WO2004028287A1

WO2004028287A1 - A zip

Info

Publication number: WO2004028287A1
Application number: PCT/AU2003/001259
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mark Alexander Stocks; Jessica Anne Stocks
Original assignee: Mark Alexander Stocks; Jessica Anne Stocks
Priority date: 2002-09-24
Filing date: 2003-09-24
Publication date: 2004-04-08

Abstract

A zip (11) comprising: a plurality of teeth (13) each having opposed sides (713 and 715) and a hollow (517) that has a first open end (519) located in one of the sides (713) and a second open end (521) located in another of the sides (715); a slide (15) that is movable along the teeth (13) in order to effect alignment of the teeth (13) such that the hollows (517) form a passage (537); and a securing member (17) that can be located in the passage (537) in order to secure the teeth (13) together.

Description

A ZIP

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a zip.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Probably one of the most common forms of fasteners employed today is the zip. Zips are used on a broad range of objects, some of which include trousers (typically as a fly), dresses, suitcases, sleeping bags and tents. The popularity of zippers is largely due to their effectiveness and simplicity, the latter of which allows zippers to be manufactured very cheaply.

Existing zippers generally have two main components. The first component being tracks, which are generally strips of re-enforced fabric. The strips (tracks) are usually sewn to an object and have a free side along which spaced apart teeth are located. Each tooth has an opposed protrusion and recess located about an outer end of the tooth.

The second component of zippers is a slide, which is designed to be moved along the tracks by a user. As the slide moves along the tracks (that is, the strips of material and teeth) , the tracks are drawn into the slide at a specific angle. As the tracks enter the slide, the teeth are intermeshed such that the protrusions on the teeth are located in the recess of adjacent teeth. Placement of the protrusions into the recesses causes the tracks to be secured together. The angle at which the teeth are drawn into the slide is critical to allowing easy positioning of the protrusions into the recesses.

One of the main drawbacks associated with existing zippers is that they are prone to failure due to the tight fitting nature of the teeth when intermeshed. The tight fitting of the teeth is required to ensure that the tracks remain secured together. Consequently, existing zips can jam or become difficult to operate where, for example, dirt gets into the slide or on the teeth. The dirt can make it difficult for the protrusions to be properly positioned in the recesses. Furthermore, high tolerance manufacturing equipment and methods can be required to manufacture existing zips to ensure the teeth fit tightly together, which can increase the cost of producing zips.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a zip comprising: a plurality of teeth each having opposed sides and a hollow that has a first open end located in one of the sides and a second open end located in another of the sides; a slide that is movable along the teeth in order to effect alignment of the teeth such that the hollows form a passage; and a securing member that can be located in the passage in order to secure the teeth together.

Thus, unlike the teeth of existing zips, the teeth of the zip according to the present invention do not need to fit tightly together because they are secured together by the securing member being located in the passage, instead of the interlocking protrusion and recess arrangement used on existing zippers.

Preferably, the zip further comprises locating means for locating the securing member in the passage, the locating means comprising: a recess located in an end region of the securing member; apertures in the teeth which, when the teeth are aligned, define a slot in the passage that extends along a length of the passage; and a pin that is locatable in the recess and which is movable along the slot in order to effect drawing of the securing member in to the passage and thereby locating the securing member in the passage.

Preferably, the slide comprises a body that is arranged to align the teeth, and a member that is pivotally mounted to the body, wherein the member is connected to the pin and is movable in order to effect insertion of the pin in to the recess, or removal of the pin from the recess.

Preferably, the member and pin are arranged such that the pin is located adjacent an opening in the body from which aligned teeth egress.

Preferably, the slot in the passage has a width that is less than the width of the securing member so as to minimize the likelihood of the securing member being removed from the passage via the slot.

Preferably, the zip is arranged such that the slide can be removably fitted to the teeth.

Preferably, each tooth is in the form of a substantially circular disc.

