EP1029464A1

EP1029464A1 - Invisible zipper

Info

Publication number: EP1029464A1
Application number: EP99300962A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Roger Chun Yen Chung
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-02-10
Filing date: 1999-02-10
Publication date: 2000-08-23

Abstract

An invisible zipper includes two zipper tapes (1a,1b), two rows of interlocking teeth (2a,2b) respectively fastened to the zipper tapes (1a,1b), and a slide (3) movable to close/open the teeth (2a,2b), wherein the teeth (2a,2b) are injection-moulded on respective folded sides edges of the zipper tapes (1a,1b), each tooth having an upper clamping wall (21a,21b) wrapped in the folded side edge of one zipper tape (1a,1b), and a lower clamping wall (22a,22b) for interlocking, the lower clamping wall (22a,22b) being relatively longer than the upper clamping wall (21a,21b) and having a protruding upper face (23a,23b) for interlocking.

Description

The present invention relates to an invisible zipper, and more particularly to such an invisible zipper in which U-shaped interlocking teeth are directly injection molded from plastics on respective side edges of zipper tapes, and the side edges of the zipper tapes are respectively folded up to wrap the interlocking teeth, enabling respective protruding upper faces of the teeth to be exposed to the outside for interlocking.
Regular zippers are not invisible. When closed, the interlocking elements are visible. Similar visible zippers are seen in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,653,002; 5,469,605;5,400,482;5.297,319; 5,119,530. There is known an invisible zipper, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, generally comprised of two zipper tapes 30 and 30', interlocking spirals 10 and 10' respectively fastened to folded side edges 301 and 301' of the zipper tapes 30 and 30' by stitches. When the slide (not shown) is moved between the zipper tapes 30 and 30', the interlocking spirals 10 and 10' are closed or opened. The fabrication process of this structure of invisible zipper is complicated. Further, the interlocking teeth used in conventional zippers cannot be used for making an invisible zipper according to conventional zipper fabrication methods. Because these interlocking teeth are individually installed, they cannot be fastened to respective folded side edges of the zipper tapes by stitching.
According to the present invention, the invisible zipper comprises two zipper tapes, two rows of interlocking teeth respectively fastened to the zipper tapes. and a slide moved to close/open the teeth, wherein the teeth are injection-molded on respective folded side edges of the zipper tapes, each having an upper clamping wall wrapped in the folded side edge of one zipper tape, and a lower clamping wall for interlocking, the lower clamping wall being relatively longer than the upper clamping wall and having a protruding upper face for interlocking. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the protruding upper face at the lower clamping wall of each tooth comprises an engagement slot at a front side, two side notches at two opposite lateral sides in communication with the engagement slot, and two tongues respectively suspended in the side notches for interlocking. According to another embodiment of the present invention, the protruding upper face at the lower clamping wall of each tooth comprises a protruding portion at one side and a recessed portion at an opposite side for interlocking.
Figure 1 is a top plain view of an invisible zipper according to the prior art.
Figure 2 is a sectional view taken along line A-A of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a perspective view of an invisible zipper according to the present invention.
Figure 4 is an exploded view of a part of the invisible zipper shown in Figure 3.
Figure 5 illustrates the teeth respectively injection molded on the respective side edges of the zipper tapes according to the present invention.
Figure 6 shows the side edges of the zipper tapes respectively folded up, the upper clamping walls of the teeth respectively wrapped in the folded side edges of the zipper tapes according to the present invention.
Figure 7 is a perspective view of a tooth for the invisible zipper according to the present invention.
Figure 8 is a perspective view of an alternate form of the tooth according to the present invention.
Figure 9 is a top plain view of the present invention, showing the teeth closed.
Figure 10 is a sectional view taken along line B-B of Figure 9.
Referring to Figures from 3 through 6, an invisible zipper in accordance with the present invention is generally comprised of two zipper tapes 1a and 1b, a plurality of teeth 2a and 2b respectively fastened to corresponding side edges of the zipper tapes 1a and 1b, and a slide 3 moved to close/open the teeth 2a and 2b between the zipper tapes 1a and 1b.
The teeth 2a and 2b are made of plastics, and directly fastened to the corresponding side edges of the zipper tapes 1a and 1b by injection-molding (see Figures 3 and 5).
The tooth 2a(2b), as shown in Figure 7, is a substantially U-shaped member comprising an upper clamping wall 21a(21b), and a lower clamping wall 22a(22b). The lower clamping wall 22a(22b) is relatively longer than the upper clamping wall 21a(21b), having a protruding upper face 23a(23b) for interlocking. The protruding upper face 23a(23b) comprises an engagement slot 24a(24b) at its front side, two side notches 25a(25b) at its two opposite lateral sides in communication with the engagement slot 24a(24b), and two tongues 26a(26b) suspended in the side notches 25a(25b) for interlocking. When the two rows of teeth 2a and 2b are closed, the tongues 26a(26b) of the teeth 2a(2b) at one zipper tape 1a(1b) are respectively engaged into the engagement slot 24b(24a) at the teeth 2b(2a) (see Figures 9 and 10).
The slide 3 is disposed at an outer side of the zipper (see Figure 10) and moved to close/open the teeth 2a and 2b, having a pull tab 31 for pulling by hand.
After injection molding of the teeth 2a and 2b on the corresponding side edges of the zipper tapes 1a and 1b (see Figure 5), the zipper tapes 1a and 1b are respectively longitudinally folded up and set into shape, enabling the upper clamping walls 21a and 21b of the teeth 2a and 2b to be respectively wrapped by the zipper tapes 1a and 1b with the lower clamping walls 22a(22b) of the teeth 2a and 2b exposed to the outside (see Figure 6). Therefore, when the slide 3 is moved to close the teeth 2a and 2b. the interlocked teeth 2a and 2b are kept from sight (see Figure 3).
Figure 8 shows an alternate form of the teeth. According to this alternate form, the teeth 2a'(2b') comprises an upper clamping wall 21'a(21'b), and a lower clamping wall 22'a(22'b). The lower clamping wall 22'a(22'b) is relatively longer than the upper clamping wall 21'a(21'b), having a protruding portion 221'a(221'b) and a recessed portion 222'a(222'b) bilaterally disposed at its upper protruding face. When the teeth 2'a and 2'b are closed, the protruding portion 221'a(221'b) at one tooth 2'a(2'b) is engaged into the recessed portion 222'a(222'b) at another.
Referring to Figures 7 and 8 again, the upper clamping wall 21a(21b) or 21'a(21'b) has a sloping front side edge 211a(211b) or 211a'(211'b). The design of the sloping front side edge 211a(211b) or 211a'(211'b) prevents the occurrence of a sharp angle after the upper clamping wall 21a(21b) or 21'a(21'b) has been wrapped in the respective zipper tape 1a or 1b.
It is to be understood that the drawings are designed for purposes of illustration only, and are not intended as a definition or limits of the scope of the invention disclosed.

