GB2388402A

GB2388402A - A reinforced zip

Info

Publication number: GB2388402A
Application number: GB0313258A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Adrian Faieta
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-06-09
Filing date: 2003-06-09
Publication date: 2003-11-12
Anticipated expiration: 2023-06-09
Also published as: EP1486132A1; GB2388402B; GB0313258D0

Abstract

The invention is a zip fastener device (1) comprising two sets of opposing teeth (2) and an actuating mechanism (3) operable to bring the opposing teeth (2) into interlocking engagement when moved along the sets of teeth (2) from a first end to a second end and to disengage the interlocked teeth (2) when moved from the second end towards the first end; wherein each tooth (2) is formed with a cavity (7) therethrough located such that when the teeth (2) are interlocked the cavities (7) align to form a continuous channel through the engaged teeth (2), a flexible line (5) is provided in a storage device (8) at the first end of the device (1), and the actuating mechanism (3) is arranged to extend the line (5) from the storage device (8) and locate it in the channel as the actuating mechanism (3) is moved from the first end to the second end; and wherein the device (8) is provided with resilient means which holds the flexible line (5) in tension to prevent any slack forming in the reinforcing line (5). The device 8 may have means to lock it if it is subjected to a sudden force.

Description

A REINFORCED ZIP

The present invention relates to zips suitable for closing apertures on item such as clothing or luggage, and 5 in particular to zips which must withstand forces to keep an aperture sealed.

Zips, consisting of two sets of individual teeth which can be engaged and disengaged by a slider mechanism are 10 well known in the art. Known zips have the disadvantage that the two sets of teeth can become disengaged accidentally, causing the zip to "pop" open. This can occur because the teeth are damaged or a force is applied to the zip which the teeth are unable to withstand, for example 15 when a zip is used to close a bag or suitcase which has been over-filled. Once the sets of teeth are disengaged in this way, it is difficult to re-engage them.

Once a few of the teeth have become disengaged, the remaining engaged teeth can be separated relatively easily.

20 Thus once the sets of teeth are separated at any point, it is likely that the entire zip will fail. Since zips are frequently used on items such as luggage, clothing and footwear, a failure of the zip can cause serious problems to the user.

The slider is only designed to cause engagement of the two sets of teeth when pulled along the zip in one direction. Therefore, it may jam if pulled back down a zip which has "popped" into disengagement. The disadvantage is 30 therefore increased because there is no quick or easy means to re-connect a zip whose teeth are improperly separated.

The present invention provides a zip fastener device comprising two sets of opposing teeth and an actuating 3'i m<chanisrn operable to bring the o'po.;iny tet-h ir-t<-:> interlock.ir-g engagement when coved along the, et; c' t<>eti

- 2 - from a first end to a second end and to disengage the interlocked teeth when moved from the second end towards the first end; wherein each tooth is formed with a cavity therethrough located such that when the teeth are 5 interlocked the cavities align to form a continuous channel through the engaged teeth, a flexible line is provided in a storage device at the first end of the device, and the actuating mechanism is arranged to extend the line from the storage device and locate it in the channel as the 10 actuating mechanism is moved from the first end to the second end.

Thus, the line acts as a reinforcement to resist the interlocked teeth from becoming disengaged. It has the 15 extra advantage that even if the sets of teeth accidentally lose engagement with each other, the reinforcing line will ensure that the sets of teeth do not become widely separated. This is of particular advantage for zips which are used to withstand significant forces, and whose failure 20 is especially problematic to a user, e.g. if an item of luggage pops open in transit.

Preferably, an end of the line is secured to the actuating mechanism and the cavities are shaped such that 25 the channel has a continuous opening along one face of the teeth when interlocked.

This provides a reliable means for the line to be located in the cavities of the interlocked teeth.

Advantageously, the line is secured to a pin protruding from the actuating mechanism into the channel through the opening.

35 Thus, the line is supported at the <.orr-ecic:>o;itio lo enter the cavity of each intrloc:k5 tooth.

Advantageously, the opening has a width smaller than the diameter of the line.

