Zipper with sealing function

Abstract

Zipper (100) which has the following features: a pair of zipper longitudinal parts (1), each zipper longitudinal part (1) having a support strap (20) and a dome link row (3) attached to opposite side sections (21) of the two support straps (20); a slide (60) which is slidably provided on the coupling member rows (3) for coupling and uncoupling opposing coupling members (30), wherein the slide (60) has an upper shield (61), a lower shield (62) and a slide wedge (63) which connects the upper and lower shields (61, 62) in an upward-downward direction, wherein the upper and lower shields (61, 62) and the slide wedge (63) define a boundary of a guide channel (64) for the coupling members (30); wherein each zipper longitudinal part (1) has a sealing part (50) which adheres to a belt surface section (25) of the support belt (20) and extends over a link surface section (31) of each coupling member (30) of the zipper longitudinal part (1), wherein the two sealing parts (50) are in a sealing arrangement when the zipper (100) is in a coupled state; characterized in that at least one coupling member (30) has a projection (32) which extends in the upward-downward direction through an opening (51) of the sealing part (50) in order to keep the sealing part (50) spaced apart from the boundary of the guide channel (64).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a zipper comprising: a pair of zipper longitudinal parts, each zipper longitudinal part comprising a support strap and a row of coupling elements attached to opposite side sections of the two support straps; a slider slidably provided on the rows of coupling elements for coupling and uncoupling opposite coupling elements, the slider comprising an upper plate, a lower plate and a slider wedge connecting the upper and lower plates in an upward-downward direction, the upper and lower plates and the slider wedge defining a boundary of a guide channel for the coupling elements;wherein each zipper longitudinal part has a sealing part which adheres to a belt surface section of the support belt and extends over a link surface section of each coupling link of the zipper longitudinal part, wherein the two sealing parts are in sealing contact when the zipper is in a coupled state.

[0002] Such a zipper is known in the prior art and is disclosed, for example, in CN 2 03 262 436 U, US 10 080 405 B2, and US 9 474 341 B2. The sealing elements, which are in a sealing position when the zipper is engaged, provide a sealing function and thus prevent fluid from passing through the zipper. In this way, a zipper with watertight or airtight properties can be provided. Such zippers have various applications, including clothing, tents, wetsuits, spacesuits, water tanks, etc.

[0003] KR 20 0 313 551 Y1 discloses a zipper with a sealing layer applied to the support belts and extending over the surface of the dome links.

[0004] The zippers disclosed in the aforementioned publications share the common problem that the sealing element extends over a section of the coupling links facing one of the slider's shields and can therefore come into contact with it when the slider moves along the coupling link rows to engage and disengage the coupling links. Since the slider is generally made of a harder material than the sealing element, the sealing element can be damaged by contact with the slider's shield, thereby impairing its sealing function.

[0005] To solve this problem, EP 1 388 302 A1 discloses a zipper in which two sealing parts are provided on opposing edge sections of the support belts, spaced apart from the slider plates. The sealing parts press against each other and against coupling sections of the coupling links provided on the opposite support belt when the zipper is in the engaged state. Each coupling link comprises an upper half provided on an upper belt surface of the support belt, a lower half provided on a lower belt surface of the support belt, and a connecting section that passes through a hole provided in the support belt, thereby connecting the upper and lower halves.However, the holes are disadvantageous because they require an additional manufacturing step; a support strap with a hole requires precise shaping of the dome links at the position of the holes; and the holes can even be a cause of fluid leakage, thus impairing the sealing function of the zipper.

[0006] The holes in the support belt are avoided in the zipper disclosed in WO 2022 / 043 684 A1. Each coupling link also comprises an upper and a lower half, which are connected by a connecting section. However, the connecting section is located on an edge section of the support belt, outside of the support belt itself. A groove is provided in one coupling section of each coupling link, extending in a longitudinal direction along the belt and facing the opposite belt. When the zipper is coupled, each coupling section engages a side section of the opposite support belt, thus providing the sealing function. While this solution avoids the holes in the support belt, the coupling links may not be securely fixed to the support belt, particularly if the coupling links and the support belts are made of different materials that do not adhere well to each other.To solve this problem, an additional step may be required in the zipper manufacturing process. For example, plasma treatment might be necessary to ensure sufficient fixation of the dome links to the support belt. However, this additional manufacturing step is time-consuming and increases costs.

