US3354520A

US3354520A - Device for closing and opening zippers

Info

Publication number: US3354520A
Application number: US499997A
Authority: US
Inventors: Herman J Morgen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1965-10-21
Filing date: 1965-10-21
Publication date: 1967-11-28
Anticipated expiration: 1984-11-28

Description

H. J. MORGEN 3,354,520

Nov. 28, 1967 DEVICE FOR CLOSING AND OPENING ZIPPERS Filed Oct. 21, 1965 EN TOR.

f/ermah Wage/2 Patented Nov. 28, 1967 ABSTRAUT UP THE DISCLOSURE A zipper opening and closing device in which a hook and an abutment are juxtaposed so that the zipper operator may be either raised or lowered, and having a fin by which extraneous cloth or other material is kept out of the path of the zipper.

My invention relates to a device for closing and opening zippers.

An object of my invention is to provide a very simple device and which can be made in a very simple form, which Will allow a woman to close a zipper at the rear portions of her dress, and also to open the zipper.

A further object of my invention is to provide an easily attached arrangement.

A further object is to provide an arrangement which will prevent locking of the zipper at certain stages of the operation thereof.

A further object is to provide an arrangement which will prevent entanglement with underlying fabrics etc.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the construction, arrangement, and combination of the various parts of my device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claim, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of the device,

FIGURE 2 is a forward view of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged detail showing the device used for closing the zipper,

FIGURE 4 is a view showing the device when used to open the zipper, and

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken along the lines 55 of FIGURE 2.

I have used the character 11) to designate a flat strip of material, preferably plastic, it being understood, however, that any other type of material can be employed, the strip extending into the integral enlarged widened fiat portion 11, this portion being curved as at 11a.

Attached as at 12 fairly close to the lower end 13 of the strip 10 is a hook 14 including the outwardly extending portion 15. The character 15b indicates a curved rib extending integrally from the member 10.

The device is used in the following manner. First, assuming that the zipper is to be closed, or in other words, assuming that the zipper tab 16 is to be pulled upwardly, which tab is provided on all zipper constructions, the hook portion 15 is placed through the opening 17 in the tab 16, and the woman will grasp the portion 11 and will then pull upwardly, whereby the zipper will pass upwardly and close the dress at the rear. As shown in FIGURE 4, at the start of pull, 15b and member 10 will move toward the body and member 19 will move outwardly from the body whereby the member 15b will hold the under garment away from the zipper 20.

Conversely, to open the zipper, the unit will remain in the same position as shown in FIGURE 4, and the enlarged portion 11 is maintained at a position which is parallel to the plane of the body, which insures that the face 13 will abut against the tab 16, whereupon downward pressure in the direction of the arrow 18 will cause the zipper to travel downwardly and open the dress at the rear. The maintenance of the portion 11 in the horizontal plane above described will insure that the abutment effect against the tab 16 is maintained throughout the movement of the device to thereby insure proper opening, and which also insures that the tab 16 will be kept in unlocked position, the character 19 indicating the usual zipper attachments which are unlocked when the tab 16 is in horizontal position, the character 21) indicating further zipper portions.

It will thus be noted that the device will function properly to open and close the zipper, the insertion of the hook within the opening 17 being relatively easy in either position. The length of the unit is sulficient so that the operator can conveniently operate the device even though it is positioned at the rear.

The member 15b separates the zipper parts from any underlying clothing, to prevent jamming of the Zipper etc. with said fabrics, this member being directly over the zipper 20.

It will now be seen that I have provided the advantages mentioned in the objects of my invention with further advantages being readily apparent.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts of my invention without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claim any modified forms of structure of use of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim as my invention:

For use in opening or closing a zipper, said zipper having a tab for its operation, a device comprising an elongated rigid strip formed to provide a handle at one end and a flat abutment surface at the terminal end opposite said handle and substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of said strip, a hook having a shank extending along one side of said strip, a curved hook portion extending from said shank slightly beyond said fiat abutment surface and having its end spaced from said shank for receiving said tab, the inner surface of said curved hook portion being substantially in line with said abutment surface so that said tab may be supported by said surfaces normal to the longitudinal axis of said strip, and convex means on the side of said handle opposite to the hook shank for clearing obstructions.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 481,763 8/1892 Johnson 294-26 X 674,190 5/1901 Zeiler 29426 X 2,571,943 10/1951 Ray 294-26 2,656,579 10/1953 Wilson 2941 2,663,588 12/1953 ScheldOrfer. 3,145,041 8/1964 Grolig.

BERNARD A. GELAK, Primary Examiner.