US2971200A - Slide fastener construction - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 14, 1961 B. LINDSEY sums: FASTENER CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 19, 1958 FIG.

INVENTOR BOYD LINDSEY..

SLIDE FASTENER CONSTRUCTION Boyd Lindsey, Yuma Cleaners, Yuma, Colo.

Filed Feb. 19, 1958, Ser. No. 716,184

1 Claim. (Cl. 2265) This invention relates to slide or separable fasteners of the type generally referred to as zippers, and in particular a main fastener positioned between auxiliary fasteners whereby with the main fastener becoming inoperative due to wear or for other reasons the unit is detached by the auxiliary fasteners and readily replaced by a similar unit that is operative.

The purpose of this invention is to obviate the necessity of discarding garments because fasteners thereon become inoperative.

Many valuable garments are discarded because slide or separable fastener elements thereof are inoperative, whereas if the fasteners could be readily repaired or replaced such garments could be used for much longer periods. With the present construction of such fasteners it is very dimcult, if not impossible, for an amateur to remove and replace the stringers, and for this reason it is necessary to take garments and the like with inoperative fasteners to shops equipped to perform this service. Consequently, garments with inoperative fasteners are put aside, and, in numerous instances, outgrown.

With this thought in mind this invention contemplates a separable fastener unit wherein the main fastener is positioned between auxiliary fasteners wherein the main fastener with one stringer of each of the auxiliary fasteners may be removed, discarded, and replaced with an operative or new fastener.

The object of this invention is, therefore, to provide means for readily removing and replacing an inoperative separable fastener.

Another object of the invention is to provide a separable fastener unit that may be distributed and sold inde pendently, and that may be installed in place of an inoperative fastener by the average layman.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a replaceable separable fastener unit that is designed to be installed in garments and the like now in use.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide a removable and replaceable separable fastener unit for garments and the like that is hidden in use.

A further object of the invention is to provide a separable fastener unit for use in garments, footwear, tent shelters, equipment and vehicle covers, and the like, in which the unit is installed as the garment or device is manufactured.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a separable or slide fastener unit wherein separable fasteners are removable and replaceable in which the fastener units are of simple and economical construction.

With these and other objects and advantages in view the invention embodies a separable fastener unit ineluding a main fastener with an auxiliary fastener spaced from each side in which one stringer of each auxiliary fastener is secured to an edge of a garment or the like at the sides of an opening therein and in which the other stringer of each auxiliary fastener is removable with the main fastener, so that a new main fastener with stringers of auxiliary fasteners corresponding to the nited States Patent stringers of the garment may readily be inserted in the garment or the like.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view showing a separable fastener assembly having a removable and replaceable center portion illustrating an embodiment wherein the fastener is uncovered or exposed, and with parts broken away;

Figure 2 is a view showing the receiving fastener assembly installed in a garment in which the fastener is hidden by flaps of the garment, parts of which are broken away;

Figure 3 is a cross section through the improved separable fastener assembly taken on line 33 of Figure 1 also with the fastener exposed;

Figure 4 is a view showing the upper end of the separable fastener assembly with the assembly installed in a garment, and with the parts shown on an enlarged scale, parts of the garment for covering the fastener being held back for the purpose of illustration;

Figure 5 is a cross section through the sliding clasp fastener assembly; and

Figure 6 is a cross section through the sliding clasp fastener assembly including the garment.

While one embodiment is illustrated in the abovereferred-to drawings, it is to be understood that they are merely for the purpose of illustration, and that various changes in construction may be resortedto in the course of manufacture in order that the invention 'may be utilized to the best advantage according to circumstances which may arise, without in any manner departing from the spirit and intention of the device, which is to be limited only in accordance with the appended claim. And While there is stated the primary field of utility of the invention, it remains obvious that it may be employed in any other capacity wherein it may be found applicable.

