Slider for zipper

Abstract

A slider for a zipper includes a slider body and two handles pivotally attached to the slider body. The slider body forms an upper wing, a lower wing, a connecting post connecting the upper wing and the lower wing, and a side flange. Side flanges protrude from the side edges of the upper and lower wings toward a geometric median plane between the wings to form a Y-shaped channel between the upper and lower wings. The upper and lower wings have respective opposing outer surfaces that are substantially flat and symmetrical with respect to a geometric median plane. At least one locking protrusion protrudes inwardly from at least one of the side flanges of the slider body into the Y-shaped channel. The slider can be manipulated from either side, and the wings or plates have substantially symmetrical and flat surfaces, thereby avoiding injury to a user wearing a garment to which a zipper is secured.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to a slider for a zipper. In particular but not exclusively, the slider is intended to be used for a zipper on a double-sided garment (i.e., a garment that can be worn in two ways), the difference of the double-sided garment being that the garment can be turned “inside out”. Background Art

[0002] As is well known, a zipper consists of a pair of strips placed flat, each strip having an inner edge, which is the edge of each strip closest to the equivalent edge of the other strip. On these respective inner edges, the elements are attached in such a way that they are forced to stagger with each other when the edges are brought closer together by the action of the pullers on the respective elements. That is, the elements from the first strip will be releasably forced into the space between two mating consecutive elements on the second strip. The elements are also called zipper teeth or teeth. A strip having elements attached in this way is called a stringer.

[0003] The slider is composed of an upper wing and a lower wing, which are usually substantially the same size and are positioned so that the upper wing covers the entire lower wing, and there is a connecting column that holds the upper wing and the lower wing together at the front and center of each of the wings. There is a flange at the edge of the upper wing pointing downward in the direction of travel of the slider and at the edge of the lower wing pointing upward in the direction of travel of the slider, which is also called a guide rail. The combination of guide rails forms a mouth at the tail end of the slider opposite to the head end where the connecting column is fixed and two mouths at the head end, each of which is formed between the connecting column and the corresponding flange. The mouth is the entry point and exit point of the Y-shaped space in the slider to provide a passage for the chain teeth at the edge of each band. When the slider is dragged along the chain teeth in the head direction or the front direction, the chain teeth are forced to stagger each other and thus attach to each other, and when the slider moves in the tail direction or the rear direction, the chain teeth open.

[0004] To help the slider move, there is usually a mechanism on the upper surface of the upper wing of the slider. The upper wing provides a bridge to which a handle (or pull-tab) is attached so that the slider can move in either direction.

[0005] When the zipper is to be opened / closed, the user usually holds the pull tab (or the slider body) and pulls the slider forward or backward (i.e., toward the head or toward the tail). This will close or open the zipper depending on the direction of travel of the slider. When the zipper is kept upright (vertical), the slider may tend to move the chain teeth of the zipper downward under the action of gravity, thereby opening the zipper in an unexpected manner. For this reason, a slider with a locking device has been developed, which automatically locks the slider in a position on the zipper. The locking mechanism includes a locking pawl, which can pass through the hole in the upper wing of the slider. The locking pawl can stay in the gap between two consecutive chain teeth on a tooth chain belt to ensure that if the slider is pushed to move in the downward direction, the locking pawl will block the slider and keep the slider in a proper position along the zipper. When it is necessary to move the slider in the downward direction, the locking action provided by the pawl must be released. For this reason, a mechanism that ensures that the locking pawl moves out of the path of the pull teeth has also been developed. By lifting the handle, the locking claws are disengaged from the chain elements of the chain tape.

[0006] The utility model relates to a zipper puller which has substantially flat wings on both sides and two pull handles.

[0007] Known double-sided sliders have two handles and two spring locks. An example is given in patent publication EP 1527707 A1, which discloses a zipper slider with two handles and a locking system for double-sided use. The slider includes several internal components, which makes the slider bulky and disadvantageous in terms of manufacturing costs.