Preferably, the zip is made from a plastic material.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an object comprising the zip according to the first aspect of the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Notwithstanding any other embodiments which may fall within the scope of the present invention, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying figures, in which: figure 1 illustrates a zip according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; figure 2 illustrates a side view of the zip shown in figure 1; figure 3 illustrates another side view of the zip shown in figure 1; figure 4 illustrates a top view of the zip shown in figure 1; figure 5 illustrates an exploded view of the zip shown in figure 1; figure 6 illustrates the teeth of the zip shown in figure 1; figure 7 illustrates a top view of the teeth shown in figure 6; figure 8 illustrates the slide used in the zip shown in figure 1; and figure 9 shows an alternative embodiment of the zip according to the present invention.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

With reference to figure 1, the zip 11 according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a plurality of teeth 13, a slide 15 and a securing member 17.

As can be seen in figure 6, the teeth 63 are arranged in to two rows. Each row of teeth 63 is securely attached to a re-enforced length of flexible material 69, which is made from a fabric, in order to form what is commonly referred to as the "tracks" of a zipper. The teeth 63 are attached to the material 69 in much the same way as a button is attached to a piece of fabric; that is, by a cotton thread that passes through both the teeth 63 and the material 69. It is, however, envisaged that other means may be employed to attach the teeth 63 to the material 69. One such alternative means is, for example, the use of an adhesive.

The free ends 611 of the material 69 are essentially the parts of the zip 61 that are attached to the object, which for example could be a pair of pants, a tent or a suitcase.

With reference to figure 7, the each one of the teeth 73 has opposed sides 713 and 715. As can be seen in figure 5, each one of the teeth 53 also has a hollow 517 that has a first open end 519 located in one of the sides 513 of each of the teeth 53, and a second open end 521 located in another of the sides 515.

As can be seen in figure 1, the teeth 13 have a generally circular profile. The teeth 13 are also made from a plastic type of material. It is, however, envisaged that the teeth 13 could have other profiles, for example rectangular, and may in fact be made from materials other than plastic. Once such material may be brass, which is the material from which the teeth of traditional zips tend to be made from. The material from which the teeth 13 are made is largely dependent on the environment in which the zip 11 is to be used. For instance, because of its susceptibility to corrosion brass is unlikely to be used if the zip 11 has application in a marine environment.

As illustrated in figure 1, the slide 15 comprises a body 123 and a part 125 that is pivotally mounted to the body 123. The body 123 has an inner surface 127 that defines a hollow region 129 capable of receiving the teeth 13. The hollow region 129 has two adjacent openings 131 and 133 located in one end of the body 123, and another opening 835 (which can be seen in figure 8) located in the other end of the body 823.

With reference to figure 5, the slide 55 of the preferred embodiment of the present invention is movable along the teeth 53 in order to effect alignment of the teeth 53 such that the hollows 517 of the teeth 53 define a passage 537. To enable the slide 55 to move along the teeth 53, the hollow region 529 is such that it enables the teeth 53 to freely pass therethrough. The teeth 53 enter the hollow region via the two adjacent openings 531 and 533. As the slide 55 moves along the teeth 53, the teeth 53 are drawn together by virtue of the Y' profile of the hollow region 529. As the teeth 53 are drawn together in the hollow region 529 they intermesh (align) to form the passage 537. The intermeshed teeth 53 egress from the slide 55 via the opening 535.

As can be seen in figure 1, the body 123 of the slide 15 has slots 139 that extend along the length of the body 123. The slots 139 enable the material 19 to pass through the body 123 as the slide 15 moves along the teeth 13. The zip 11 is arranged such that the slide 15 can be removably fitted to the teeth 13. This enables the teeth 13 to be in place only when required.

As with the teeth 13, the slide 15 is typically made from a plastic material. However, it is envisaged that other material, such as steel, can be used. The material from which the slide 15 is made is largely dependent on the environment in which the zip 11 is intended to be used.