In the accompanying drawings, and in the following specification, the same reference characters are used to designate the same parts and elements throughout, and in which the numeral Ill refers to the invention in its entirety, numeral 12 indicating a main separable or sliding clasp fastener including a slider 14 designed to travel on meshing or interlocking elements 16 and 18 that are clamped on fabric strips 20 and 22, to the outer edges of which stringers 24 and 26 of auxiliary fasteners 28 and 30 are secured, and outer stringers 32 and 34 of the auxiliary fasteners are secured to parts 40 and 42 of a garment 44.

The meshing elements of the stringers are made of metal, plastic, or other suitable material, and these elements are secured by crimping or clamping to fabric strips of the stringers. The fabric strips of the stringers are secured to parts of garments or other objects or devices, or to backing strips by stitching or the like.

The auxiliary fasteners 28 and 30 are provided with sliders 46 and 48, as shown in Figure 4.

The stringers of the main fastener 12, which include the meshing elements 16 and 18, and the fabric strips 20 and 22, with the slider 14 provide means for opening and closing the garment, or the like, and the auxiliary fasteners 28 and 30 are only used when it is desired to remove and replace the fastener 12. The lower end of one of the stringers of the fastener 12 is provided with a conventional socket and the lower end of the other stringer is provided with a prong designed to be inserted in the socket through the slider. With the parts in the closed positions, as shown in Figure}, the socket at the lower end of the element 16 is indicated by the numeral 50, and the prong at the lower end of the element 18 is indicated by the numeral 52. The fastener 28 is also provided with a socket 54 that receives a prong similar to the prong 52, and the fastener 30 is provided with a socket 56 in which a prong 58 is positioned.

With the parts assembled as shown and described the stringers 32 and 34 of the auxiliary fasteners are attached, such as by stitching, to the edges of a garment or the like, at the sides of an opening, as illustrated in Figure 2 wherein the strips 32 and 34 are stitched to the sections 40 and 42 of the garment, and the main fastener 12 is used to open and close the garment or device. However, should the main fastener 12 become inoperative, due to Wear or objects being caught in the fastener the sliders of the fasteners 28 and 30 are actuated and the main fastener assembly is removed. The fastener may be repaired, or replaced by a new fastener, as may be desired.

From the foregoing specification, it will become apparent that the invention disclosed will adequately accomplish the functions for which it has been designed and in an economical manner, and that its simplicity, accuracy, and ease of operation are such as to provide a relatively inexpensive device, considering What it will accomplish, and that it will find an important place in the art to which it appertains' when once placed on the market.

It is thought that persons skilled in the art to which the invention relates will be able to obtain a clear understanding of the invention after considering the description in connection with the drawings. Therefore, a more lengthy description is regarded as unnecessary.

Changes in shape, size, and rearrangement of details and parts such as come within the purview of the invention claimed may be resorted to in actual practice, if desired.

Having now described the invention that which is claimed to be new and desired to be procured by Letters Patent, is:

In a sliding clasp fastener assembly, the combination which comprises spaced interlocking elements of a conventional sliding clasp fastener, fabric strips upon inner edges of Which the interlocking elements are secured, a slider mounted to travel on said interlocking elements for engaging and disengaging said elements, stringers, inner edges of which are secured to the fabric strips, spaced elements of sliding clasp fasteners secured to outer edges of the stringers, spaced interlocking elements of sliding clasp fasteners positioned in meshing relation with the spaced elements of the stringers, outer stringers on which the spaced interlocking elements of the sliding clasp fasteners are secured, sliders on the spaced interlocking elements of thestringers, and-a garment having an elongated opening therein, outer edges of said outer stringers being secured to the inner surface of the garment at points spaced from edges of the garment at sides of the opening whereby edges of the garment at. sides of the opening overlap.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,603,144 Nichols Oct. 12, 1926 2,255,183 Ostwald Sept. 9, 1941 2,354,485 Slaughter July 25, 1944 2,746,114 Williams May 22, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 63,760 Norway July 28, 1941 498,984 Great Britain Jan. 17, 1939 600,006 Great Britain Mar. 30, 1948 1,068,380 France June 24, 1954

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