[0008] In order to prevent the slider from moving backward and thus disengaging from the zipper, JP U 119770 10402 (Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Application Published as No. S52-10402U) discloses a locking protrusion that protrudes inwardly from the side flange of the slider to the path of the chain element of the chain tape. When the slider tends to descend, opening the zipper, the locking protrusion engages the gap between two consecutive chain elements of the chain tape, thereby locking the slider in a position along the zipper.

[0009] U.S. Patent No. 1,890,336 discloses a toothed fork member that is bent inwardly to extend a short distance from a side flange at right angles to the toothed fork member into the path of an adjacent guide rail and in the direction of the opposite flange of the slider so that each fork can be easily accommodated between the respective chain elements of each chain link.

[0010] Patent publication WO 2015 / 004823 A1 discloses a flat slider having a pull handle without a locking protrusion or any other locking system. Utility Model Content

[0011] The object of the present invention is to provide a double-sided slider which can be manipulated from either side and has opposing wings or plates which have substantially symmetrical and flat surfaces, thereby avoiding injury to a user wearing a garment on which a zipper is secured. Another object of the present invention is to provide a double-sided slider which can have pleasing aesthetic features.

[0012] According to aspects of the present invention, the above and other objects and advantages are achieved by a slider as defined below.

[0013] Briefly, a slider for a double-sided zipper is disclosed, the slider comprising:

[0014] a slider body, forming an upper wing, a lower wing, a connecting post connecting the upper wing and the lower wing, and side flanges, the side flanges protruding from the side edges of the upper wing and the side edges of the lower wing toward a geometric midplane between the wings to form a Y-shaped channel between the upper wing and the lower wing, wherein the upper wing and the lower wing have respective opposing outer surfaces, the outer surfaces being substantially flat and symmetrical relative to the geometric midplane;

[0015] two pull handles pivotally attached to the slider body;

[0016] At least one locking tab protrudes inwardly from at least one of the side flanges of the slider body into the Y-shaped channel.

[0017] In the above slider, the substantially flat outer surface of the wing is flat, or slightly convex or slightly concave.

[0018] In the above slider, the substantially flat outer surfaces of the wings are substantially parallel.

[0019] In the above slider, each of the wings forms a corresponding pair of opposite handle attachment portions protruding in the lateral direction for pivotally mounting each of the two handles to the slider body about a corresponding lateral pivot axis.

[0020] In the above slider, the handle attachment portion is shaped as a stopper, wherein each of the stoppers protrudes outward in the lateral direction from one side of one of the wings.

[0021] In the above slider, the two pairs of handle attachment portions are arranged symmetrically with respect to the geometrical middle plane.

[0022] In the above-mentioned slider, each of the two sliders forms a corresponding pair of right and left legs, each of the pair of right and left legs having a corresponding end portion pivotally mounted to a corresponding one of the slider attachment portions, and wherein each of the legs is longer than the distance from the slider attachment portion to the tail end portion of the slider body, so that the slider body and the slider body are in a flat shape.

[0023] In the above slider, the handle attachment portions are each located at substantially equal distances from the front end portion and the rear end portion of the slider body.

[0024] In the above-mentioned slider, the Y-shaped channel has a single opening at the tail end of the slider opposite to the head end where the connecting column is arranged, and has two openings at the head end, each of which is formed between the connecting column, the upper wing and the lower wing and the corresponding side flanges, wherein the at least one locking protrusion extends inwardly from one of the side flanges into at least one of the openings at the head end of the slider body.

[0025] In the above slider, the slider body is provided with at least two locking protrusions, each of the at least two locking protrusions protruding inwardly into a corresponding one of the two openings at the head end of the slider body.

[0026] In the above slider, the at least two locking protrusions are formed by the same one of at least one of the two wings.