5 This has the advantage that the line cannot be removed from the cavity through the opening.

In one embodiment, an end of the line is retained adjacent to the actuating mechanism by magnetic means.

This has the advantage that the teeth do not require an opening to allow a physical connection between the line and the actuating mechanism.

Conveniently, the storage device comprises a rotatable spool around which the line is coiled.

This allows the line to be stored in a compact manner, whilst being able to be deployed easily.

Advantageously, the storage device further comprises tensioning means operable to assist with retraction of the line into the storage device.

25 Thus, the line is always taut and does not contain any slack. Conveniently, the storage device further comprises locking means operable to prevent further extension of the 30 line if the line is subject to a sudden force.

A preferred embodiment of the reinforced zip apparatus according to the present invention will now be described, with reference to the accompanying figures, in which: O Figure 1 is perspective vicar;-1 slider affording

4 - to the present invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of the zip according to the present invention with one face of the slider removed for clarity; 5 Figure 3 is a cross section of the slider and zip according of figure 2; Figure 4 is a perspective view of the teeth of one part of the zip according to the present invention; Figure S is an enlarged perspective view of one tooth; 10 Figure 6 is a perspective view of a reinforced zip according to the present invention; As shown in Figure 6, in common with conventional zips, a zip 1 in accordance with a first embodiment of the 15 present invention comprises two sets of opposing teeth 2 and a slider mechanism 3 which can be drawn along the device. Movement of the slider 3 in one ciirection brings the two sets together and forces the teeth 2 into interlocking engagement. Movement of the slider 3 in the 20 opposite direction forces the interlocking teeth apart, allowing the two sets to separate.

As shown in Figure 1, the slider 3 comprises upper and lower plates 33, 34 joined by a wedge shaped bridging 25 member 35. A pivotable tab 36 may be provided to assist with grasping and pulling the slider 3 along the zip 1.

The slider 3 has a narrower, open end 37 and a wider, open end 38. The wider end 38 is divided into two openings 30 by the bridging member 35.

In a known manner, to close the zip 1 the slider 3 is drawl. along the sets of teeth with the wider end 38 leading such that the narrowing of the slider 3 towards the 35 t:railinq end 37 forces the teeth 2 together to close the zip. When drawn in the opposite direction, the bridging

- 5 member 35 of the slider 3 forces the engaged teeth 2 apart to open the zip.

Thus, the slider 3 is like that of a conventional zip, 5 except that it is also provided with a driving pin 4 extending from the lower plate 34 of the slider 3 adjacent to the narrow end 37. A reinforcing line 5, described further below, is secured to the pin 4.

10 Referring to Figures 1 and 6, the reinforcing line 5, which is a thin, flexible but strong line made from, e.g. plastic or wire, is connected at one end to the driving pin 4 of the slider 3, and connected at the other end to a reel 8 located at the base of the zip 1. The reel 8 is 15 preferably a cylindrical body, able to rotate about its longitudinal axis X. When the zip 1 is open, the reinforcing line 5 is wound around the reel 8 for storage.

As the slider 3 is pulled up the zip 1 to close it, it pulls line 5 from the reel 8.

The reel 8 is preferably connected to resilient means (not shown) which exerts a torque on the reel 8. This torque acts to hold the reinforcing line 5 in tension between the reel 8 and the slider 3. The tension is 25 sufficiently low that the slider 3 will not be moved by the force exerted through the reinforcing line 5. However, the tension in the reinforcing line 5 will be enough to ensure that when the slider 3 is moved towards the reel 8, the reel 8 rotates to prevent any slack forming in the 30 reinforcing line 5.

The reel 8 is preferably located inside a substantially enclosed container (not shown). This container protects the reel 8, stored reinforcing line 5 35 arid the resilient means from hieing dama.:c:.5, ant aims to prevent them beGomi.ng clogged with dirt.. Oh.: rinforrir-c

6 - line 5 passes out of the container through an aperture.

