EP0840559A1 - Tooth with two heads and two slots for zippers that can be operated in two directions - Google Patents
Tooth with two heads and two slots for zippers that can be operated in two directionsInfo
- Publication number
- EP0840559A1 EP0840559A1 EP97914506A EP97914506A EP0840559A1 EP 0840559 A1 EP0840559 A1 EP 0840559A1 EP 97914506 A EP97914506 A EP 97914506A EP 97914506 A EP97914506 A EP 97914506A EP 0840559 A1 EP0840559 A1 EP 0840559A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- tooth
- heads
- teeth
- zipper
- channel
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A44—HABERDASHERY; JEWELLERY
- A44B—BUTTONS, PINS, BUCKLES, SLIDE FASTENERS, OR THE LIKE
- A44B19/00—Slide fasteners
- A44B19/42—Making by processes not fully provided for in one other class, e.g. B21D53/50, B21F45/18, B22D17/16, B29D5/00
- A44B19/44—Securing metal interlocking members to ready-made stringer tapes
- A44B19/46—Securing separate interlocking members
- A44B19/48—Arranging interlocking members before securing
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A44—HABERDASHERY; JEWELLERY
- A44B—BUTTONS, PINS, BUCKLES, SLIDE FASTENERS, OR THE LIKE
- A44B19/00—Slide fasteners
- A44B19/02—Slide fasteners with a series of separate interlocking members secured to each stringer tape
- A44B19/04—Stringers arranged edge-to-edge when fastened, e.g. abutting stringers
- A44B19/06—Stringers arranged edge-to-edge when fastened, e.g. abutting stringers with substantially rectangular members having interlocking projections and pieces
Definitions
- This invention pertains to the area of technology of the production of zip fasteners, also known as zippers.
- these devices make it possible to reversibly connect two edges made of, e.g. , cloth or leather, on both of which are mounted a number of adjacent teeth that are arranged facing one another and shaped in such a way that the teeth fit together, thus being locked together, as a result of the action of a slide that is moved by hand in such a way as to cause it to travel along the zip fastener line that is to be closed.
- the securing, with respect to one another, of the teeth that are mounted on the two opposing edges is accom ⁇ plished by means of the slide, which causes the projecting parts of the heads on each tooth to mate with the recesses with matching zipper slots provided on a opposing adjacent tooth.
- the teeth are shaped in such a way that the zipper can be opened or closed by activating either of two slides that face in opposite directions.
- said teeth are made in a shape having bilateral symmetry and each have two tapered heads that face in opposite directions and two matching anchoring slots that are shaped accordingly.
- the meshing of a series of teeth is accomplished by gripping their two attachment tabs on an edge of the element to which the zipper is to be secured, whereby the attachment operations are preceded by the orienting of each tooth, which is taken from a feed magazine, in the position that is appropriate for the methods of operating the device that then secures said teeth.
- the task of selecting and orienting the teeth is fairly complex and often requires the use of sophisticated devices that produce high-frequency vibration, as well as various devices that help align the teeth in the desired position.
- the inventor of this invention has conceived of a zipper tooth which opens in both directions and which has characteristics that make the above-described operations of selection and orientation very simple.
- the main characteristic of this invention is the fact that the two above-mentioned tapered symmetrical heads both project to a predetermined extent with respect to the lateral profile of the tooth and can serve as supports around which the teeth, which are previously arranged vertically, can turn under the action of gravity alone, thus arranging themselves in identical adjacent and perfectly aligned positions, e.g., inside a guide channel whose width is less than the distance between the tops of the heads themselves, which consequently rest on its outer edges.
- the object of this invention is actually a bilater ⁇ ally symmetrical zipper tooth that can open in two directions and is equipped with attachment tabs, two tapered heads, and two anchoring slots which make it possible to both open and close the zipper using either of two slides that face in opposite directions, wherein the distance between the tops of the two tapered heads is greater than the thickness of the other parts of the tooth itself, so that the two heads can act as a support around which the tooth can turn under the action of gravity.
- the object of the invention also includes a process for ensuring the selection and orientation of the teeth that are made according to the invention.
