Stretchable zipper

Abstract

The invention provides a stretchable zipper. The stretchable zipper comprises a zipper belt, a zipper tooth structure installed on the zipper belt and a puller installed on the zipper tooth structure. The chain belt is a stretchable chain belt; after the zipper tooth structure is connected with the puller in a matched mode, the zipper tooth structure and the stretchable zipper belt are assembled together, so that the zipper with the stretching function is formed. Interlocking can be kept within the strain and strain difference range of 0-25%, pulling-in and pulling-out can be conducted easily, the higher in-plane bending capacity is achieved, applicability is high, and the using effect is good.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of zipper manufacturing, in particular to a stretchable zipper. Background Art

[0002] Smart wearable systems consisting of stretchable electronics and stretchable tights can fit closely to the human body and provide functions such as physiological parameter monitoring for diagnosis, motion capture for human-computer interaction, and mechanical and physical actuation for rehabilitation. In recent years, research on stretchable electronics has made significant achievements in design, manufacturing, and application. Stretchable fabrics, such as spandex, modal, and neoprene, which are the main components of stretchable tights, have also been well studied. Surprisingly, zippers, which are an indispensable part of stretchable tights, are still almost non-stretchable. The elastic mismatch between stretchable fabrics and non-stretchable zippers may affect the functionality, comfort, and aesthetics of wearable systems.

[0003] The interlocking performance of a zipper depends largely on the structural design of the chain elements. Traditional zipper interlocking structures are well-developed, optimized for various load conditions. These elements feature appropriate shapes (e.g., spoon-shaped), dimensions, and corresponding slider structures, ensuring the zipper's proper function under various operating conditions. Furthermore, the materials used also directly impact the zipper's performance. Traditional zippers primarily use metal or plastic to manufacture their chain elements, materials that offer a certain level of strength and durability.

[0004] The zipper on the stretchable tights is still a non-stretchable zipper. This type of zipper has a simple structural design and performs well in connecting fabrics. When the slider moves along the direction of the chain belt, its inner wall squeezes the chain teeth laterally, inserting the protrusion of the chain teeth on one side into the groove of the chain teeth on the other side to achieve interlocking. The slider is used to control the opening and closing of the zipper. To ensure aesthetics, the zipper can be hidden through a specific sewing process. However, when used in smart wearable systems, the mismatch between the stretchability of the zipper and the stretchable fabric will still affect comfort, and wrinkles will appear near the zipper, affecting the aesthetics. In addition, this mismatch will also have an adverse effect on the layout of stretchable electronic devices and signal acquisition in the area affected by the zipper.

[0005] Traditional zippers are typically non-stretchable and consist of chain elements, a slider, top and bottom stops, and two non-stretchable nylon straps. Regardless of whether the chain elements are spoon-shaped, spiral-shaped, or arched, maintaining the tightness of the chain elements along their length is fundamental to achieving zipper interlocking. The simple strategy of replacing the non-stretchable nylon strap with a stretchable strap inevitably increases the distance between the chain elements during stretching, causing them to separate. The conflict between the traditional zipper's requirement for tightness along the length of the chain elements and the stretchability required of a stretchable zipper is a key structural design challenge. Summary of the Invention

[0006] In response to the technical problems existing in the above-mentioned background technology, the present invention proposes a stretchable zipper, which has a reasonable and compact structural design, can maintain interlocking and can be easily closed and opened within the strain and strain difference range of 0-25%, has greater in-plane bending ability, strong applicability and good use effect, and can effectively solve the contradiction between the traditional zipper's requirements for the tightness of the chain teeth arranged along the length direction and the stretchability requirements.

[0007] In order to solve the above technical problems, the present invention provides a stretchable zipper, including a chain belt, a chain tooth structure installed on the chain belt, and a pull head installed on the chain tooth structure; the chain belt is a stretchable chain belt; after the chain tooth structure is matched with the pull head and connected, it is assembled together with the stretchable chain belt to form a zipper with a stretching function.

[0008] The stretchable zipper, wherein: the chain tooth structure includes a first chain tooth and a second chain tooth; the fixed sides of the first chain tooth and the second chain tooth are tightly bound to the chain belt on their respective corresponding sides, and the biting sides of the first chain tooth and the second chain tooth bite each other to form a spoon-shaped interlocking structure; and the biting sides of the first chain tooth and the second chain tooth are both provided with an anti-separation protrusion at the biting position, and the first chain tooth and the second chain tooth are assembled with each other through their respective anti-separation protrusions to form a stitch-type anti-separation structure; the middle parts of the first chain tooth and the second chain tooth are matched and connected by a detachable stretch limiting structure;

[0009] The upper and lower engaging surfaces of the slider are both provided with slideways for assisting in closing and separating; the slider is symmetrically provided with movable retreat blocks on the inner sides of both sides of the slideway, and baffles corresponding to the movable retreat blocks are provided on the outer sides of both sides of the slideway; the movable retreat blocks and the baffles are connected by a spring.

