GB2441144A

GB2441144A - Zip fastener with separable bottom stop which retains slider

Info

Publication number: GB2441144A
Application number: GB0616671A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Maxwell Robson
Original assignee: Touac International Ltd
Current assignee: Touac International Ltd
Priority date: 2006-08-23
Filing date: 2006-08-23
Publication date: 2008-02-27
Also published as: GB0616671D0

Abstract

A slide fastener has a separable bottom stop made of a first part 16 and a second part 17 forming a box for the slider. The first part holds the slider in place when the two parts are separated. The parts may join by a tapered tongue and slot connection 19, 21 and may be attached to their stringers by resilient-necked hinges 18. A hook 25 and lip 24 provide a push-to-close, push-to-open connection between the two parts. The zip is easier to do up in adverse conditions.

Description

Slide Fastener Bottom End Stop This invention relates to bottom end

stops for separable parts slide fasteners.

Such fasteners are used on the fronts of outerwear such as anoraks, jerseys and waterproof jackets.

Conventionally, the bottom end stop comprises a box on one stringer with a channel for receiving a pin of the other stringer, which is inserted through one opening of the slider when the slider is in the box. It is often quite difficult to insert the pin, especially in foul weather conditions, and ensure that it bottoms in the box so that the two stringers are properly aligned so that the slider can be drawn up out of the box to engage the hooks of the stringers for closure of the fastener.

The present invention provides a bottom end stop arrangement that is much easier to open and close.

The invention comprises a slide fastener comprising: co-operating stringers and a slider engaging the stringers to open and close the fastener; a bottom end stop arrangement having a two-part box, of which a first part is attached to one stringer and a second part is attached to the other stringer; the first and second parts engaging together to form the box into which the slider can be drawn when the stringers are separated and from which the slider can be drawn engaging both stringers to close the fastener; the first and second parts being separable when the slider is in the box; and the first part being adapted to hold the slider when the parts are disengaged.

The first and second parts may be attached to their respective stringers by hinge means.

The hinge means may comprise resiliently bendable necks, and may be biased in the sense to separate the stringers when freed of the constraint imposed by the engaged slider.

The first and second parts may have tongue and slot engaging means. The tongue and slot engaging means may have a taper arrangement facilitating location for engagement.

The first and second parts may comprise a push-to-open, push-to-close fastener arrangement.

A tongue of one of the first and second parts may engage the slider when it is in the box and retain it in said part when the parts are separated.

Such a fastener arrangement may comprise, on one of said first and second parts, a lip, and, on the other of said parts, a hook adapted to engage the lip, the hook being on a resiliently displaceable member displaced by engagement pressure to clear the lip and, on release of pressure, to snap back and engage the lip and sit between the lip and a detent preventing separation of the parts by tension, and, on further inter-part pressure, to displace the hook out of engagement with the lip so that the lip can clear said detent for separation of the parts. The said resiliently displaceable member may urge the first and second parts apart after said further inter-part pressure releasing the hook from the lip.

One embodiment of slide fastener, and, in particular, a bottom end stop arrangement thereof, will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a two-part bottom end stop, with the parts separated, of a separable slide fastener; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a slider for a slide fastener having the bottom end stop of Figure 1; Figure 3 is face-on view of the bottom end stop of Figure 1, with the parts separated; Figure 4 is a face-on view like Figure 3, showing the parts together; Figure 5 is a face-on view of a bottom end stop box formed by the parts together with a slider about to enter the box; Figure 6 is a view like Figure 5 with the slider in the box; and Figure 7 is a view like Figure 6, with the parts separated.