[0027] In the above-mentioned slider, two pairs of locking protrusions are provided. The first pair of locking protrusions of the two pairs of locking protrusions is formed by the upper wing. Each locking protrusion of the first pair of locking protrusions protrudes inwardly into a corresponding one of the two openings at the head end of the slider body, and the second pair of locking protrusions is formed by the lower wing. Each locking protrusion of the second pair of locking protrusions protrudes inwardly into a corresponding one of the two openings at the head end of the slider body.

[0028] In the above slider, the at least one locking protrusion has a vertical height shorter than a vertical height of the side flange from which the at least one locking protrusion protrudes.

[0029] In the above slider, the at least one locking protrusion extends in such a manner as to form an obtuse angle with the side flange from which the at least one locking protrusion protrudes.

[0030] In the above slider, the at least one locking protrusion extends in a direction parallel to a side edge of one of the wings close to the at least one locking protrusion.

[0031] In the above slider, the at least two locking protrusions are arranged adjacent to the handle attachment portion. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] Other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, which is provided purely by way of non-limiting example. With reference to and in the accompanying drawings:

[0033] Figure 1 It is a top view of a zipper equipped with a slider according to an embodiment of the utility model.

[0034] Figure 2 is based on Figure 1 Arrow II in the diagram of the zipper.

[0035] Figure 3 It is shown Figure 1 A schematic top view of a portion of a slider and a row of zipper elements is shown.

[0036] Figure 4 yes Figure 1 A perspective view of the slider body of the slider is shown.

[0037] Figure 5 yes Figure 4 A side elevation view of the slider body is shown.

[0038] Figure 6 yes Figure 4 A front view of the slider body is shown.

[0039] Figure 7 yes Figure 1 A perspective view of the slider is shown.

[0040] Figure 8 yes Figure 7 Side elevation view of the slider shown.

[0041] Fig. 9 yes Figure 7 Front view of the slider shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0042] Referring to the accompanying drawings, a slider 10 for a double-sided zipper includes a slider body 11 and two pull tabs or handles 20, 21 pivotally attached to the slider body 11. The slider body and the pull tab may be made of metal, such as by die casting. The handle may be formed by pressing the metal.

[0043] In the following explanation, the term "longitudinal" indicates the direction in which the slider moves along the zipper. The direction across the front and rear surfaces of the zipper tape and perpendicular to the longitudinal direction is defined as the "transverse" direction or "width" direction. For example, the terms "front", "forward" or "head" and "back", "tail" or "rear" refer to the direction in which the slider moves relative to the rows of zipper teeth to engage and disengage the rows of zipper teeth. When the slider is dragged in the "front" direction, "forward" direction or "head" direction, the teeth are forced to interlace with each other and thus attach to each other, and when the slider moves in the rear, tail or rear direction, the teeth open. The direction perpendicular to the longitudinal and transverse directions is defined as the "vertical" direction or "height" direction. For example, the terms "upper" and "lower" refer to the vertical direction.

[0044] The zipper to which the slider can be applied generally includes a pair of first zipper tape 31 and second zipper tape 32, or a right zipper tape 31 and a left zipper tape 32 (such as Figure 1 ), each of the zipper teeth chain tapes has a strip zipper tape or a band zipper tape 33, 34. The zipper tapes 33, 34 each have an edge facing inward. Chain tooth rows 39, 40 are attached to each inner edge of the belt. Each chain tooth row is formed by a plurality of zipper teeth, and the plurality of zipper teeth are attached to a corresponding one of the inner edge portions of the belt. The zipper teeth may be conventional. For example, the zipper teeth may be made of metal or plastic and may be discrete or continuous. For example, the zipper teeth may include chain teeth made of metal or injection molded plastic or connected in a row of continuous coils. The slider 10 is arranged in a slidable manner along the chain tooth rows 39, 40.