[0007] Due to these problems in the prior art, the object of the present invention is therefore to provide a zipper with a sealing function that is robust and durable.

[0008] This problem is solved according to the invention by a zipper of the type mentioned above, wherein at least one coupling member has a projection which extends in the upward-downward direction through an opening of the sealing part in order to keep the sealing part spaced away from the boundary of the guide channel.

[0009] Because the projection keeps the sealing element spaced away from the edge of the guide channel, damage to the sealing element due to contact with the guide channel can be prevented, at least in the vicinity of the at least one coupling element. This allows for a robust and durable zipper with a sealing function.

[0010] Each support belt is an elongated segment that is long in a belt-length direction. In this description, the belt-length direction can also be referred to as the front-to-back direction. The direction in which the zipper moves to engage the coupling links can be called the front direction, and the direction in which the zipper moves to disengage the coupling links can be called the back direction. When the slider, which is designed to slide along the coupling link rows, moves in the front direction to engage the coupling links of the coupling link rows, the zipper closes. When the slider moves in the back direction to disengage the coupling links from the engaged position, the zipper opens.

[0011] Each row of dome links comprises a plurality of dome links. The dome links are attached to opposing side sections of the two support belts at a spacing that is a regular interval along the belt's longitudinal direction. In one example, the dome links can be made of a resin material. In another example, the dome links can be injection-molded onto the support belt, preferably directly.

[0012] The slide gate comprises an upper shield (upper wing) and a lower shield (lower wing), spaced apart in the upward-downward direction, which is a direction perpendicular to the surfaces of the belts. A belt transverse direction is a direction perpendicular to both the upward-downward direction and the belt longitudinal direction. The belt transverse direction may also be referred to in this description as the left-right direction. The upper shield has an upper shield surface, and the lower shield has a lower shield surface, which face the upper shield surface in the upward-downward direction. Furthermore, the upper shield has a left and a right flange, which project downward from a left and a right side section of the upper shield surface, respectively, toward the lower shield. Similarly, the lower shield has a left and a right flange, which project downward from a left and a right side section of the upper shield surface, respectively.The right-hand side section of the lower shield surface projects upwards towards the upper shield. The slide gate comprises two front openings and one rear opening, defined by the upper and lower shields and the slide gate wedge. The upper shield, the lower shield, and the slide gate wedge define a boundary of the guide channel for the coupling links. That is, as the slide gate moves along the rows of coupling links, the coupling links pass through the guide channel. The coupling links are in sliding engagement with the boundary of the guide channel as the slide gate moves along the rows of coupling links to engage or disengage them.

[0013] The sealing element consists of a material that enables it to provide a sealing function. In particular, the sealing element can be impermeable to a fluid, especially a liquid and / or a gas. The sealing element can, in one example, be made of a plastic material or a resin and preferably possesses flexibility. In addition to its sealing function, the sealing element can provide additional fixation of the coupling elements to the support belt, as the sealing element adheres to the belt surface section and extends over the coupling elements. For this purpose, the sealing element preferably consists of a material that adheres well to the support belt. Generally, the belt surface section is only a portion of an upper and / or lower belt surface of the support belt; that is, the sealing element does not cover the entire upper and / or lower belt surface.In one example, the band surface section can be a section of only the upper band surface. In another example, the band surface section can be a section of only the lower band surface. Preferably, the band surface section includes a section of the side section of the support band between adjacent coupling members. Preferably, the sealing element extends beyond the support band to which it adheres, towards the opposite support band, thus enabling the sealing contact of the opposing sealing elements. The sealing element can have a sealing edge section that can be in sealing contact with the sealing edge section of the opposite sealing element. In one example, the sealing edge section can extend in a straight line along the longitudinal direction of the band.While the sealing element preferably possesses flexibility, this flexibility should not be excessive in order to guarantee its function of securing the dome members. In the case of the at least one dome member, the section of the member surface over which the sealing element extends is preferably a section of the dome member surface without a projecting surface of the projection. That is, there is a surface section of the at least one dome member, in addition to the projecting surface of the projection, that is not covered by the sealing element.

[0014] In one example, the sealing part can be injection-molded onto the strip surface section and the link surface section, preferably directly injection-molded.