[0010] The stretchable zipper, wherein: the first tooth has a first bite structure on its bite side; the second tooth has a second bite structure on its bite side; the first tooth utilizes the first bite structure to match and bite with the second bite structure of the second tooth to form a spoon-shaped interlocking structure.

[0011] The stretchable zipper, wherein: the first bite structure is matched with a first anti-detachment protrusion; the second bite structure is matched with a second anti-detachment protrusion; the first anti-detachment protrusion and the second anti-detachment protrusion are assembled to form the stitching anti-detachment structure.

[0012] The stretchable zipper, wherein: the fixed side of the first link tooth is provided with a first fixing hole; the fixed side of the second link tooth is provided with a second fixing hole; the first link tooth is tightly bound to the link belt on the corresponding side through the first fixing hole, and the second link tooth is tightly bound to the link belt on the corresponding side through the second fixing hole.

[0013] The stretchable zipper, wherein: a first stretch-limiting structural groove is horizontally opened through the middle of the first link tooth; a second stretch-limiting structural groove is horizontally opened through the middle of the second link tooth; and both ends of the stretch-limiting structure are respectively connected to the first stretch-limiting structural groove and the second stretch-limiting structural groove.

[0014] The stretchable zipper, wherein: the stretch-limiting structure is composed of two identical stretch-limiting blocks arranged in parallel;

[0015] The two ends of each stretch limiting block are symmetrically bent and extended toward each other to form a pair of hook-shaped structures. The two ends of each stretch limiting block are matched with a limit block fixing hole on one side of each hook structure; the limit block fixing hole is used to fix the stretch limiting block to the chain belt;

[0016] The two ends of the stretch limiting block are respectively connected with the first stretch limiting structure groove and the second stretch limiting structure groove through the hook structure to form a hook-groove type stretch limiting structure.

[0017] The stretchable zipper, wherein: the surface of the movable retreat block facing the baffle is provided with a first circular groove, and the first circular groove is provided with a first cylinder protruding from the bottom of the groove toward the groove opening;

[0018] A second circular groove is matched with the middle of the surface of the baffle facing the movable retreat block, and a second cylindrical column is protruded from the bottom of the second circular groove toward the groove opening;

[0019] One end of the spring is embedded in the first circular groove and sleeved on the first cylinder, and the other end is embedded in the second circular groove and sleeved on the second cylinder.

[0020] The stretchable zipper, wherein: a pull tab is provided on the back side of the slider.

[0021] The stretchable zipper, wherein: the chain belt is made of elastic fabric.

[0022] By adopting the above technical solution, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0023] The stretchable zipper structure of the present invention is reasonably designed and compact, and can effectively resolve the contradiction between the traditional zipper's requirement for the tightness of the chain elements arranged along the length direction and the stretchability requirement of the stretchable zipper.

[0024] Traditional zippers are non-stretchable, both because the chain strap itself is non-stretchable and because the design of the chain elements and slider prevents stretching. The stretchable zipper of the present invention achieves overall stretchability through a stretchable chain strap combined with innovative chain element and slider structures, ensuring the zipper can stably interlock and open and close smoothly within its designed range.

[0025] Compared with existing traditional zipper structures, the stretchable zipper of the present invention can remain interlocked and easily closed and opened within the strain and strain difference range of 0-25%; compared with existing traditional zipper structures, the stretchable zipper has greater in-plane bending ability, and its minimum curvature radius reaches about 17.3 cm; the present invention uses a conformal type that can improve the intelligent wearable system; when used as a surgical zipper for closing wounds, it can be used in locations where wounds may undergo large deformation, such as the knee joint, or for closing curved wounds, effectively overcoming the limitations of traditional surgical zippers.

[0026] The slider design and the arrangement of the movable release block of the present invention ensure that the stretchable zipper can be opened and closed smoothly even under conditions where the chain straps on both sides have different strains; the arrangement of the movable release block and the spring in the slider enables the slider to have a certain degree of self-locking ability.

[0027] Compared to traditional zippers, the stretchable zipper of the present invention offers both stretchability and in-plane bending capabilities, potentially leading to misaligned lengths between the two chain straps during use. In this case, the interlocking elements (such as the interlocking structure and the seam-type anti-detachment mechanism) maintain their normal functionality, ensuring smooth closing and opening of the zipper under various strain conditions. However, existing sliders are unable to achieve this even under varying strain conditions.

