GB2223268A - A zipper slider - Google Patents

Abstract

A slider includes a permutation lock acting on a locking prong (7) having an engaging end (72) which engages with the fastener teeth to prevent movement of the slider when the numerical wheels (2a, 2b) do not have correct numerals, and disengages from the teeth when the numerical wheels (2a, 2b) are set correctly to permit free movement of the slider. <IMAGE>

Description

A ZIPPER SLIDER The present invention relates to a zipper or zip-fastener, and more particularly to the slider of a zip-fastener.

The zipper is extensively utilized in different kinds of articles and needs sometimes to be locked from freely zippiny which is conventionally achieved by locking the zipper slider to the article frame or another article by a lock or by locking together dual sliders oppositely provided on the zipper. either of which needs a foreiyn lock.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a zipper slider iiicorporatiny thereon a numerical lock capable of locking the slider fro the zipping movement.

The present invention is based on the recognition that since the slider is the control element of a zipper, the zipper can be controlled if the movement of the slider is governed.

According to the present invention, a zipper slider includes a zilPiny member and a numerical lock having an actuating piece which disengages fron locking teeth of a zipper so that the zipping member can freely zip across the locking teeth when tlie nuilerical wneels have correct numerals, and engages with the locking teeth to disable the zipping member fron zi zipping across the locking teeth when the numerical wheels do not have correct numerals.

Tie present invention may be best understood through the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a zipper slider accordiny to the present invention; Fig. 2A-2E are respectively a top view, a front view a left side view, a right side view and a bottom view of the zipper slider in Fig.

1; Fiy. 3 is a sectional view taken along line A-A in Fig. 2h; Fiy. 4 is a sectional view taken along line B-S in Fiy. 2A; and Fiy. 5 is an exploded view of a zipper slider according to the present invention.

Referring now to Figs. 1-5, a zipper slider according to the present invention includes a zippiny member 1 for zippiny together and/or apart two lines of locking teeth 9 respectively attached to two generally juxtaposed fabric tapes of the zipper, and a numerical lock which includes two hollow numerical wheels 2a, 2b, a mounting housiiiy formed by aii upper housiny 3a, the numerical wheels 2a, 2b partly protruding therefrom, and a lower housing 3b, a positioning shaft 5 mounted in mounting housing (3a, 3b), two sleeve members 4a, 4b, a spiral spriny 51 mounted on shaft 5 and between the head of shaft 5 and sleeve member 4a, an adJustiny (nuieral-changiny) piece G, and an actuating piece 7.

Each of sleeve members 4a, 4b is slidably and rotatably mounted on positioning shaft 5 arid includes aii annular flange having a flattened portion 42a (42b) and several teeth 41a (41b) capable of rnesliiiig with internal teeth 21 of numerical wheel 2a (2b) in a Inanner that flattened portion 42a (42b) will flushly match against actuating piece 7 wheii numerical wheels 2a, 2b have correct numerals.

When nunierical wheels 2a, 2b have correct numerals, adjusting Irieinber 6 niounted in mounting housing (3a, 3b) can be inwardly pressed by a small tool to slide leftwards sleeve members 4a, 4b along positioning shaft 5 to disenyage teeth 41a (41b) from internal teeth 21 so that numerical wheels 2a (2b) can now freely rotate without carrying therewith sleeve member 4a (4b) to rotate and thus the correct numerals of numerical wheels 2a, 2b can be re-set. Thereafter, spring 51 will mesil teeth 41a (41b) with internal teeth 21 ayain when the force applied at the place labelled P on adjusting member 6 is removed.

It is to be noticed here that numerical wheels 2a, 2b and sleeve members 4a, 4b and only these two are known in the prior art, and therefore the feature of the present invention does not reside in these two elements.

Actuating piece 7 pivotally mounted in nountitig housing 3a, 3b and biassed thereagainst by sprinys 71a, 71b includes two yrooves 73 capable of respectively positioning therein numerical wheels 2a, 2b and an engaging end 72 which disengages from lockiiiy teeth 9 of the zipper when flattened portions 42a, 42b flushly match against actuating piece 7 so that the present slider car freely zip across locking teeth 9, and encases with locking teeth 9 if either one of flattened portions 42a, 42b does not flushly match against actuating niece 7 so that the present slider is thus locked from freely zipping across lockiny teeth 9.

Upon assembling, two T shape-cross sectional projections lla, llb and a pinhole 12 on zipping member 1 having a hole 13, through which engaging end 72 projects, are respectively matched with two bottoni T silape-cross sectional yrooves and a bottom elastic pin (not shown) of lower housing 3b so as to connect parts 1, 3b toyether. After relevant elenierts have suitably been received in lower housing 3b, a positioning projection 31 of upper housing 3a is inserted into a hole 32 ot lower housing 3b before a welding tab 33 of upper housing 3a is welded to lower housing 3b to fofli a zipper slider, as shown in Fig.

1, which further has two opposite pulling pieces 34, 35.

It can be noticed that one can effect a numeral change for nulileral wheels 2a, 2b only when flattened portions 42a, 42b flushly match against actuatiny piece 7.

Claims (4)

1. A slider for a zipper haviny two generally juxtaposed fabric tapes respectively attached thereto and two lines of locking teeth to be zipped together and/or apart by the slider, characterized in that the slider includes: a zipping member for zipping across the two lines of locking teeth; a mounting housing formed by an upper housing and a lower housing; a positioniny shaft mounted in said mounting housing; a plurality of hollow numerical wheels;; an actuating piece mounted in the mounting housing and having an engaging end capable of enyaginy with the locking teeth and a plurality of grooves capable of respectively positioning therein the hollow tiuierical wheels; a plurality of sleeve members slidably and rotatably mounted on the positioning shaft, respectively capable of beiny fixed in the hollow numerical wheels and each of which is capable of uryiny the engaging end of the actuating piece to engage with the locking teeth when the respective numerical wheel does not have a correct numeral; and an adjusting ember mounted in the mounting housing and capable of sliding the sleeve members along the positioning shaft to free the from being engaged by the numerical wheels for allowing the numerical wheels to be changed with respect to correct numerals.

2. A slider as claimed in Claim 1, characterized in that each of the sleeve members includes an annular flange having a flattened portion.

3. A slider as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the zipping member is secured to the lower housing by rnealls of a T shapecross sectional projection and a T shape-cross sectional yroove as well as an elastic pin and a piiihole respectively provided thereon.

4. A slider for a zipper substantially as described hereinbefore with reference to the accompanying drawinys.