As mentioned previously, the zip 11 also comprises a securing member 17 (see figure 1) that can be located in the passage 137. The securing member 17, which is a length of plastic material, is located in the passage 137 in order to secure the aligned teeth 13 together. Whilst it is envisaged that the securing member 17 can be fed into the passage 137 by hand, the zip 11 comprises locating means for readily locating the securing member 17 in to the passage 137. The locating means comprises three components .

The first component of the locating means is a recess (not shown in the figures) in an end region of the securing member 17 (see figure 1) . As can be seen in figure 6, the second component of the locating means is an aperture 641 in each of the teeth 63. The apertures 641 are such that when the teeth 13 are aligned, the apertures 641 form a slot in the passage 637. The slot has a width that is less than the width of the securing member 47, see figure 4. This ensures the securing member 47 can not be easily removed from the passage. As shown in figure 2, the third component of the locating means is a pin 243 that is locatable in the recess in the end of the securing member 27. In addition to being locatable in the recess, the pin 243 is movable along the slot in the passage in order to effect drawing of the securing member 17 in to the passage 137 (see figure 1) , to thereby allow the securing member 17 to be readily located in the passage 137.

As illustrated in figure 3, the pin 343 is attached to the part 325. Given that the part 325 is pivotally mounted to the body 323, the part 325 can be moved in order to effect insertion or removal of the pin 343 in to or out of the recess in the end of the securing member 37. As can be seen in figure 3, the part 325 and the pin 343 are arranged such that the pin is located adjacent the opening 335 from which the teeth 33 egress from the body 323 of the slide 35. The zip 11 is well suited to securing layered objects (for example, garments) together. Typically, the zip 11 is suitable for securing up to four layered objects together. However, by changing the shape of the teeth 13 it is possible to secure more than four layered objects together. Existing zips are not well suited to securing layered objects together.

In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, which is illustrated in figure 9, the locating means comprises the teeth 93 being resiliently deformable. The body 923 of the slide is arranged to compress the teeth 93 inwardly when fitted thereto. The end of the securing member 97 has an enlarged end 945. When the body 923 of the slide 95 moves along the teeth 93, the body 923 catches the enlarged end 945 of the securing member 97, and draws the securing member 97 into the passage defined by the hollows in the teeth 93.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention described herein is susceptible to variations and modifications other than those specifically described. It should be understood that the invention includes all such variations and modifications which fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS :

1. A zip comprising: a plurality of teeth each having opposed sides and a hollow that has a first open end located in one of the sides and a second open end located in another of the sides; a slide that is movable along the teeth in order to effect alignment of the teeth such that the hollows form a passage; and a securing member that can be located in the passage in order to secure the teeth together.

2. The zip as claimed in claim 1, wherein the zip further comprises locating means for locating the securing member in the passage, the locating means comprising: a recess located in an end region of the securing member; apertures in the teeth which, when the teeth are aligned, define a slot in the passage that extends along a length of the passage; and a pin that is locatable in the recess and which is movable along the slot in order to effect drawing of the securing member in to the passage and thereby locating the securing member in the passage.

3. The zip as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the slide comprises a body that is arranged to align the teeth and a member that is pivotally mounted to the body, wherein the member is connected to the pin and is movable in order to effect insertion of the pin in to the recess, or removal of the pin from the recess.

4. The zip as claimed in claim 3, wherein the member and pin are arranged such that the pin is located adjacent an opening in the body from which aligned teeth egress.

5. The zip as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the slot in the passage has a width that is less than the width of the securing member so as to minimize the likelihood of the securing member being removed from the passage via the slot.

6. The zip as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, that is arranged such that the slide can be removably fitted to the teeth.

7. The zip as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein each tooth is in the form of a substantially circular disc.

8. The zip as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, that is made from a plastic material.

9. An object comprising the zip according to any one of the preceding claims.

10. The zip substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings .