US2604242A - Slide fastener operating mechanism - Google Patents

Description

Patented July 22, 1952 OFFICE SLIDE FASTENER OPERATING MECHANISM Roxann Shakarian Vahan, North Hollywood, Calif.

Application June 28, 1951, Serial No. 234,055

Claims. 1

The present invention relates to operating mechanisms for slide fasteners in general and particularly to a mechanism adapted to open and to close a slide fastener positioned on the back of a womans dress.

Many articles of womens apparel are provided with slide fasteners going vertically up and down the center of the back. In many instances this fastener extends from below the small of the back up to and between the shoulder blades or to the base of the neck and, the human anatomy being what it is, it is extremely difiicult for the wearer to move the slide of the fastener between those two limits. The lower portion can be traversed readily and with the slide near the upper end it can be grasped by an arm pivoted backwardly over the shoulder and then pulled upwardly. There is an intermediate distance, however, in which displacement of the slide is accomplished only with difficulty. With a recognition of this condition the present invention comprises a device which may be mounted upon the wall of the dressing room, or wherever the fastener is to be closed, and which is so constructed and designed that the slide element of the fastener may be attached thereto while in a lowered convenient position, or in a raised convenient position, and then, by the displacement of an actuating element, the slide may be displaced throughout its entire range of travel.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved operating mechanism for slide fasteners.

It is another object of the invention to provide an operating mechanism for slide fasteners incorporated in articles of apparel by. which the wearer may readily move the slide of the fastener between its end positions.

It is another object of the invention to provide an operating device for slide fasteners by which the slide of the fastener may be displaced conveniently and easily between its open and closed positions.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a slide fastener operating device which is so designed as to be permanently installed upon a vertical supporting surface Where it will conform generally to the curvature of the users back.

These and other more specific objects will appear upon reading the following specification and claims and upon considering in connection therewith the attached drawing to which they relate.

Referring now to the drawing in which pre- 2 ferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated:

Figure 1 is a vertical elevational view of the first preferred embodiment of the invention and illustrates the device in operation when closing the slide of the slide fastener in full lines and in dotted lines when in operation to open the slide;

Figure 2 is a front view of the construction of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a transverse horizontal section upon the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an enlarged vertical section upon the line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a view in perspective of the slida-ble carriage or runner with its attaching means connected to the fastener slide;

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 1 of a second preferred embodiment of the invention;

Figure 7 is a partial view looking in the direction of the arrows upon the line 1-1 of Figure 6; and

Figure 8 is a transverse section upon the line 8--8 of Figure 6.

Referrin again to the drawing, and to Figures 1 to 5, inclusive, in particular, the first :preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated and is seen to comprise an elongated base I I formed preferably of sheet metal stamped or rolled to provide a fiat back 12 secured against a Vertical supporting wall by means of spaced screws I3. The side edges of back I2 are rolled forwardly and inwardly to provide at its upper and lower ends spaced side walls [4 and between those ends a flat front wall 16 formed with a vertically extending slot I! which serves as a guideway or track for the slidable runner or carriage H3 in its vertical travel.

Carriage or runner I9 is best illustrated in Figures 2, 3 and 5 and is seen to comprise an elongated rigid metallic member which may be formed, if desired, by suitably rolling or shapin a single piece of sheet metal, or by casting if preferred. The runner is generally rectangular in shape and is provided upon its opposite sides with channels 2| sized to enclose slidingly the opposite edges of front wall [6 upon opposite sides of the slot [7. Its front face is formed with an outwardly extending bracket 22, which may be stamped from its forward face, and which is centrally apertured at 23 to support the looped end of a pivoted attaching arm 24 the lower end of which is hooked at 26 to enable it to engage a pivoted flap 2! of the slide 28 of a conventional slide fastener in the manner illustrated best in Figure 5. The upper and lower ends of runner i9 are provided with rearwardly extending brackets 29 which are provided at their rearward ends, which are preferably positioned within the channeled base H, with apertures 3i to receive the ends of the pull or actuating cords to be described.

At the upper end of the base H, and between the spaced side walls 14, is positioned a pair of independently rotatable pulleys 33 separated by a spacer wall 34 and mounted for rotation upon a transverse shaft 35 the headed ends of which seat against the outer faces of the walls I4. Spacing washers 3? position the pulleys 33 centrially upon opposite sides of the spacer wall 3 Similarly, and at the lower end of the base H, there is positioned a single pulley 4i rotatable upon a transverse shaft 42 the headed ends of which abut the outer faces of the base side walls l4. Pulley ill is centrally positioned by spacing washers 33.

The actuating means for the device comprise a pair of cords and 4-? at the outer ends of which are positioned grip or handle members 48 and 49, respectively. Cord 46 connected to handle 28 extends upwardly and over its pulley 33 and then downwardly within the base member ll to connect to the runner I9 at the top bracket 29. Cord 4? connected to the other grip 49, however, extends upwardly and over its pulley 33 and then downwardly for the entire length of the base H to extend around the bottom pulley M and then upwardly to connect to the runner I9 at its lower bracket 29. It is seen that a pull outwardly upon the grip or handle :28 will displace the runner I9 upwardly while the same movement upon the grip or handle 45-] will cause the runner tomove downwardly, that is, toward the lower pulley M.

In the use of the first embodiment of the invention the base I l is secured firmly to a vertical supporting wall by means of the screws 13 at a height such that the travel of the runner [9 along the base it will enable it to traverse the vertical distance between the upper and lower ends of the slide fastener on the back of the dress of the person using the device. Let it be assumed that the user desires to close the fastener upon her dress. She turns her back to the wall and attaches the hook 26 at the lower end of the arm 2% to the pivoted and apertured flap forming a part of the slide of the conventional slide fastener. With the runner so attached by its arm 24 to the slide, she then grasps the handle or grip 48 and preferably pulls it forwardly and downwardly, the attached cord 46 passing over her shoulder. The movement of the cord it over its pulley 33 draws the runner l9 upwardly and the latter in its movement pulls the fastener slide 28 along with it until finally it reaches the upper end of the fastener.

To accomplish the opening of the slide fastener the pull is exerted upon the second grip 49 and the movement of its cord 41, being transmitted over its top pulley S3 and then downwardly and around the bottom pulley 4|, causes the runner E9 to move in the opposite direction, that is, downwardly, whereupon the attached slide 28 is moved from the top of its travel to its lowermost position.

Preferably the grips or handles 48 and 49 are sufficiently heavy that they draw their attached cords taut and prevent slack in all adjusted positions of the runner IQ which, under certain circumstances, might interfere with the displacement of the runner.

Turning now to the second embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 6 to 8, inclusive, that form is similar to the first embodiment in its basic principles but is modified to provide a base which can be shaped to conform generally to the curvature of the back of the user. The base, here indicated by the reference character 6|, comprises an elongated rectangularly sectioned metallic member formed with feet 60 at its upper and lower ends adapted to lie fiat against and be secured to the supporting wall, as by screws 62. A pair of pulleys 63 are screwed at the upper end of the base or track 6| by a bracket 64 and comprise counterparts of the pulleys 33 of the first embodiment. A single pulley 66 is secured by a bracket 61 to the lower end of the frame and corresponds to the pulley 4| of the first embodiment. The runner in the present instance comprises a sleeve 69 which may, if desired, be made of a single piece of sheet metal shaped to enclose slidingly the base 6| from the forward and rearward faces of which extend brackets H and T2. The former pivotally carries an arm 13, forming the counterpart of the attaching arm 24 of the first embodiment, while the rearwardly extending bracket 12 is centrally apertured at 13 to receive the ends of the cords l6 and H which connect at their opposite ends to grips 18 and 19, respectively. The cord 16 extends only over an upper pulley 63 and then connects directly to the runner 69 at its rearwardly extending bracket l2. Cord ll, however, extends upwardly and over an upper pulley 63 and then downwardly and around the lower pulley 66 comprising, therefore, a counterpart of the cord 41 of the first embodiment. The frame BI is characterized in that while relatively strong and rigid yet it is adapted to be deformed and shaped between its supporting ends by the application of a reasonable force to enable it to vary its shape and spacing from the supporting wall and so conform generally to the curvature of the users back. A typical curvature is illustrated in Figure 6 and it is to be noted that throughout the entire travel of the slide 19 it is spaced substantially an equal distance from the slide fastener to which it is connected by its arm 13. The use of this second embodiment of the invention corresponds in all details to the use of the first described embodiment.