- Fig. 1 shows a front view of an embodiment of the tooth according to the invention
- - Fig. 2 shows a side view of two adjacent teeth of the type depicted in Fig. 1 hooked together;
- - Figs. 3, 4, and 5 show the major phases of the process of selecting and orienting the teeth with the aid of a guide channel;
- - Fig. 6 shows a top view of the guide channel that support a tooth.
- a tooth In that is produced according to the invention is shown in Figs. 1 and 2; said tooth includes two tabs 2, 7 stretched apart, two slots 5, 6, and two tapered heads 3 , 4 that are symmetrical with respect to median plane ⁇ of tooth in itself.
- Distance d between tops 3a, 4a of two heads 3, 4 is greater than the thickness of the other parts of tooth In, i.e., maximum transverse thickness t of tabs 2, 7, such that said two heads 3, 4 can be used as support points for tooth In on two opposing flat supports 8b, 8d (see Figs. 5 and 6) that are less far apart than distance d between tops 3a, 4a and further apart than maximum trans ⁇ verse thickness t of tabs 2, 7.
- tooth In can be made to turn around the support points on two tapered heads 3, 4 with their tabs 2, 7 interposed between said opposing flat supports 8b, 8d.
- Said opposing flat supports 8b, 8d constitute the inner walls- of a guide channel 8 (Figs. 5, 6) in order to advantageously simplify, as indicated in the preamble, the process of selecting and aligning the teeth so that they can be placed on the edges of the zip closure that is to be made.
- this process includes only the phases of picking up the teeth (Fig. 3) from a feed magazine (not shown) , orienting the teeth in the vertical direction (Fig. 4) , noting their position in order to align them (Fig. 5) with respect to one another in a vertical plane ⁇ , and moving them forward (see arrow A) in this position until they reach a vertical guide channel 8 whose width 1 is smaller than distance d between tops 3a, 4a of heads 3, 4 of teeth In and larger than the thickness of all the other parts of the teeth themselves (in practice larger than transverse thickness t of tabs 2, 7) .
- each tooth In is oriented, turning as shown in Fig. 5 around the contact points between two tapered heads 3, 4 and edges 8b, 8d of guide channel 8, in such a way as to assume the position from which the force of gravity applied to its center of gravity turns out to be perpendicular to the segment that connects the two support points of the two symmetrical heads and all of the teeth, which are alike, turn out to be aligned and oriented in an identical fashion.
- each tooth slides (see arrow B) along channel 8, supported by heads 3, 4, toward its lower end 8i, which is located close to device 9 which is supposed to grasp the teeth and clamp them in such a way as to form the edges of a zipper.
- Fig. 5 the device is depicted in schematic form only since its characteristics, which are well known to one skilled in the art, are not the object of this invention. Also, the devices for orienting the teeth before they are directed into guide channel 8 are not depicted since there are various types of such devices (rollers, parallel walls, etc.) that are well known to one skilled in the art.
Landscapes
- Slide Fasteners (AREA)
Abstract
In a bilaterally symmetrical zipper tooth (1n) for opening in two directions which is equipped with attachment tabs (2, 7), two tapered heads (3, 4), and two anchoring slots (5, 6) which make it possible to both open and close the zipper with the aid of either of two slides that face in opposite directions, distance (d) between tops (3a, 4a) of two tapered heads (3, 4) is greater than maximum thickness (t) of the other parts of the tooth itself, such that the heads can act as a support inside of which the tooth can turn under to action of gravity.
Description
Tooth with Two Heads and Two Slots For Zippers That Can be Operated in Two Directions.
This invention pertains to the area of technology of the production of zip fasteners, also known as zippers.
As we know, these devices make it possible to reversibly connect two edges made of, e.g. , cloth or leather, on both of which are mounted a number of adjacent teeth that are arranged facing one another and shaped in such a way that the teeth fit together, thus being locked together, as a result of the action of a slide that is moved by hand in such a way as to cause it to travel along the zip fastener line that is to be closed.
By operating said slide in the opposite direction, the teeth are disengaged and the zipper is thus opened.