In a zip with a permanently closed end, the two halves of the zip are conventionally held together by a clamp.

5 When the zip 1 has one permanently closed end, the container preferably also has the function of connecting the two opposing sets of teeth 2 together at the closed end of the zip 1. This obviates the need for a separate clamp to secure the closed end.

The reel 8 is preferably able to move laterally along the axis X. The movement allows the reinforcing line 5 stored on the reel 8 to be aligned with the reinforcing line 5 in the cavity 7, whichever part of the reel 8 the 15 reinforcing line 5 is stored on. This ensures that the reinforcing line 5 can move smoothly from the reel 8 into the cavity 7, without being forced to bend.

Referring to Figure 4, there is shown part of the two 20 sets of opposed teeth 2. Each set comprises a series of spaced individual teeth 2 having the same orientation and arranged in a plane. Each tooth 2 is shaped so as to engage between two teeth of the opposing set. As best seen in Figure 5, each tooth 2 has an aperture 6 on an outer 25 surface of the tooth 2. The aperture 6 is preferably formed in a surface of the tooth facing perpendicular to the plane of engagement of the teeth 2 when the zip 1 is closed.

Preferably, the aperture 6 is on the side of the zip which will be out of sight when in use. Thus, on luggage, 30 clothing and footwear, the aperture 6 will preferably be on the side facing the interior of the item or garment. This ensures that the aperture 6 and reinforcing line 5 are not visible in normal use.

35 Referring to Figure 5, the aperture 6 opens into a cavity 7 in each tooth 2. The aperture 6 ancl-vity 7

- 7 together form a longitudinal channel through each tooth 2.

The aperture 6 and cavity 7 are both open at the longitudinally forward and rearward facing surfaces of each tooth 2. The cavity 7 has a crosssection which is 5 preferably larger than that of the aperture 6. The cross sectional area of the cavity 7 is preferably only slightly greater than that of the reinforcing line 5. The aperture 6 and cavity 7 are located in each tooth 2 such that when the two sets of teeth 2 are engaged, the apertures 6 and 10 cavities 7 of each tooth 2 are aligned to create a continuous channel along the zip 1.

Referring to Figure 5, as in a conventional zip one side of each tooth 2 is secured onto material of the item, 15 in order to connect the teeth 2 with the item the zip is used to close. The securing means requires a certain portion of one side of each tooth 2, and so the aperture 6 and cavity 7 are not located in the centre of each tooth 2, but are located on the side away from the securing 20 material. This off-set of the apertures 6 and cavities 7 is necessary to form a continuous channel along the zip 1, in which the reinforcing line 5 is located in the centre of the zip 1.

25 As mentioned above, the zip 1 is closed by the slider 3 engaging teeth 2 from the two sets of teeth in a conventional manner. As the slider 3 is pulled, the driving pin 4 runs along the channel formed by the aligned cavities 7 and the reinforcing line 5 is pulled with it. This 30 ensures that the reinforcing line 5 runs through the engaged portion of the zip 1, whilst not obstructing the open portion of the zip 1. When the slider 3 is pulled down the zip, to open engaged teeth 2, the driving pin 4 pushes the reinforcing line 5 back towards the closed end of the Or, zip i and the storage reel 8. The reinforcing line 5 is thus rot present at the point in tile S1 her 3 where t he

( - - teeth 2 are disengaged from one another.

The slider 3 can thus perform its function of engaging and disengaging the teeth 2 without interference from the 5 reinforcing line 5.

The cavity 7 is formed such that when the reinforcing line 5 is inserted into the cavity 7, its chance of accidental departure from the cavity 7 through the aperture 10 6 is minimized. The aperture 6 is preferably very slightly smaller in width than the diameter of the reinforcing line 5. The reinforcing line 5 therefore cannot easily leave the cavity 7 through the aperture 6. The reinforcing line 5 is sufficiently long such that when the zip 1 is closed along 15 its entire length the reinforcing line 5 is present in the cavity 7 of every tooth 2. The driving pin 4 is located such that the end of the reinforcing line 5 is held inside the cavity 7 of the teeth 2 which are fully engaged with the opposite set of teeth 2.