While the particular apparatus herein shown and described in detail is fully capable of attaining the objects and providing the advantages hereinbefore stated, it is to be understood that it is merely illustrative of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention and that no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown other than as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In an operating device for slide fasteners, an elongated base adapted to be mounted rigidly upon a supporting wall and including a track, a runner including fastener-attaching means slidably mounted on said track for vertical displacement between the ends of said base, a pulley at the upper end of said base, and an actuating cord extended over said pulley and downwardly to connect to said runner to enable said runner to be displaced vertically upon said base by the exertion of an outward force upon said cord.

2. The construction recited in claim 1 characterized in that said base is deformable and adapted to be shaped to conform to the curvature of the back of the user.

3. In an operating device for slide fasteners, an elongated base adapted to be mounted rigidly upon a supporting wall and including a track, a runner including fastener-attaching means slidably mounted on said track for vertical displacement between the ends of said base, pulleys at the upper and lower ends of said base, and an actuating cord extended over a pulley at the upper end of said base, downwardly through said base and around a pulley at the lower end thereof, and then upwardly into contact with said runner whereby a pull exerted on said cord causes said runner to travel downwardly upon said base.

4. The construction recited in claim 3 characterized in that said base is deformable and adapted to be shaped to conform to the curvature of the back of the user.

5. In an operating device for slide fasteners, an elongated base adapted to be mounted rigidly upon a supporting wall and including a track, a runner including fastener-attaching means slidably mounted on said track for vertical displacement between the ends of said base, pulleys at the upper and lower ends of said base, an actuating cord extended over a pulley at the upper end of said base and connected to said runner to enable said runner to be displaced vertically upon said base by the exertion of an outward force upon said cord, and a handle grip connected to the end of said cord of sufficient weight to hold said cord taut in all positions of said runner.

6. In an operating device for slide fasteners, an elongated base adapted to be mounted rigidly upon a supporting wall and including a track, a runner including fastener-attaching means slidably mounted on said track for vertical displacement between the ends of said base, pulleys at the upper and lower ends of said base, an actuating cord extended over a pulley at the upper end of said base, downwardly through said base and around a pulley at the lower end thereof, and then upwardly to connect to said runner whereby a pull exerted on said cord causes said runner to travel downwardly upon said base, and a handle grip connected to the end of said cord of sufficient weight to hold said cord taut in all positions of said runner.

7. In an operating device for a slide fastener, an elongated frame including a vertical track, a runner including fastener-attaching means slidable on said track, pulleys positioned at the upper and lower ends of said frame, a cord extended over an upper pulley and connected to said runner, a second cord extended over an upper pulley, down along said frame and around a lower pulley, and then extended upwardly to conneat to said runner, said cords providing means whereby upon the selective exertion of a pull thereon said runner can be displaced upwardly or downwardly on said frame.

8. In an operating device for a slide fastener, an elongated frame including a track, a runner including fastener-attaching means slidable on said track, pulleys positioned at the upper and lower ends of said frame, a cord extended over an upper pulley and connected to said runner, a second cord extended over an upper pulley, down along said frame and around a lower pulley, and then extended upwardly to connect to said runner, said cords providing means whereby upon the selective exertion of a pull thereon said runner can be displaced upwardly or downwardly on said frame when arranged vertically upon a supporting wall, and grip members secured to the outer ends of said cords of sufiicient weight as to draw said cords taut in all positions of said runner.

9. The construction recited in claim 8 characterized in that said runner includes a pivoted element constructed to engage the apertured flap forming a part of the conventional slide of a slide fastener.

10. The construction recited in claim 8 characterized in that said frame is deformable and adapted to be shaped to conform to the curvature of the back of the user.

ROXANN SHAKARIAN VAHAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,201,843 Williams May 21, 1940 2,531,805 Clark Nov. 28, 1950

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