially parallel to the post  61  and is spaced there from a distance slightly less than the thickness of the flanges  24  and  33  of the stop member  20  and slider  30 . The post  61  and the grip arm  63  cooperate to form a retention structure. Integral with the distal end of the grip arm  63  and extending laterally outwardly and downwardly therefrom and back to the outer surface of the grip arm  63  is an enlarged handle loop  65 , which may have any desired size and shape. 
   The operation of the facilitating device  60  is substantially similar to that of a device  40 , described above, the post  61  being inserted into the apertures  25  and  35  from therebelow and the post  61  and grip arm  63  cooperating to frictionally grip therebetween the flanges  24  and  33  of the stop member  20  and a slider  30 , as is illustrated in FIG.  6 . Of course, the device  60  may be attached by suitable means to the slider pull tab  39   a  or other portion of the object  10 , as described above. 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 10-12 , there is illustrated a slide fastener, generally designated by the numeral  70 , which is similar to the slide fastener  11 , described above, but is provided with two sliders for double-ended opening of the fastener. The slide fastener  70  includes two stringers  72  and  73 , respectively provided with rows of interlocking elements or teeth  74  and  75 , the row of teeth  75  terminating in an elongated lug  76 . The row of teeth  74  terminates in a stop member  78 , which has a widened stop portion  79  at the distal end thereof. 
   The slide fastener  70  includes a slider  30  is substantially identical to that disclosed above in connection with  FIGS. 1-4 , whereby the same reference numerals will be used as were used with respect to those figures, and also includes a second slider  30 A which may be substantially identical to the slider  30 , but is arranged in reverse orientation, with its narrow end pointing upwardly toward the narrow end of the slider  30 . The parts of the slider  30 A will be designated with the same reference numerals as were used for like parts of the slider  30 , but with the suffix “A”. 
   In normal operation, in order to close the slide fastener  70 , the slider  30 A is first slid down to a terminal position, wherein one of the flanges  33 A thereof engages the stop portion  79  of the stop member  78 , as illustrated in FIG.  10 . Then the slider  30  is slid downwardly into abutting relationship with the slider  30 A. The two sliders  30  and  30 A then are manually held in this position while the lug  76  is inserted downwardly through the arm portion  37  and stem portion  38  of the channel of the slider  30 , and then into the stem portion  38 A of the slider  30 A, moving the lug  76  substantially into abutting relationship with the stop member  78 . The slider  30  may then be slit upwardly away from the slider  30 A, drawing the rows of teeth  74  and  75  sequentially into interlocking engagement with each other, all in a known manner. This process, and particularly manually holding the sliders  30  and  30 A together in the terminal position of the slider  30 A requires a degree of manual dexterity which may be difficult or nearly impossible for certain persons, such as those suffering from arthritis or the like. 
   The facilitating device  40  may be used to alleviate this situation. In operation, the distal end of the post  43  is inserted upwardly through the arm  36 A of the channel of the slider  30 A while the slider  30 A is in its terminal position illustrated in  FIG. 10 , and either before or after the slider  30  has been moved into abutting relationship with the slider  30 A. As can be seen in  FIG. 11 , the flanges  33 A and  33  of the sliders  30 A and  30  are resiliently gripped between the post  43  and the grip arm  44  of the facilitating device  40 , with the crest  46  engaging the flange  33 A of the slider  30 A and the crest  45  engaging the flange  33  of the slider  30 , as can be seen in FIG.  11 . 
   The facilitating device  40  may then either be released or the user may continue to hold it while the lug  76  is inserted downwardly through the apertures in the sliders  30  and  30 A, the lug  76  engaging the post  43  and displacing it from the apertures as the lug  76  is inserted. 
   After the lug  76  has been fully inserted in the sliders  30  and  30 A, the slider  30  may be pulled upwardly to close the slide fastener  70  in the usual manner. Once the slide fastener  11  has thus been closed, it may be opened from either end, either by pulling the slider  30  back downwardly toward the stop member  78  or pulling the slider  30 A upwardly away from the stop member  78 , all in a known manner. 
   It will be appreciated that the facilitating devices  50  and  60  may also be used with the dual-slider slide fastener  70 , with appropriate changes in the lengths of the arch  52  of the device  50  and the post  61  and grip arm  63  of the device  60 . 
   While several specific sizes and shapes of facilitating devices have been described above, it will be appreciated that other sizes and shapes could be provided. Furthermore, while the disclosed devices utilize different forms of frictional engagement with the associated slide fastener, it will be appreciated that it would be possible to utilize other types of engagement. For example, in the case of metal slide fasteners, the facilitating device might be magnetically attachable to the slider and stop member of the slide fastener. 
   From the foregoing, it can be seen that there has been provided a simple and inexpensive device which can be easily manipulated, even by a person with impaired manual dexterity, to hold a zipper slider  30  in its terminal position against the stop member during insertion of the lug, greatly facilitating operation of the zipper. 
   The matter set forth in the foregoing description and accompanying drawings is offered by way of illustration only and not as a limitation. While particular embodiments have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the broader aspects of applicant&#39;s contribution. The actual scope of the protection sought is intended to be defined in the following claims when viewed in their proper perspective based on the prior art.