[0028] In addition to the above-mentioned applications in smart wearable systems and wound closure, the present invention can also be used as a zipper for daily clothing and sportswear due to its simple structure and reliable interlocking performance. Its high elastic strain performance not only improves wearing comfort but also provides better aesthetics and avoids wrinkles near the zipper due to the mismatch between the stretchability of the zipper and the clothing fabric. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] In order to more clearly illustrate the specific embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for use in the specific embodiments or the description of the prior art. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying any creative work.

[0030] Figure 1Schematic diagram of the structure of the chain element structure of the stretchable slide fastener of the present invention;

[0031] Figure 2 Schematic diagram of the assembly structure of the chain elements of the stretchable zipper of the present invention;

[0032] Figure 3 A schematic structural diagram of a stretch limiting block of the stretch limiting structure of the stretchable zipper of the present invention;

[0033] Figure 4 Schematic diagram of the assembly of the stretch limiting structure and the chain element structure of the stretchable zipper of the present invention;

[0034] Figure 5 The stretchable zipper of the present invention Figure 4 Schematic diagram of the structure in the AA direction;

[0035] Figure 6 Schematic diagram of the structure of the slider of the stretchable zipper of the present invention;

[0036] Figure 7 Schematic diagram of the partial structure of the slider of the stretchable zipper of the present invention;

[0037] Figure 8 Schematic diagram of the decomposition of the movable retreat block and the baffle of the stretchable zipper of the present invention;

[0038] Figure 9 Schematic diagram of the assembly of the movable retreat block, baffle and spring of the stretchable zipper of the present invention;

[0039] Figure 10 FIG2 is a diagram showing the bilateral non-equivalent interlocking process of the chain element structure of the stretchable slide fastener of the present invention under the condition of 15.0%=ε1<ε2;

[0040] Figure 11 Schematic diagram of the initial contact of the chain tooth structure in the slider and the rotation conditions of the chain tooth structure during the closing and closing process of the stretch zipper of the present invention;

[0041] Figure 12 This is a diagram of the entire interlocking process that the element structure of the stretch slide fastener of the present invention may undergo. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0042] The technical solution of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the embodiments described are only some embodiments of the present invention, not all embodiments. All other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field based on the embodiments of the present invention without making any creative efforts shall fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0043] The present invention will be further explained below with reference to specific embodiments.

[0044] like Figure 1-9 As shown, a stretchable zipper provided in this embodiment includes a chain tooth structure 1, a slider 2, a stretch limiting structure 3 and a chain belt 4.

[0045] The fastener element structure 1 includes a first fastener element 11 and a second fastener element 12 that match each other. The first fastener element 11 has a pair of symmetrically arranged first engaging structures 111 on its engaging side for reliable interlocking of the two side links. The first fastener element 11 has a first fixing hole 112 on its fixing side, and a first stretch-limiting structural groove 113 extending horizontally through its center. The pair of symmetrically arranged first engaging structures 111 are each provided with matching first anti-separation protrusions 114 on their inner surfaces facing each other.

[0046] The engaging side of the second link tooth 12 is provided with a pair of second engaging structures 121 symmetrically arranged in an upper and lower manner for realizing reliable interlocking of the link belts on both sides, a second fixing hole 122 is provided on the fixed side, and a second stretching limiting structure groove 123 is opened horizontally through the middle; a pair of second engaging structures 121 symmetrically arranged in an upper and lower manner are both matched with second anti-disengagement protrusions 124 on the inner surfaces facing each other.

[0047] The chain belt 4 is a stretchable chain belt, specifically made of elastic fabric.

[0048] The first link tooth 11 is tightly bound to the chain belt 4 on the corresponding side through the first fixing hole 112, and the second link tooth 12 is tightly bound to the chain belt 4 on the corresponding side through the second fixing hole 122, ensuring that the link tooth structure 1 moves in coordination with the chain belt 4 during the stretching and bending of the chain belt to avoid relative displacement.

[0049] The first coupling element 11 utilizes the first engaging structure 111 and the second engaging structure 121 of the second coupling element 12 to form a spoon-shaped interlocking structure, thereby achieving reliable interlocking of the chain belts on both sides, so that the zipper maintains a stable connection under normal use.