Claims

An invisible zipper comprising two zipper tapes (1a,1b), two rows of interlocking teeth (2a,2b) respectively fastened to said zipper tapes (1a,1b) and a slide (3) movable to close/open said teeth (2a,2b), characterised in that said teeth (2a,2b) are injection-moulded on respective folded side edges of said zipper tapes (1a,1b), each tooth (2a,2b) comprising an upper clamping wall (21a,21b) wrapped in the folded side edge of one zipper tape (1a,1b), and a lower clamping wall (22a,22b) for interlocking, said lower clamping wall (22a,22b) being relatively longer than said upper clamping wall (21a,21b) and having a protruding upper face (23a,23b) for interlocking,
The invisible zipper of claim 1 wherein the protruding upper face (23a,23b) of each of said teeth (2a,2b) comprises an engagement slot (24a,24b) at a front side, two side notches (25a,25b) at two opposite lateral sides in communication with said engagement slot (24a,24b) and two tongues (26a,26b) respectively suspended in said side notches (25a,25b) for interlocking.
The invisible zipper of claim 1 wherein the protruding upper face of each of said teeth (2¹a,2¹b) comprises a protruding portion (221¹a,221¹b) at one side and a recessed portion (222¹a,222¹b) at an opposite side for interlocking.
The invisible zipper of claim 1 wherein the upper clamping wall (21a,21b) of each of said teeth (2a,2b) comprises a sloping front side edge (211a,211b).