The drawings illustrate a slide fastener comprising: co-operating stringers 11, 12 and a slider 13 engaging the stringers 11, 12 to open and close the fastener; a bottom end stop arrangement 14 having a two-part box 15, of which a first part 16 is attached to one stringer 11 and a second part 17 is attached to the other stringer 12; the first and second parts 16, 17 engaging together to form the box 15 into which the slider 13 can be drawn when the stringers 11, 12 are separated and from which the slider 13 can be drawn engaging both stringers 11, 12 to close the fastener; the first and second parts 16, 17 being separable when the slider 13 is in the box 15; and the first part 16 being adapted to hold the slider 13 when the parts 16, 17 are disengaged.

The first and second parts 16, 17 are attached to their respective stringers 11, 12 by hinge means 18. The hinge means 18 comprise resiliently bendable necks, and are biased, as shown by arrows ISA in the sense to separate the stringers 11, 12 when freed of the constraint imposed by the engaged slider 13.

The first and second parts 16, 17 have tongue 19 and slot 21 engaging means. The tongue and slot engaging means have a taper arrangement 22 facilitating location for engagement.

The first and second parts 16, 17 comprise a push-to-open, push-to-close fastener arrangement 23.

The fastener arrangement 23 comprises, on said second part 17, a lip 24, and, on said first part 16, a hook 25 adapted to engage the lip 23, the hook 25 being on a resiliently displaceable member 26 displaced by engagement pressure to clear the lip 24 and, on release of pressure, to snap back and engage the lip 24 and sit between the lip 24 and a detent 27 preventing separation of the parts by tension, and, on further inter-part pressure, to displace the hook 25 out of engagement with the lip 24 so that the lip 24 can clear said detent 27 for separation of the parts 16, 17. The said resiliently displaceable member 26 may urge the first and second parts 16, 17 apart after said further inter-part pressure releasing the hook 25 from the lip 24.

The gaps in the slider 13 that receive the stringers 11, 12 also permit the slider 13 to run into the part 16 and allow the part 17 to enter the slider to engage the fastener arrangement 23.

Behind the resiliently displaceable member 25 is a tongue 26 that engages the slider 13 when it is in the box and retains it in the first part 16 when the parts 16, 17 are separated.

The bottom end stop can be fashioned in any of the usual materials, metals or plastics.

Claims

Claims: A slide fastener comprising: co-operating stringers and a

slider engaging the stringers to open and close the fastener; a bottom end stop arrangement having a two-part box, of which a first part is attached to one stringer and a second part is attached to the other stringer; the first and second parts engaging together to form the box into which the slider can be drawn when the stringers are separated and from which the slider can be drawn engaging both stringers to close the fastener; the first and second parts being separable when the slider is in the box; and the first part being adapted to hold the slider when the parts are disengaged.

2 A slide fastener according to claim 1, in which the first and second parts are attached to their respective stringers by hinge means.

3 A slide fastener according to claim 2, in which the hinge means comprise resiliently bendable necks.

4 A slide fastener according to claim 3, in which the hinge means are biased in the sense to separate the stringers when freed of the constraint imposed by the engaged slider.

A slide fastener according to any one of claims I to 4, in which the first and second parts have tongue and slot engaging means.

6 A slide fastener according to claim 5, in which the tongue and slot engaging means have a taper arrangement facilitating location for engagement.

7 A slide fastener according to any one of claims 1 to 6, in which a tongue of one of the first and second parts engages the slider when it is in the box and retains it in said part when the parts are separated.

8 A slide fastener according to any one of claims I to 7, in which the first and second parts comprise a push-to-open, push-to-close fastener arrangement.

9 A slide fastener according to claim 8, in which the fastener arrangement comprises, on one of said first and second parts, a lip, and, on the other of said parts, a hook adapted to engage the lip, the hook being on a resiliently displaceable member displaced by engagement pressure to clear the lip and, on release of pressure, to snap back and engage the lip and sit between the lip and a detent preventing separation of the parts by tension, and, on further inter-part pressure, to displace the hook out of engagement with the lip so that the lip can clear said detent for separation of the parts.

A slide fastener according to claim 9, in which the said resiliently displaceable member urges the first and second parts apart after said further inter-part pressure releasing the hook from the lip.