The securing, with respect to one another, of the teeth that are mounted on the two opposing edges is accom¬ plished by means of the slide, which causes the projecting parts of the heads on each tooth to mate with the recesses with matching zipper slots provided on a opposing adjacent tooth.
In some embodiments of zippers that are suitable for closing purses or suitcases, the teeth are shaped in such a
way that the zipper can be opened or closed by activating either of two slides that face in opposite directions.
For this purpose said teeth are made in a shape having bilateral symmetry and each have two tapered heads that face in opposite directions and two matching anchoring slots that are shaped accordingly.
The meshing of a series of teeth is accomplished by gripping their two attachment tabs on an edge of the element to which the zipper is to be secured, whereby the attachment operations are preceded by the orienting of each tooth, which is taken from a feed magazine, in the position that is appropriate for the methods of operating the device that then secures said teeth.
In view of the limited dimensions of the teeth and the large number of curves and corners that they have, the task of selecting and orienting the teeth is fairly complex and often requires the use of sophisticated devices that produce high-frequency vibration, as well as various devices that help align the teeth in the desired position.
The inventor of this invention has conceived of a zipper tooth which opens in both directions and which has characteristics that make the above-described operations of selection and orientation very simple.
The main characteristic of this invention is the fact that the two above-mentioned tapered symmetrical heads both project to a predetermined extent with respect to the lateral profile of the tooth and can serve as supports around
which the teeth, which are previously arranged vertically, can turn under the action of gravity alone, thus arranging themselves in identical adjacent and perfectly aligned positions, e.g., inside a guide channel whose width is less than the distance between the tops of the heads themselves, which consequently rest on its outer edges.
The object of this invention is actually a bilater¬ ally symmetrical zipper tooth that can open in two directions and is equipped with attachment tabs, two tapered heads, and two anchoring slots which make it possible to both open and close the zipper using either of two slides that face in opposite directions, wherein the distance between the tops of the two tapered heads is greater than the thickness of the other parts of the tooth itself, so that the two heads can act as a support around which the tooth can turn under the action of gravity.
The object of the invention also includes a process for ensuring the selection and orientation of the teeth that are made according to the invention.
A more detailed description will now be given of a zipper tooth according to the invention and of the process; in said description reference will be made to the attached drawings, where:
- Fig. 1 shows a front view of an embodiment of the tooth according to the invention;
- Fig. 2 shows a side view of two adjacent teeth of the type depicted in Fig. 1 hooked together;
- Figs. 3, 4, and 5 show the major phases of the process of selecting and orienting the teeth with the aid of a guide channel;
- Fig. 6 shows a top view of the guide channel that support a tooth.
The shape of a tooth In that is produced according to the invention is shown in Figs. 1 and 2; said tooth includes two tabs 2, 7 stretched apart, two slots 5, 6, and two tapered heads 3 , 4 that are symmetrical with respect to median plane γ of tooth in itself. Distance d between tops 3a, 4a of two heads 3, 4 is greater than the thickness of the other parts of tooth In, i.e., maximum transverse thickness t of tabs 2, 7, such that said two heads 3, 4 can be used as support points for tooth In on two opposing flat supports 8b, 8d (see Figs. 5 and 6) that are less far apart than distance d between tops 3a, 4a and further apart than maximum trans¬ verse thickness t of tabs 2, 7.
Thus, tooth In can be made to turn around the support points on two tapered heads 3, 4 with their tabs 2, 7 interposed between said opposing flat supports 8b, 8d.
Said opposing flat supports 8b, 8d constitute the inner walls- of a guide channel 8 (Figs. 5, 6) in order to advantageously simplify, as indicated in the preamble, the process of selecting and aligning the teeth so that they can be placed on the edges of the zip closure that is to be made.
When teeth made according to this invention are used, this process includes only the phases of picking up the
teeth (Fig. 3) from a feed magazine (not shown) , orienting the teeth in the vertical direction (Fig. 4) , noting their position in order to align them (Fig. 5) with respect to one another in a vertical plane υ , and moving them forward (see arrow A) in this position until they reach a vertical guide channel 8 whose width 1 is smaller than distance d between tops 3a, 4a of heads 3, 4 of teeth In and larger than the thickness of all the other parts of the teeth themselves (in practice larger than transverse thickness t of tabs 2, 7) .