[0045] The slider body 11 forms an upper wing (or upper plate) 12 and a lower wing 13 (or lower plate), and the upper wing 12 and the lower wing 13 have corresponding opposite outer surfaces 23, 24, and the outer surfaces 23, 24 are preferably of the same size and shape, and are symmetrical with respect to a geometric middle plane P between the upper wing and the lower wing and perpendicular to the vertical direction. Due to this arrangement, when viewed in the vertical direction, each wing covers the entire other wing. The slider body 11 ( Figure 1 ) defines a front side or head end, a rear side or tail end, a right side 11a and a left side 11b.

[0046] The slider body 11 forms a connecting post 14 at the front in a manner extending toward the center of each of the wings, thereby connecting and holding the wings together. There are side flanges or guides 15 at the edges of the upper wing protruding downward in the height direction in the direction of travel of the slider and at the edges of the lower wing protruding upward in the height direction in the direction of travel of the slider. The combination of the upper wing 12 and the lower wing 13 and the side flanges 15 forms a Y-shaped channel 19 between the upper wing and the lower wing, and the Y-shaped channel 19 is configured to accommodate the chain elements located at the edge of each belt. The Y-shaped channel 19 has a single opening 16 at the tail end of the slider opposite to the head end where the connecting post 14 is fixed, and two openings of right and left openings 17, 18 at the head end, and the right and left openings 17, 18 are each formed between the connecting post 14, the upper wing 12 and the lower wing 13 and the corresponding side flanges 15.

[0047] The outer surfaces 23, 24 of the wings 12, 13 are preferably flat or substantially flat, or slightly convex or slightly concave. The opposing outer surfaces 23, 24 may be parallel or substantially parallel to each other. It is worth noting that the wings do not have a traditional handle attachment portion protruding from the outer surfaces 23, 24 in a vertical direction. In situations where the pull head may come into contact with the user's body, the flat or substantially flat outer surfaces 23, 24 will not make the user feel uncomfortable.

[0048] Each wing 12, 13 forms a corresponding pair of opposite handle attachment portions 25, 26 and 27, 28 protruding in the transverse direction. The first pair of handle attachment portions 25, 26 provides a pivot connection for the first handle pull tab (20) of the two handle pull tabs 20, 21; the second pair of handle attachment portions 27, 28 provides a pivot connection for the second handle pull tab (21) of the two handle pull tabs 20, 21.

[0049] The handle attachment portion may be shaped as pins, each of which protrudes outwardly in a lateral direction from one side of one of the wings.

[0050] The provision of the handle attachment portions on the opposite side of the slider body enables the outer surfaces 23 , 24 of the wings 12 , 13 to be given a flat or substantially flat shape.

[0051] According to a preferred embodiment, the first pair of handle attachment portions 25 , 26 are arranged symmetrically with respect to the middle plane P to the second pair of handle attachment portions 27 , 28 .

[0052] In order to properly pull the slider, the two handle attachment portions within each pair of handle attachment portions 25, 26 and 27, 28 are preferably aligned along corresponding transverse pivot axes.

[0053] Furthermore, according to a preferred embodiment, the handle attachment portions 25 to 28 are each located at substantially equal distances from the front end and the rear end of the slider body 11 .

[0054] Each handle 20, 21 forms a respective pair of right and left legs 35, 36 and 37, 38. The handle attachment portions 25-28 each provide a point for pivotally connecting the respective legs 35-38 of the two handles 20, 21. Each of the right and left legs 35-38 of the handles 20, 21 has a respective end portion pivotally mounted to a respective one of the handle attachment portions 25-28, so that each handle is pivotally mounted to the slider body 11 about a respective transverse pivot axis.

[0055] Advantageously, if Figure 1 As shown in FIG. 1 , the legs 35 and 36 (37 and 38) are longer than the distance from the handle attachment portions 25 to 28 to the rear end of the slider body 11, so that the handles 20 and 21 can be rotated and placed flush with the outer surfaces 23 and 24 of the slider body 11 ( Figure 7 , Figure 8 ). This arrangement enables the slider body 11 and the sliders 20, 21 to be flat.