[0015] Since the projection extends through the opening of the sealing element in the upward-downward direction, a high degree of fixation strength can be ensured between the sealing element and the at least one coupling element with the projection, as displacement of the at least one coupling element relative to the sealing element in a direction transverse to the upward-downward direction can be suppressed. Consequently, the sealing element can also hold the at least one coupling element more firmly to the support belt than in the prior art. In this way, an additional manufacturing step for fixing the at least one coupling element to the support belt, e.g., plasma treatment, may be unnecessary. As a result, a durable zipper can be manufactured more efficiently.

[0016] The projection can be a single projection. Alternatively, the projection can comprise more than one projection, with the projections extending in the same or different directions from the at least one coupling member. In particular, an upper and / or lower surface section of the projection, oriented in the upward-downward direction, can be in sliding engagement with the upper or lower shield of the slide when the slide is moved across the coupling member rows. Specifically, the upper and / or lower surface section can face the upper or lower shield surfaces of the upper or lower shield in the upward-downward direction. In one embodiment, the upper and / or lower surface section of the projection can extend parallel to the band surface.

[0017] In one example, the zipper may have only one coupling element with the projection. However, the invention is not limited to this, and there are examples in which more than one, and in particular several, coupling elements each have a projection. In a zipper with several coupling elements, each having a projection, the sealing element can be kept particularly well spaced away from the boundary of the guide channel. In one embodiment of the present invention, each coupling element can have a projection that extends in the upward-downward direction through an opening in the sealing element in order to keep the sealing element spaced away from the boundary of the guide channel. In this embodiment, the sealing element can be particularly well protected from damage caused by contact with the guide channel.

[0018] In one embodiment of the zipper, each of the support strips can have a base strip coated and / or impregnated with a fluid-impermeable plastic material. This further improves the sealing function of the zipper. The fluid can be a liquid and / or a gas, and in particular, the fluid can be water. In one example, the base strip can be made of a woven or nonwoven fabric. In another example, both the upper and lower surfaces of the strip can be coated with the plastic material. In yet another example, only one of the upper and lower surfaces can be coated with the plastic material. The plastic material can be a resin material. In yet another example, the plastic material can be provided as a film or layer on the base strip of the support strip, and preferably on the upper and / or lower surfaces of the base strip.In one example, the plastic material can be extruded onto the base web. In another example, the plastic material is extruded or injection-molded onto one surface of the base web, so that one surface can be thickly coated and the other side less thickly, with gaps in the base web fabric being penetrated by the plastic material.

[0019] The plastic material and the materials from which the coupling elements and the sealing element are made are not particularly restricted. In one example, the plastic material and the material from which the coupling element and the sealing element are made are all different from each other. In a convenient example, the material of the coupling element has a higher melting point than the plastic material and / or the sealing element material. In one example, the tensile strength of the sealing element material is preferably at least 20 MPa and at most 80 MPa, more preferably at least 30 MPa and at most 70 MPa, and most preferably at least 30 MPa and at most 60 MPa. In one example, the tensile strength of the sealing element material is 50 MPa.

[0020] In one example, the elongation of the sealing element material is preferably at least 500% and at most 800%, more preferably at least 600% and at most 700%. In another example, the elongation of the sealing element material is 650%.

[0021] In one example, the Shore A hardness of the sealing component material according to DIN ISO 7619-1 is preferably at least 70 and at most 100, preferably at least 80 and at most 90. In another example, the Shore A hardness of the sealing component material is 85.

[0022] In one embodiment of the invention, the coupling elements can be made of a first resin and the sealing element can be made of a second resin, wherein the first resin is harder than both the plastic material and the second resin. In one example, the hardness can be Shore A hardness, but the invention is not limited thereto. In another example, the second resin and the plastic material can be the same material or similar materials. In particular, in another example, the second resin and the plastic material can be such that they mix. Preferably, the second resin and the plastic material are readily miscible. In another example, the second resin and the plastic material can be such that they adhere to one another, and in particular, adhere well to one another. In yet another example, the second resin can be a different material than the plastic material.In one embodiment, the second resin can be harder than the plastic material. The hardness can be Shore A hardness in one example, but the invention is not limited to this. This allows for good sealing properties while the support belt retains flexibility.