[0050] The first anti-separation protrusion 114 and the second anti-separation protrusion 124 ensure that when the zipper is subjected to a force disturbance perpendicular to the interlocking plane, a stitch-type anti-separation structure a is formed after assembly. This stitch-type anti-separation structure a can disperse the force acting on a single or localized area to a wider range, preventing the first coupling element 11 and the second coupling element 12 from separating from each other and causing zipper failure. For example, when the first coupling element 11 and the second coupling element 12 are subjected to a normal extrusion force F, the force is transmitted to multiple surrounding coupling elements through the mutual extrusion of the first anti-separation protrusion 114 and the second anti-separation protrusion 124, thereby preventing localized excessive force from causing zipper failure.

[0051] The upper and lower engaging surfaces of the slider 2 are both provided with slideways 21 for assisting in closing and separating; during the opening and closing process of the zipper, the slideways 21 provide a stable motion trajectory for the first chain tooth 11 and the second chain tooth 12, reducing the friction resistance between the chain teeth, making the opening and closing of the zipper smoother, and improving the anti-interference ability of the slider; at the same time, a pair of movable retreat blocks 22 are symmetrically arranged on the inner edges of the slideways 21 on both sides of the upper and lower engaging surfaces of the slider 2, and baffles 23 are symmetrically arranged on the outer edges of the slideways 21 on both sides of the upper and lower engaging surfaces of the slider 2; the movable retreat blocks 22 correspond to the baffles 23 and are connected to each other by a spring 24.

[0052] Among them, a first circular groove 221 is opened in the middle of the surface of the movable retreat block 22 facing the baffle 23, and a first cylinder 222 is protruded from the bottom of the groove to the groove opening of the first circular groove 221; similarly, a second circular groove 231 is matched with the middle of the surface of the baffle 23 facing the movable retreat block 22, and a second circular cylinder 232 is protruded from the bottom of the groove to the groove opening of the second circular groove 231; one end of the spring 24 is embedded in the first circular groove 221 and is sleeved on the first cylinder 222, and the other end is embedded in the second circular groove 231 and is sleeved on the second cylinder 232. During installation, the movable retreat block 22, the spring 24, and the baffle 23 are installed in sequence. The spring 24 is in the first groove 221 and the second groove 231 of the movable retreat block 22 and the baffle 23. The existence of the first cylinder 222 and the second cylinder 232 ensures that the spring 24 will not bend during the compression process. At the same time, the first cylinder 222 and the second cylinder 232 cannot be too long to ensure that they will not contact and squeeze the baffle 23 due to insufficient space, thereby limiting the compression of the spring 24; the movable retreat block 22 should protrude from the inner surface of the slider to ensure that the chain teeth will not automatically separate due to slight disturbances. In addition, a pull tab 25 is provided on the back of the slider 4.

[0053] The stretch-limiting structure 3 comprises two identical stretch-limiting blocks 31 arranged in parallel. Each stretch-limiting block 31 is symmetrically bent and extended to the same side at both ends to form a pair of hook-shaped structures 311. Each stretch-limiting block 31 is provided with a pair of matching block fixing holes 312 on one side of the hook-shaped structures 311. The block fixing holes 312 are capable of securing each stretch-limiting block 31 to the chain 4 (ordinary sutures can be used to secure the stretch-limiting block 31 to the chain 4 through the block fixing holes 312). The pair of hook-shaped structures 311 are capable of interlocking with the first stretch-limiting structure groove 113 of the first link element 11 and the second stretch-limiting structure groove 123 of the second link element 12, respectively, to form a hook-and-groove stretch-limiting structure. This effectively prevents the overall interlocking structure of the zipper from failing due to excessive stretching, ensuring that the zipper maintains contact between the engaging portions of the first and second link elements 11 and 12 even at high stretch rates, while minimizing the impact on the inward and outward bending capabilities of the zipper.

[0054] During the closing and zipping process of the stretch zipper of the present invention, the link element structure 1 within the slider 2 sequentially transitions through three states: uninterlocked, interlocking, and interlocked. The initial contact conditions between the first and second link elements 11, 12 vary due to the varying strains on the two sides of the chain, leading to differences in the interlocking process between the first and second link elements 11, 12.

[0055] At the same time, the present invention can also make the chain tooth structure material stretchable by changing or innovating it, thereby ensuring interlocking, etc.

[0056] like Figure 10-12 As shown, the interlocking process and mechanical analysis method of the stretchable zipper of the present invention specifically include the following steps:

[0057] Among them, for the sake of convenience, the second tooth of the first tooth 11 is represented by A2, the third tooth of the first tooth 11 is represented by A3, the second tooth of the second tooth 12 is represented by B2, the third tooth of the second tooth 12 is represented by B3, and the fourth tooth of the second tooth 12 is represented by B4.