[0056] Preferably, if Figure 5 and Figure 6 As is particularly shown in FIG. 1 , to achieve a flat shape, the handle attachment portions 25 to 28 are provided on each side of each wing so as not to protrude beyond the outer surfaces 23 , 24 of the wings 12 , 13 .

[0057] When the slider is applied to double-sided clothing, the user can access one of the two handles 20, 21 from one side of the zipper and access the other handle from the other side (back side or reverse side) of the zipper by using the slider.

[0058] Advantageously, the flat or substantially flat outer surfaces 23, 24 enable the carrying of engravings or decorative coverings or other items of aesthetic value. This advantage is achieved by positioning the handle attachment portions 25-28 on the sides of each wing rather than on the outer surface of the wing, thereby making the outer surface of the wing available for carrying decoration.

[0059] The symmetrical shape of the slider is advantageous because it simplifies the manufacturing process, in which traditionally the front and back of the slider body need to be distinguished in order to handle and assemble the slider.

[0060] In order to lock the slider and prevent it from accidentally moving downward, the slider body also forms at least one locking protrusion 30, which protrudes inward from at least one of the side flanges of the slider into the Y-shaped channel 19, and in particular, protrudes into at least one of the two paths of the chain elements of at least one of the fastener tapes. When the slider tends to fall, the zipper is opened, and the locking protrusion 30 engages the gap between two consecutive chain elements of the fastener tape, thereby locking the slider in place along the zipper.

[0061] According to a preferred embodiment, the locking projection 30 is formed to extend inwardly a short distance from one side flange into at least one of the openings 17, 18 at the head end of the slider body.

[0062] Preferably, the locking protrusion 30 is formed to have a vertical height shorter than a vertical height of a side flange from which the locking protrusion protrudes.

[0063] According to a preferred design, the locking protrusion 30 extends in such a manner as to form an obtuse angle with a side flange from which the locking protrusion 30 protrudes.

[0064] Furthermore, according to a preferred design, the locking protrusion 30 extends in a direction parallel to the side edge of the wing adjacent to the locking protrusion.

[0065] As shown, embodiments may provide at least two locking projections 30 provided by the slider body, each locking projection protruding inwardly into a respective one of the two paths for the fastener elements of at least one of the fastener tapes. Figure 3 As shown in , the two locking projections 30 may be formed by the same one of the two wings 12 , 13 .

[0066] According to an alternative embodiment (not shown in the figures), the first locking protrusion may be formed by the upper wing and protrude into the first path of the two paths of one row of chain teeth, and the second locking protrusion may be formed by the lower wing and protrude into the second path of the two paths of another row of chain teeth.

[0067] According to the embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings, four locking protrusions 30 can be provided: a first pair of locking protrusions 30 can be formed by the upper wings and protrude into the first path and the second path of the two rows of chain teeth respectively; and a second pair of locking protrusions 30 can be formed by the lower wings and protrude into the first path and the second path of the two rows of chain teeth respectively.

[0068] The locking projection 30 is preferably arranged adjacent to the handle attachment portion. This arrangement of the locking projection provides the advantage of using the handle attachment portion to reinforce the side region of the slider body that will resist the forces generated by the movement of the handle.

[0069] A number of aspects and embodiments of the slider have been described. It should be understood that each aspect and embodiment can be combined with any other aspect or embodiment. In addition, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described, but can be varied within the scope of the attached claims and their legal equivalents.

Claims

1. A slider for a zipper, characterized in that: The slider comprises: A slider body (11) is formed with an upper wing (12), a lower wing (13), a connecting column (14) connecting the upper wing and the lower wing, and a side flange (15), wherein the side flange (15) protrudes from the side edges of the upper wing and the side edges of the lower wing toward a geometric middle plane (P) between the wings (12, 13) to form a Y-shaped channel (19) between the upper wing and the lower wing, wherein the upper wing (12) and the lower wing (13) have corresponding opposite outer surfaces (23, 24), and the outer surfaces (23, 24) are substantially flat and symmetrical relative to the geometric middle plane (P); Two handles (20, 21) pivotally attached to the slider body (11); At least one locking projection (30) projects inwardly from at least one of the side flanges (15) of the slider body (11) into the Y-shaped channel (19).