[0023] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the first resin comprises a polyamide resin, the plastic material comprises a first polyurethane, and the second resin comprises a second polyurethane. Specifically, the first resin is the polyamide resin, the plastic material is the first polyurethane, and the second resin is the second polyurethane. Coupling elements made of a polyamide resin are durable and have good formability, which is advantageous for manufacturing. Polyurethane has good sealing properties. However, polyurethane and polyamide do not adhere well to each other. Therefore, the first and second polyurethanes are preferably designed to adhere to each other, and in particular to adhere well to each other, in order to ensure that the coupling elements are additionally fixed to the support band by the sealing element. Preferably, the first polyurethane and the second polyurethane are different from each other.In a preferred embodiment, the second polyurethane has a greater softness than the first polyurethane. The hardness / softness can, in one example, be defined in terms of the Shore A hardness of the polyurethanes, but the invention is not limited thereto. Furthermore, it is particularly preferred for the manufacture of the zipper that the polyamide resin has a melting point which, in one example, is higher than the melting point of the first and / or second polyurethane. In one preferred example, the polyamide is PA612, the first polyurethane is Elastollan 1180A, and the second polyurethane is Elastollan C85A.

[0024] In a further embodiment of the zipper according to the invention, the at least one coupling member can have an upper end face, which points in the upward direction and is spaced in the upward direction from an upper band surface of the support band, and an opposite lower end face, which points in the downward direction and is spaced in the downward direction from a lower band surface, wherein the projection protrudes from the upper and / or the lower end face.

[0025] The upper surface of the support belt is a surface that points upwards, and the lower surface of the support belt is a surface that points downwards. In one example, the projection extends only from one of the upper and one of the lower end faces of the at least one coupling member. In another example, there may be more than one projection, one extending upwards and downwards from the upper end face and another from the lower end face. In another example, there may be more than one projection extending from the upper end face. In another example, there may be more than one projection extending from the lower end face. In one example, the projection may have a rectangular shape in a plan view of the support belt surface.The projection can be located entirely within the respective upper or lower end face, and the sealing element can extend across the respective end face, completely surrounding the projection and thus forming an opening at the projection's location. In this way, the at least one coupling member can be particularly securely fixed to the support band. The thickness of the sealing element provided on the upper or lower end face is less than the projection height from the upper or lower end face, so that the projection extends beyond the sealing element in the upward-downward direction. In one embodiment, the sealing element can be in contact with the projection along its circumference. The section of the sealing element provided on the upper or lower end face can have a uniform thickness.In one example, the ratio of the thickness t of the sealing part at the upper or lower end face to the projection height h of the projection from the upper or lower end face t / h can be between 0.6 and 0.9, and in one example preferably between 0.7 and 0.8.

[0026] In a further embodiment of the zipper according to the invention, at least one of the coupling elements can have a side surface section that is provided opposite to an edge section of the support belt and is designed for sliding engagement with the boundary of the guide channel in order to guide the coupling elements of the opposing support belts towards each other for coupling, wherein the sealing element extends over the coupling element without extending over the side surface section. In one embodiment, each of the coupling elements with the projection also has the side surface section, wherein the sealing element extends over the coupling elements without extending over the side surface section. In one example, each coupling element has the side surface section, and the sealing element extends over each coupling element without extending over the side surface section.The edge section of the support band faces the opposite support band and forms an outer boundary of the side section to which the coupling elements are attached. The side surface section of the coupling element is in sliding engagement with either the left or right flange of the gate valve. The side surface section may also be in sliding engagement with the left and / or right side sections of the upper and / or lower shield surfaces. Since the sealing element extends over the coupling element without extending over the side surface section of the coupling element, the sealing element can cover a large area of ​​the coupling element without the risk of contact between the sealing element and the boundary of the guide channel when the gate valve is moved along the coupling element rows.This allows the dome elements to be securely fixed to the support strap, while further preventing damage to the sealing part.

[0027] The shape of the coupling elements of the zipper of the present invention is not particularly limited. In a preferred embodiment, each coupling element can have an upper section provided on the upper surface of the carrier tape, a lower section provided on the lower surface of the carrier tape, and a connecting section that joins the upper and lower sections in the upward-downward direction and is provided outside the carrier tape at its edge section. The coupling element is thus clamped to the side section of the carrier tape. Such coupling elements are known in the prior art. When these coupling elements are used for conventional zippers, they may not be sufficiently fixed to the carrier tape by clamping alone, since the coupling elements and the carrier tape may be made of different materials that may not adhere well to each other.Therefore, an additional manufacturing step, such as plasma treatment, may be necessary to achieve sufficient fixation of the coupling elements to the carrier belt. In the present invention, the coupling elements are also fixed to the carrier belt by the sealing element, which is attached to the belt surface section of the carrier belt and extends over the coupling element surface section. This eliminates the need for the additional plasma treatment step that may be required for prior art zippers without the sealing element extending over the coupling elements, thereby increasing manufacturing efficiency. In one example, the sealing element can at least partially cover the coupling section. In another example, the sealing element can completely cover the coupling section.