In the event that the teeth 2 experience a force F as shown in Figure 6 acting laterally so as to disengage the two sets of teeth 2! the reinforcing line 5 running through the channel in the teeth 2, will act to restrain lateral 25 movement of the teeth 2 to discourage their separation.

Even if some separation does occur in extreme circumstances, the two sets of teeth 2 will not separate fully from each other, due to the presence of the line 5, and the zip will remain substantially closed despite the 30 teeth not being engaged.

The reel 8 may be provided with a locking mechanism (not shown) to prevent rotation when a large or sudden force is applied, similar to that on a vehicle seat belt so-, for example. In the case of an ac<-:identaL separating of the teeth 2, there wil1}he some force on the reir-orcinc3 line

9 - in the longitudinal direction. This force will act to pull any excess line 5 from the reel 8, which would allow the two sets of teeth 2 to separate. The reel locking mechanism will prevent further reinforcing line 5 from leaving the 5 reel 8, and so prevent separation of the sets of teeth 2.

The slider 3 could also be fitted with a locking mechanism to lock it in place if accidental separation of the teeth is detected.

10 Although the driving pin 4 is illustrated as an elongate member, it could also be a flat plate extending outwardly from the slider 3, or any other shape suitable for linking the reinforcing line 5 to the slider 3. In an = alternative embodiment, the reinforcing line 5 may not be 15 connected to the slider 3 by means of a driving pin 4. The reinforcing line 5 may be moved by means of magnets on the slider 3 and reinforcing line 5, or the reinforcing line 5 may be pushed towards the slider 3 by the reel. This has the advantage that the aperture 6 in the teeth would not be 20 required. The reinforcing line 5 would still be located in the cavity 7 in this embodiment.

Although the driving pin 4 is preferably adjacent to the narrow end 37 of the slider 3, the driving pin 4 may be 25 located at any point between the bridging member 35 and the narrow end 37. Particularly if the driving pin 4 is located more closely adjacent to the bridging member 35, then guide rails (not shown) may be provided within the slider 3, e.g extending upwardly from the lower plate 34. As each tooth 2 30 passes through the slider 3, the aperture 6 receives a guide rail. The guide rails thus accurately guide each -

tooth 2 as it moves through the slider 3, such that each tooth 2 is in the exact posit Or. necessary for the aperture 6 to receive the driving pin 4.

Although the aperturc 6 in the t<'f'2t'h 2 is rprofetahly srnallfir in width Shari the cavity 7, it is r-:ot r.fSi,y L

- 10 this to be the case. If the aperture 6 is the same width or larger than the cavity 7, the invention will still work well if the aperture 6 does not permit the reinforcing line 5 to leave the cavity in the event that the teeth 2 lose 5 engagement with each other. In this case, the force on the sets of teeth 2 will be mainly acting to separate them in the plane of the zip 1. The reinforcing line 5 will be retained in the cavity 7 if the aperture 6 is not aligned with the side of the cavity 7 nearest to the opposing set 10 of teeth 2. Similarly, the reinforcing line 5 will be retained in the cavity 7 if the aperture 6 leads from the cavity 7 in a direction at least partially away from the opposing set of teeth 2.

15 In another embodiment, the cavity 7 is of a size substantially greater than the reinforcing line 5. In the event that the teeth 2 lose engagement with each other, the force will cause the reinforcing line 5 to move within the cavity 7 to one side of the cavity 7. The cavity 7 can be 20 shaped to hold the line 5 securely at this point, and not allow the line 5 to escape through the aperture 6.

The reinforcing line 5 is preferably formed of steel wire, although materials such as plastics, fabrics or other suitable materials can be used. The line 5 may have a circular cross-section, rectangular crosssection, or be formed as a flat tape or any other suitable shape. The teeth, slider, driving pin and reel may be formed of plastic, metal or any suitable material.