[0058] S100, calculate the critical strain for different initial contact conditions

[0059] The difference in initial contact conditions is reflected in whether B3 is in contact with A3 simultaneously with A2. Clearly, if the critical strain ε2 of the link belt on the second element 12 side remains constant, as the critical strain ε1 of the link belt on the first element 11 side gradually decreases, the distance between B3 and A3 will decrease until they come into contact. Analyzing the link belt strains when B3 is in contact with both A2 and A3 simultaneously yields the following equations:

[0060]

[0061] in is the horizontal distance between the centroid of the rear surface of B3 and the turning point of the track, A = ε2W-(L+R)sin(θ / 2) is the distance between the edges of the rear surfaces of B2 and B3, d1 = 2.2 mm is the distance from the edge of the rear surface of B3 to the rotation axis O2 along the track, T1 = W-[(L+R / 2)tanθ+(1-ε1)W / (2cosθ)] is the distance between the centroid of the rear surface of A2 and the turning point of the track along the track, θ = 10.0° represents the angle between the track direction and the horizontal plane, T2 = d1-W / 2 is the length from the centroid of the rear surface of B3 to the rotation axis O2, is the additional rotation angle of B3 relative to the track, ε2 is the strain of the chain belt on the side of the second link tooth 12, W = 4.8 mm is the width of the first link tooth 11 and the second link tooth 12, L = 5.6 mm is the distance between the center of the arc surface of the first link tooth 11 and the second link tooth 12 and their rear surface, R = 2.4 mm is the radius of the arc surface of the first link tooth 11 and the second link tooth 12, ε1 is the strain of the chain belt on the side of the first link tooth 11, T3 = 13.0 mm is the width of the track after gathering, T4 = (1 + ε1)Wcosθ is the horizontal distance between the centroids of the rear surfaces of A2 and A3, is the vertical distance between the centroids of the rear surfaces of A3 and B3. When solving equation group (1), it is found that the result cannot be expressed by an explicit expression for ε1, so substituting the above parameter values ​​into the equation group for numerical solution shows that:

[0062]

[0063] Observation (2) shows that the effect of changes in ε2 on ε1 is negligible within the range of values. Therefore, it can be concluded that no matter how ε2 is taken, the critical strain ε1 that determines whether B3 contacts A2 and A3 simultaneously is always 15.0%. When ε1>15.0%, B3 contacts A2 but remains in a non-contact state with A3 (hereinafter referred to as non-simultaneous contact); when ε1=15.0%, B3 contacts A2 and begins to contact A3 (hereinafter referred to as simultaneous contact); when ε1<15.0%, B3 not only contacts A2 and A3, but also A3 rotates outward (hereinafter referred to as over-contact). Since the positions of the first and second link teeth 11 and 12 on both sides are equal, by analogy, it can be seen that a similar phenomenon will occur when the chain belts on both sides are exchanged: as ε2 gradually decreases, the distance between A3 and B4 will decrease until they contact each other. The analysis of this case yielded a similar conclusion, confirming that the critical strain ε2, which determines whether A3 contacts both B3 and B4 simultaneously, remains constant at 15.0%, regardless of the value of ε1. Based on the above analysis, the interlocking patterns of the first and second coupling elements 11 and 12 can be divided into two categories, based on the strain ε1 = ε2 = 15.0%: bilateral non-equivalent interlocking and bilateral equivalent interlocking.

[0064] S200, Non-equivalent interlocking of chain teeth on both sides when the chain belt strain is different

[0065] Under the premise that ε1<ε2, taking the typical bilateral non-equivalent interlocking of 15.0%=ε1<ε2 as an example, the interlocking process of the first and second fastener teeth 11 and 12 in the slider 2 can be divided into seven steps:

[0066] Step I: As the slider moves, A2 rotates inward (toward the opposite tooth), while B3 and A3 rotate outward (away from the opposite tooth). The movable release blocks M1 and M2 (i.e., the pair of movable release blocks 22 of the stretch zipper of the present invention) provide additional space for the rotation of the first and second teeth 11, 12. The boundary between these movable release blocks 22 and the inner sidewall of the slider 2 serves as the rotation axis for the first and second teeth 11, 12. During this step, M1 and M2 are gradually compressed by A3 and B3, respectively.

[0067] Step II: A2 continues to internally rotate, while A3 and B3 maintain external rotation. This movement continues until the compression between the curved surfaces of A2 and B3 disappears completely and A2 and B2 are interlocked. During this step, M1 and M2 are further compressed by A3 and B3, respectively.