At this point, regardless of its angular orienta¬ tion, each tooth In is oriented, turning as shown in Fig. 5 around the contact points between two tapered heads 3, 4 and edges 8b, 8d of guide channel 8, in such a way as to assume the position from which the force of gravity applied to its center of gravity turns out to be perpendicular to the segment that connects the two support points of the two symmetrical heads and all of the teeth, which are alike, turn out to be aligned and oriented in an identical fashion.
If the appropriate slope a is imparted to guide channel 8, each tooth slides (see arrow B) along channel 8, supported by heads 3, 4, toward its lower end 8i, which is located close to device 9 which is supposed to grasp the teeth and clamp them in such a way as to form the edges of a zipper.
In Fig. 5 the device is depicted in schematic form only since its characteristics, which are well known to one skilled in the art, are not the object of this invention. Also, the devices for orienting the teeth before they are
directed into guide channel 8 are not depicted since there are various types of such devices (rollers, parallel walls, etc.) that are well known to one skilled in the art.
The zipper tooth according to the invention, as well as the procedure for aligning a number of them in order to direct them at the grasping stage have been described herein and depicted according to preferred implementations, which may be modified by one skilled in the art in accordance with various production requirements.
Other implementations that are different but can be traced back to the attached claims thus fall within the scope of the protection conferred by this patent application.
Claims
1. Bilaterally symmetrical zipper tooth (In) for opening in two directions which is equipped with attachment tabs (2, 7) , two tapered heads (3, 4) , and two anchoring slots
(5, 6) which make it possible to both open and close the zipper with the aid of either of two slides that face in opposite directions, characterized by the fact that distance
(d) between tops (3a, 4a) of two tapered heads (3, 4) is greater than maximum thickness (t) of the other parts of the tooth itself, such that the heads can act as a support around which the tooth can turn under the action of gravity.
2. Procedure for selecting, aligning, and directing to their application points on the edges of a zipper bilater¬ ally symmetrical teeth (In) as described in Claim 1, each of which is equipped with attachment tabs (2, 7) , two tapered heads (3, 4) , and two anchoring slots (5, 6) that make it possible to both open and close the zipper with the aid of either of two slides that face in opposite directions, characterized by the fact that the following phases are included: a) picking up of teeth (In) from a feed magazine; b) orienting of the teeth in the vertical direction; c) noting their position in such a way as to align them with one another in a vertical plane ( υ ) ; d) moving said teeth (In) , thus aligned, forward and directing them into a vertical guide channel (8) whose width (1) is less than distance (d) between two tops (3a, 4a) of two heads (3, 4) of a tooth and greater than thickness (t) of all the other parts of the tooth itself, such that each tooth (In) , upon entering said channel, is automatically oriented by gravity with said tapered heads that rest on edges (8b, 8d) of the channel itself, whereby said channel is inclined with regard to horizontal (o) at an angle {a) that is sufficient to cause the teeth, supported on edges (8b, 8d) of channel (8) itself by heads (3, 4) , to slide along the channel down to its lower end (8i) , which is arranged close to a device (9) that is able to grasp each tooth and secure it in a predetermined position on the edges of the zipper.