2. The slider according to claim 1, characterized in that: The substantially flat outer surfaces (23, 24) of the wings (12, 13) are flat, or slightly convex or slightly concave.

3. The slider according to claim 1, characterized in that: The substantially planar outer surfaces (23, 24) of the wings (12, 13) are substantially parallel.

4. The slider according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: Each of the wings (12, 13) forms a corresponding pair of opposite handle attachment portions (25, 26; 27, 28) protruding in the transverse direction for pivotally mounting each of the two handles (20, 21) to the slider body (11) about a corresponding transverse pivot axis.

5. The slider according to claim 4, characterized in that: The handle attachment portions (25, 26; 27, 28) are shaped as stops, wherein each of the stops protrudes outwardly in a lateral direction from a side of one of the wings.

6. The slider according to claim 4, characterized in that: The two pairs of handle attachment portions (25 to 28) are arranged symmetrically with respect to the geometrical middle plane (P).

7. The slider according to claim 4, characterized in that: Each of the two pull handles (20, 21) forms a respective pair of right and left legs (35, 36; 37, 38), each of the pair of right and left legs (35, 36; 37, 38) having a respective end portion pivotally mounted to a respective one of the pull handle attachment portions (25, 26; 27, 28), and wherein The legs (35, 36; 37, 38) are each longer than the distance from the handle attachment portion (25, 26; 27, 28) to the rear end of the slider body (11), The handles (20, 21) are thus rotatable and placed flush with a corresponding one of the outer surfaces (23, 24) of the slider body (11), so that the slider body and the handles are in a flat shape.

8. The slider according to claim 4, characterized in that: The handle attachment portions (25 to 28) are each located at substantially equal distances from the front end and the rear end of the slider body (11).

9. The slider according to claim 4, characterized in that: The Y-shaped channel (19) A single opening (16) is provided at the tail end of the slider opposite to the head end where the connecting column (14) is arranged, and There are two openings (17, 18) at the head end, and the two openings (17, 18) are respectively formed between the connecting column (14), the upper wing (12) and the lower wing (13) and the corresponding side flange (15), The at least one locking protrusion (30) extends inwardly from one of the side flanges (15) into at least one of the openings (17, 18) at the head end of the slider body (11).

10. The slider according to claim 9, characterized in that: The slider body is provided with at least two locking projections (30), each of which projects inwardly into a corresponding one of the two openings (17, 18) at the head end of the slider body (11).

11. The slider according to claim 10, characterized in that: The at least two locking projections (30) are formed by the same one of at least one of the two wings (12, 13).

12. The slider according to claim 10, characterized in that: Two pairs of locking protrusions (30) are provided, in which a first pair of locking projections formed by the upper wings (12), each locking projection of the first pair of locking projections projecting inwardly into a respective one of the two openings (17, 18) at the head end of the slider body (11), A second pair of locking projections is formed by the lower wings (13), each locking projection of the second pair of locking projections projecting inwardly into a respective one of the two openings (17, 18) at the head end of the slider body (11).

13. The slider according to claim 10, characterized in that: The at least one locking protrusion (30) has a vertical height shorter than a vertical height of the side flange from which the at least one locking protrusion protrudes.

14. The slider according to claim 10, characterized in that: The at least one locking protrusion (30) extends in such a manner as to form an obtuse angle with the side flange (15) from which the at least one locking protrusion protrudes.

15. The slider according to claim 10, characterized in that: The at least one locking projection (30) extends in a direction parallel to a side edge of one of the wings adjacent to the at least one locking projection.

16. The slider according to claim 12, characterized in that: The at least two locking projections (30) are arranged adjacent to the handle attachment portions (25 to 28).

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