[0028] Furthermore, the zipper with the dome links according to the above embodiment does not require holes to be provided in the support belt through which the connecting section passes in the upward-downward direction, which is also advantageous from the point of view of manufacturing efficiency and fluid tightness.

[0029] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the edge section of the support belt can have a core thread. The core thread, in particular, has an upward-downward extension that is greater than the thickness of an inner surface of the support belt. The core thread can improve the fixation of the coupling elements to the support belt, especially when, according to the above embodiment, the coupling elements are provided with a connecting section outside the support belt.

[0030] In a preferred embodiment, the upper section may have an upper base section provided on the upper belt surface of the support belt, the lower section may have a lower base section provided on the lower belt surface of the support belt, and the upper and / or the lower section may have a coupling section extending from the respective base section towards the opposite support belt and configured for coupling with a corresponding coupling section of a corresponding coupling element provided on the opposite support belt. In one example, only the upper (lower) section includes the coupling section, only the lower (upper) section includes the projection, and the sealing element extends only over the lower (upper) section.This allows a surface of the dome element facing the dome section and the edge of the guide channel to engage in sliding contact with it, and the sealing element is held spaced away from the edge of the guide channel by the projection. In this way, a very good sealing function of the zipper can be ensured, while the sealing element is protected from damage caused by the movement of the slider.

[0031] In another embodiment of the zipper, the distance between adjacent coupling elements can increase from the inside of the tape towards the edge of the support tape when viewed from a top view of the upper and / or lower tape surface. This creates a widening notch between the coupling elements, the width of which increases from the inside of the tape towards the edge of the support tape. This may suppress an undesirable pull-off force that can be exerted on a conventional coupling element without the widened notch during a bending test in which the zipper's longitudinal section is bent along the tape's longitudinal direction.In the bending test, where the support belt of a conventional zipper is bent longitudinally with the lower section facing upwards, a dome element would absorb a release force, particularly at the edge section, especially at the dome section, since adjacent upper sections press against each other without the notch. While the dome element might be able to withstand a release force on the inside of the belt, where it may be firmly fixed to the support belt, it might not be able to withstand a release force at the edge section, especially at the dome section. In the zipper according to the invention, during such bending, mutual interference occurs only at the inner section of the dome element, which generates a force opposing the release force and consequently cancels it out.

[0032] In one example of the above embodiment, a section of the upper and / or lower base section can have a trapezoidal shape when viewed from above, with baselines extending in the longitudinal direction of the belt. In the example where only the upper (lower) section has the dome section, it can be advantageous for at least the section of the lower (upper) base section to have a trapezoidal shape when viewed from above. In this example, the pull-off force can be suppressed particularly well.

[0033] In a further embodiment of the zipper according to the invention, the dome section can be arranged in the upward-downward direction such that it contains a center line of the support belt in the upward-downward direction. The center line extends in the belt width direction and lies in the middle of the support belt in the upward-downward direction. In conventional zipper longitudinal sections, the dome section of the dome element is generally arranged offset from the center line. This allows a force exerted on the dome elements at the opposing support belts in the belt width direction to generate a torque on the dome elements when the dome elements are engaged.However, if the coupling section is positioned so that it contains the centerline of the support belt, a force exerted on the coupling links on the opposing support belts in the belt's width direction is less likely to generate a torque. This reduces the likelihood of the coupling links disengaging or the sealing elements losing their sealing connection. As a result, the sealing function of the zipper can be further improved.