[0068] Step III: Pushed by M2, B3 rotates inward and begins to interlock with A2. Squeezed by B3, A3 continues to rotate outward, further compressing M1. Simultaneously, M2 recovers from compression until its front surface is coplanar with the inner wall of slider 2.

[0069] Step IV: B3 continues to internally rotate while A3 remains externally rotated. This movement continues until A3 makes contact with B4.

[0070] Step V: B3 rotates internally, A3 and B4 rotate externally. M1 and M2 are compressed by A3 and B4.

[0071] Step VI: B3 remains internally rotated, while A3 and B4 externally rotate. Simultaneously, M1 and M2 are compressed by A3 and B4, respectively. This movement continues until B3 interlocks and the compression between the curved surfaces of A3 and B3 disappears.

[0072] Step VII: A3 rotates inward under the push of M1, while B4 continues to rotate outward under the pressure of A3. This movement process continues until B4 contacts A4. During this step, M1 recovers from compression until its front surface is coplanar with the inner wall of slider 2. Subsequently, A4 and B4 repeat the above steps to begin interlocking. The zipper opening process, that is, the process of releasing the interlocking of the first and second chain teeth 11 and 12, is the reverse process of the interlocking process of the first and second chain teeth 11 and 12. Therefore, it will not be described here.

[0073] A key factor in ensuring that the first and second teeth 11, 12 interlock according to the above steps is to ensure that the first and second teeth 11, 12 can rotate at the movable release block under the compressive force of the opposite teeth. Taking the external rotation of A3 as an example, the internal rotation torque generated by the various forces acting on A3 is limited. To ensure that A3 can externally rotate, the force applied by B3 on the rotation axis O1 of A3 must generate an external rotation torque that satisfies the inequality:

[0074] N[Lcos(α-θ)+dsin(α-θ)]>μN[R+Lsin(α-θ)-dcos(α-θ)] (3);

[0075] Where N is the normal force exerted by B3 on A3, α = arccos(1 / 2 - Δε) is the angle between the normal force direction and the slider's symmetry plane, d = 1.3 mm is the distance from the centroid of A3's rear surface to the rotation axis O1, and μ = 0.5 is the coefficient of friction between the teeth. After simplifying and substituting the parameters, the inequality is derived as follows:

[0076]

[0077] Inequality (4) indicates that the range of Δε is [0.0%, 25.0%]. In fact, since the lower limit of strain for a stretchable zipper must be 0%, the range of strain for the two side links is [0.0%, 25.0%]. In this case, the external rotational torque applied by B3 on A3 increases as the zipper force increases, until A3 is forced to rotate. Once rotation begins, the contact point of the force applied by B3 on A3 moves along the curved surface of A3 toward the end point of the arc, thereby generating a torque that always forces A3 to rotate outward. The analysis of B3 leads to a similar conclusion: as the zipper force increases, the external rotational torque applied by A2 on B3 increases until it exceeds the internal rotational torque generated by the various forces acting on B3, ultimately forcing B3 to continue rotating.

[0078] In addition, under the same premise of ε1<ε2, as the strain values ​​of the link belts on both sides change, the bilateral non-equivalent interlocking process of the link structure 1 presents various forms of degradation. In order to conveniently compare the specific interlocking processes of the first link tooth 11 and the second link tooth 12 under different conditions, a diagram of all the interlocking processes that the first link tooth 11 and the second link tooth 12 may experience is used for description. In this process diagram, the interlocking process of the link teeth under the condition of 15.0%=ε1<ε2 is ②→③→④→⑤→⑥→⑦→⑧→⑩ (i.e.: ② refers to the simultaneous contact state of B3, ③ refers to the over-contact state of B3, ④ refers to the extrusion disappearance state between the arc surfaces of B3 and A2, ⑤ refers to the non-simultaneous contact state of A3, ⑥ refers to the simultaneous contact state of A3, ⑦ refers to the over-contact state of A3, ⑧ refers to the extrusion disappearance state between the arc surfaces of A3 and B3, and ⑩ refers to the contact condition of A3 and B3 when A4 and B4 repeat the ② state). When ε1<15.0%<ε2≤25.0%, the initial contact condition of B3 is over-contact, so states ① and ② no longer exist. In the process from state ③ to ④, B3 changes from over-contact to the disappearance of the extrusion between the arc surfaces of B3 and A2. In states ⑤ to ⑧, A3 changes from non-simultaneous contact to simultaneous contact, and then to over-contact, and finally the extrusion between the arc surfaces of A3 and B3 disappears. As the slider 2 continues to move, A3 and B4 rotate inward until they reach state At this time, A4 and B4 repeat the contact conditions of A3 and B3 in state ③, and repeat the above process to achieve interlocking. It can be observed that B3 undergoes a different interlocking process from A3. In fact, the interlocking process of the first and second chain teeth 11 and 12 under the above strain conditions is a degenerate form of the chain tooth interlocking process under the condition of 15.0% = ε1 < ε2, in which the process of B3 from simultaneous contact to over-contact, that is, ② to ③, is omitted. When 0% ≤ ε1 < ε2 = 15.0%, the interlocking process of the first and second chain teeth 11 and 12 degenerates to ③ → ④ → ⑥ → ⑦ → ⑧ → ( (This means that A4 and B4 repeat the contact condition of A3 and B3 in state ③). Since ε2 = 15.0%, A3 is in contact with B3 and B4 at the same time, so state ⑤ no longer exists.