The teeth 2 have been shown as being tapered in shape, to allow them to interlock and engage securely. However, any suitable shape of teeth can be used.

35 Thus, the present inversion prcvidc, an improved ip fasterler device in which a reintcring dir-e helps to ret.i: the teeth in interlocking er:gemrt and ie.-.;i;t4; c;identa,

disengagement and "popping" of the zip in use. Thus a more secure fastening device is provided. It will be appreciated that many modifications and variations to the precise details described may be made without departing from the 5 scope of the claims.

Claims

- 12 CLAIMS

1. A zip fastener device comprising two sets of opposing teeth and an actuating mechanism operable to bring the 5 opposing teeth into interlocking engagement when moved along the sets of teeth from a first end to a second end and to disengage the interlocked teeth when moved from the second end towards the first end; wherein each tooth is formed with a cavity therethrough located such that when lO the teeth are interlocked the cavities align to form a I continuous channel through the engaged teeth, a flexible line is provided in a storage device at the first end of the device, and the actuating mechanism is arranged to extend the line from the storage device and locate it in 15 the channel as the actuating mechanism is moved from the first end to the second end.

2. A zip fastener device as claimed in claim l, wherein an end of the line is secured to the actuating mechanism 20 and the cavities are shaped such that the channel has a continuous opening along one face of the teeth when interlocked.

3. A zip fastener device as claimed in claim 2, wherein 25 the line is secured to a pin protruding from the actuating mechanism into the channel through the opening.

4. zip fastener device as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the opening has a width smaller than the 30 diameter of the line.

5. A zip fastener device as claimed in claim 1, wherein an end of the fire is retai.ed ac,acent to the actuating mechanism by magnetic means.

6. A zip fastener device as claimed in Clairol 4, wherein an

40 end of the line is retained adjacent to the actuating mechanism by magnetic rears

( Jo

7. A zip fastener device as claimed in any one of claims 5 or 6, wherein the line has a circular cross-section and the opening is slightly smaller than the diameter of the line.

5

8. A zip fastener device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the storage device further comprises locking means operable to prevent further extension of the line if the line is subject to a sudden force.

lo

9. A zip fastener device substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

46273D/AWP/29.07.03

6. A zip fastener device as claimeci in tiny pteccding

claim, wherein the storage device comprises a rotatable spool around which the line is coiled.

7. A zip fastener device as claimed in claim 6, wherein 5 the storage device further comprises tensioning means operable to assist with retraction of the line into the storage device.

8. A zip fastener device as claimed in claim 6 or claim 10 7, wherein the storage device further comprises locking means operable to prevent further extension of the line if the line is subject to a sudden force.

9. A zip fastener device substantially as hereinbefore 15 described and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

- 14 a to the cialma have been fil 1. A zip fastener device comprising two sets of opposing teeth and an actuating mechanism operable to bring the 5 opposing teeth into interlocking engagement when moved along the sets of teeth from a first end to a second end and to disengage the interlocked teeth when moved from the second end towards the first end; wherein each tooth is formed with a cavity therethrough located such that when the teeth are JO interlocked the cavities align to form a continuous channel through the engaged teeth, a flexible line is provided in a storage device at the first end of the device, and the actuating mechanism is arranged to extend the line from the storage device and locate it in the channel as the actuating 15 mechanism is moved from the first end to the second end; and wherein the device is provided with resilient means which holds the flexible line in tension to prevent any slack forming in the reinforcing line.

20 2. A zip fastener device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the resilient means is provided in the storage device and assists retraction of the line into the storage device.

3. A zip fastener device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the 25 storage device comprises a rotatable spool around which the line Us coiled and the resilient means exerts a torque on the SQO 1.

4. A zip fastener device as claimed in any one of the 30 preceding claims, wherein the cavities are shaped such that the channel has a continuous opening along one face of the teeth when interlocked.

5. A zip fastener device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the 3s acuating mechanism comprises a slider and the line is secured to a pin protruding from the slider into the channel through the opening.