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CH1290/96 | 1996-05-22 | ||
| CH129096A CH690893A5 (en) | 1996-05-22 | 1996-05-22 | To-two heads and two slots for hinges operated in two directions. |
| PCT/IB1997/000376 WO1997043920A1 (en) | 1996-05-22 | 1997-04-09 | Tooth with two heads and two slots for zippers that can be operated in two directions |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| EP0840559A1 true EP0840559A1 (en) | 1998-05-13 |
Family
ID=4206975
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| EP97914506A Withdrawn EP0840559A1 (en) | 1996-05-22 | 1997-04-09 | Tooth with two heads and two slots for zippers that can be operated in two directions |
Country Status (4)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP0840559A1 (en) |
| AU (1) | AU2174097A (en) |
| CH (1) | CH690893A5 (en) |
| WO (1) | WO1997043920A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ES2648252T3 (en) * | 2010-04-28 | 2017-12-29 | Ykk Corporation | Double-sided metal tooth and zip closure |
Family Cites Families (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US1653320A (en) * | 1924-04-30 | 1927-12-20 | Hookless Fastener Co | Making fastener stringers |
| FR942210A (en) * | 1947-02-21 | 1949-02-02 | Color Metal A G | Method and apparatus for ordering the jaws of instantaneous closures in a corridor |
| GB657795A (en) * | 1949-02-12 | 1951-09-26 | Karl Friedrich Nagele | Sliding clasp fastener machine with sorting device |
| US3136046A (en) * | 1961-04-06 | 1964-06-09 | Talon Inc | Method of manufacturing slide fastener elements |
| DE2208629A1 (en) * | 1972-02-24 | 1973-09-06 | Depe Reissverschlussfabrik K D | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR MANUFACTURING ZIPPER LINKS |
| FR2479043A1 (en) * | 1980-03-31 | 1981-10-02 | Yoshida Kogyo Kk | Mfr. of slide clasp fastener coupling elements - stamped from metal band to form projection and pair of teeth |
-
1996
- 1996-05-22 CH CH129096A patent/CH690893A5/en not_active IP Right Cessation
-
1997
- 1997-04-09 AU AU21740/97A patent/AU2174097A/en not_active Abandoned
- 1997-04-09 WO PCT/IB1997/000376 patent/WO1997043920A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1997-04-09 EP EP97914506A patent/EP0840559A1/en not_active Withdrawn
Non-Patent Citations (1)
| Title |
|---|
| See references of WO9743920A1 * |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| WO1997043920A1 (en) | 1997-11-27 |
| CH690893A5 (en) | 2001-02-28 |
| AU2174097A (en) | 1997-12-09 |
Similar Documents
| Publication | Publication Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| US5217034A (en) | Tent combination | |
| RU2004139062A (en) | Duvet cover | |
| US8910351B2 (en) | Zipper slider assembly | |
| US3950823A (en) | Tie clasp | |
| US2841850A (en) | Fastening device | |
| WO1997043920A1 (en) | Tooth with two heads and two slots for zippers that can be operated in two directions | |
| US4106123A (en) | Article of jewelry | |
| CN106583255A (en) | Pulling piece sorting and transmitting device and pulling head assembly equipment | |
| US5511706A (en) | Handcuff carrying apparatus | |
| US2724119A (en) | Gloves | |
| US2683910A (en) | Fastener device | |
| US2157828A (en) | Sliding clasp fastener | |
| JP6961017B2 (en) | Methods and equipment for the manufacture of fitbed sheets | |
| GB1517200A (en) | Apparatus and method for attaching sliding clasp fasteners to sheet material | |
| US2800941A (en) | Key case | |
| US1598183A (en) | Fastener | |
| IL31234A (en) | Zip-fastener | |
| US2780399A (en) | Knitting basket | |
| US1889389A (en) | Hand bag | |
| JPS60114204A (en) | Gripper apparatus in finish processing of slide fastener | |
| CN209825406U (en) | Curve matching pull head and zipper | |
| FR2142934A1 (en) | Shuttle-less loom - in which jaws retain weft and advance it to the weave before beating up | |
| EP0446669A1 (en) | Bag, hand-bag, and any like travelling bag, with folding bag-closing upper means | |
| US2382261A (en) | Slide operated fastener | |
| US1236784A (en) | Separable fastener. |
Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| PUAI | Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012 |
|
| 17P | Request for examination filed |
Effective date: 19980128 |
|
| AK | Designated contracting states |
Kind code of ref document: A1 Designated state(s): AT BE CH DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI NL PT SE |
|
| 17Q | First examination report despatched |
Effective date: 19991214 |
|
| STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN |
|
| 18W | Application withdrawn |
Withdrawal date: 20000310 |