[0079] S300, Bilateral equivalent interlocking of chain teeth when the chain belts on both sides have different strains

[0080] Under the premise of ε1 < ε2, when 15.0% < ε1 < ε2 ≤ 25.0%, the interlocking process between the first and second coupling elements 11 and 12 exhibits bilateral equivalent interlocking. During states ① to ④, B3 transitions from non-simultaneous contact to simultaneous contact, then to over-contact, ultimately leading to the disappearance of the compression between the curved surfaces of B3 and A2. Similarly, during states ⑤ to ⑧, A3 transitions from non-simultaneous contact to simultaneous contact, then to over-contact, ultimately leading to the disappearance of the compression between the curved surfaces of A3 and B3. As the slider continues to move, A3 and B4 rotate inward until reaching state 9. At this point, A4 and B4 repeat the contact conditions of A3 and B3 in state ①, and the above process repeats to achieve interlocking. The first and second coupling elements 11 and 12 on both sides start from non-simultaneous contact and follow the same interlocking process. When 0% ≤ ε1 < ε2 < 15.0%, the first and second coupling elements 11 and 12 exhibit degenerate bilateral equivalent interlocking. In this case, the initial contact state of B3 is over-contact, resulting in the non-existence of states 1 and 2. As the slider moves, when A3 reaches a position symmetrical to B3, its initial contact state is also over-contact, so states 5 and 6 also do not exist. After the chain teeth inside the slider reach state 8, as the first chain teeth 11 and the second chain teeth 12 continue to move, A4 and B4 will replace the positions of A3 and B3 in state 3, and the above interlocking process will repeat. Therefore, the interlocking process of the first chain teeth 11 and the second chain teeth 12 degenerates into 3→4→⑦→⑧→ .

[0081] Based on the above discussion, under the condition of ε1<ε2, the interlocking process of the chain elements of two chain belts with different strains is shown in the table below.

[0082]

[0083] Under the condition of ε1>ε2, the interlocking process of the first and second coupling elements 11 and 12 follows similar criteria, so no further explanation is given here. The interlocking process of the first and second coupling elements 11 and 12 under the condition of ε1>ε2 is shown in the table below.

[0084]

[0085] S400, interlocking process of chain teeth when the strain on both sides of the chain belt is the same

[0086] Since the strain on both sides of the chain is the same, the interlocking process experienced by the first and second chain elements 11 and 12 on both sides during the pulling and closing process must be the same. The equivalent interlocking process on both sides of the link structure 1 is shown in the following table.

[0087]

[0088] Through the above technical solutions, the stretchable zipper can remain interlocked and easily closed and opened within a large range of strain and strain difference (both 0-25%), showing significant advantages in improving conformality and paving the way for the development of smart wearable systems. In addition, the stretchable zipper can also be used as a surgical zipper for wound closure. Compared with traditional surgical zippers, stretchable zippers have stronger stretchability and in-plane bending capabilities, and can be used in locations such as the knee joint where wounds may experience large deformations, or for closing curved wounds. It effectively overcomes the limitations of traditional surgical zippers and has broad application prospects in the fields of smart wearable systems, medical equipment, sports equipment, etc. At the same time, detailed mechanical analysis provides a solid theoretical basis for further optimization and practical application of the zipper structure.

[0089] The structural design of the present invention is reasonable and compact. It can maintain interlocking and easily open and close within the strain and strain difference range of 0-25%. It has greater in-plane bending ability, strong applicability and good use effect. It can effectively solve the contradiction between the traditional zipper's requirements for the tightness of the chain teeth arranged along the length direction and the stretchability requirements.

[0090] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, rather than to limit it. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the above embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that they can still modify the technical solutions described in the above embodiments, or replace some or all of the technical features therein with equivalents. However, these modifications or replacements do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A stretchable zipper comprising a chain belt (4), a chain tooth structure (1) mounted on the chain belt (4), and a slider (2) mounted on the chain tooth structure (1); characterized in that: The chain belt (4) is a stretchable chain belt; after the chain tooth structure (1) is connected with the slider (2), it is assembled with the stretchable chain belt (4) to form a zipper with a stretching function.

2. The stretchable zipper according to claim 1, wherein The chain tooth structure (1) comprises a first chain tooth (11) and a second chain tooth (12); the fixed sides of the first chain tooth (11) and the second chain tooth (12) are tightly bound to the chain belt (4) on their respective corresponding sides, and the bite sides of the first chain tooth (11) and the second chain tooth (12) bite each other to form a spoon-shaped interlocking structure; and the bite sides of the first chain tooth (11) and the second chain tooth (12) are both provided with an anti-separation protrusion at the bite position, and the first chain tooth (11) and the second chain tooth (12) are assembled with each other through their respective anti-separation protrusions to form a stitch-type anti-separation structure (a); the middle parts of the first chain tooth (11) and the second chain tooth (12) are matched and connected by a detachable stretch limiting structure (3); The upper and lower engaging surfaces of the slider (2) are both provided with slideways (21) for assisting in pulling together and separating; the slider (2) is symmetrically provided with movable retreat blocks (22) on both inner sides of the slideways (21), and baffles (23) corresponding to the movable retreat blocks (22) are provided on both outer sides of the slideways (21); the movable retreat blocks (22) and the baffles (23) are connected via springs (24).

3. The stretchable slide fastener according to claim 2, wherein: The first tooth (11) is provided with a first engaging structure (111) on its engaging side; the second tooth (12) is provided with a second engaging structure (121) on its engaging side; the first tooth (11) utilizes the first engaging structure (111) to engage with the second engaging structure (121) of the second tooth (12) to form a spoon-shaped interlocking structure.

4. The stretchable slide fastener according to claim 3, wherein: The first occlusal structure (111) is matched with a first anti-separation protrusion (114); the second occlusal structure (121) is matched with a second anti-separation protrusion (124); the first anti-separation protrusion (114) and the second anti-separation protrusion (124) are assembled to form the suture-type anti-separation structure (a).

5. The stretchable slide fastener according to claim 2, wherein: The first link tooth (11) is provided with a first fixing hole (112) on the fixed side; the second link tooth (12) is provided with a second fixing hole (122) on the fixed side; the first link tooth (11) is tightly bound to the chain belt (4) on the corresponding side through the first fixing hole (112), and the second link tooth (12) is tightly bound to the chain belt (4) on the corresponding side through the second fixing hole (122).

6. The stretchable slide fastener according to claim 2, wherein: A first stretch-limiting structural groove (113) is horizontally provided through the middle of the first link tooth (11); a second stretch-limiting structural groove (123) is horizontally provided through the middle of the second link tooth (12); and both ends of the stretch-limiting structure (3) are respectively connected to the first stretch-limiting structural groove (113) and the second stretch-limiting structural groove (123).

7. The stretchable slide fastener according to claim 6, wherein: The stretch limiting structure (3) is composed of two identical stretch limiting blocks (31) arranged in parallel; The two ends of each stretch limiting block (31) are symmetrically bent and extended toward each other to form a pair of hook-shaped structures (311), and both ends of each stretch limiting block (31) are matched with a limiting block fixing hole (312) on one side of each hook-shaped structure (311); the limiting block fixing hole (312) is used to fix the stretch limiting block (31) to the chain belt (4); The two ends of the stretch limiting block (31) are respectively connected to the first stretch limiting structure groove (113) and the second stretch limiting structure groove (123) through the hook structure (311) to form a hook-groove type stretch limiting structure.

8. The stretchable slide fastener according to claim 2, wherein: The surface of the movable retreat block (22) facing the baffle (23) is provided with a first circular groove (221), and the first circular groove (221) is provided with a first cylinder (222) protruding from the bottom of the groove toward the groove opening; A second circular groove (231) is matched with the middle portion of the surface of the baffle (23) facing the movable retreat block (22), and a second cylindrical column (232) is protruded from the bottom of the second circular groove (231) toward the groove opening. One end of the spring (24) is embedded in the first circular groove (221) and sleeved on the first cylinder (222), and the other end is embedded in the second circular groove (231) and sleeved on the second cylinder (232).

9. The stretchable slide fastener according to claim 1, wherein: A pull tab (25) is provided on the back side of the slider (2).

10. The stretchable slide fastener according to claim 1, wherein: The chain belt (4) is made of elastic fabric.

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