[0034] The following are exemplary explanations of the invention with reference to the drawing, wherein: Fig. 1 a top view of an upper surface of a zipper longitudinal part of a zipper according to an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 a top view of a lower surface of the zipper longitudinal part of Fig. 1 is; Fig. 3 a perspective view of a dome element of the in Fig. The zipper section shown in section 1 is; Fig. 4 a perspective view of a dome member and a section of the sealing part of the zipper longitudinal part according to the embodiment; Fig. 5a a side view of the in Fig. 4 dome element and section of the sealing part shown along the longitudinal direction of the band; Fig. 5b a side view of the dome element of Fig. 5a without the sealing part; Fig. 5c a side view of the in Fig. 5a shows the section of the sealing part; Fig. 6a a front view of the in Fig. 4 and Fig. 5a Coupling element and section of the sealing part in the left direction is; Fig. 6b a sectional view of the dome member and the section of the sealing part along the in Fig. Line AA shown in 6a is; Fig. 7 the same section view as in Fig. 6b is where a zipper is moved over the dome link; Fig. 8 a perspective view of the in Fig. 1 shows the longitudinal section of the zipper, with some of the dome links removed for easier illustration; Fig. 9a is a partial perspective view of the top of the zipper according to the embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 9b is a partial perspective view of the underside of the zipper according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0035] Fig. Figure 1 is a top view of an upper surface of a zipper longitudinal part 1 of a zipper 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The zipper 100, a part of which is in Fig. 9a and Fig. As shown in 9b, it includes another zipper longitudinal section 1, which corresponds to the one in Fig. The longitudinal part shown in Figure 1 is similar. The zipper longitudinal part 1 comprises a support strap 20, which is an elongated part that is long in one strap longitudinal direction. The strap longitudinal direction is also referred to in this description as the front-back direction (FB). The front direction (F) is directed upwards with respect to the plane of the paper, and the back direction (B) is directed downwards with respect to the plane of the paper. Fig. 1. downwards. The tape also defines a tape width direction, which is perpendicular to the front-back direction. The tape width direction is also referred to in this description as the left-right direction (LR). The left direction (L) is relative to the plane of the paper. Fig. 1. To the left, and the right direction (R) is in relation to the plane of the paper. Fig. 1 directed to the right. The support belt 20 also defines an upward-downward direction (UD) that is perpendicular to the belt's longitudinal direction and to its width direction. The upward direction (U) is a direction perpendicular to the plane of the paper. Fig. 1 and is directed towards the viewer of the figure, and the downward direction (D) is directed in the opposite direction.

[0036] From above Fig. Figure 1 shows an upper band surface 21a of the support band 20. The support band 20 includes a side section 22 to which a row of coupling links 3 is attached. The side section 22 includes an edge section 23, which forms an outer boundary of the support band 20. The edge section 23 includes a core thread 24 that extends in the longitudinal direction of the band and has a greater width in the upward-downward direction than an inner band section 26 of the support band 20, which is located within the support band surface. Due to the core thread 24, coupling links 30 of the zipper longitudinal section 1 are more securely fixed to the support band 20 than in a zipper longitudinal section without the core thread 24.

[0037] The dome element series 3 comprises a plurality of dome elements 30, which are arranged at a predetermined distance in the longitudinal direction of the band on the side section 21. The shape of the dome elements 30 is explained in more detail below.

[0038] The zipper longitudinal section 1 further comprises a sealing section 50, which adheres to a band surface section 25 of the support band 20 and extends over a link surface section 31 of each coupling member 30. Each coupling member 30 has a projection 32 that extends in the upward-downward direction through an opening 51 of the sealing section. As described below with reference to Fig. As explained in more detail in section 7, the extension of the projection 32 through the opening 51 of the sealing part 50 in the upward-downward direction is such that the sealing part 50 is kept spaced away from the boundary of a guide channel of a slide valve.

[0039] The zipper longitudinal part 1 can further comprise an upper and a lower limiting part (not shown) which are provided at a front and a rear end section of the dome link row 3 in the front-back direction and which restrict the movement of a slider 60 of the zipper (see Fig. 9a,b) limit in the longitudinal direction of the band.

[0040] Fig. Figure 2 is a top view of a lower band surface 21b of the zipper longitudinal part 20 of the in Fig. 1 shown zipper longitudinal section, which is one of the tape surfaces opposite the upper tape surface 21a. The row 3 of dome links 30 is attached to the side section 22, which includes the edge section 23, which includes the core thread 24. How Fig. As can be seen from Figure 2, the sealing part 50 does not extend over the lower band surface 21b and does not extend over the lower surfaces of the dome members 30.

[0041] The following describes the coupling element 30 and the sealing part 50 with reference to Fig. 3-6b described in more detail. Fig. Figure 3 is a perspective view of dome element 30 of the in Fig. 1. Shown zipper longitudinal section 1. Fig. Figure 4 is a perspective view of a dome member 30 and a section of the sealing part 50 of the zipper longitudinal part 1 according to the embodiment. Fig. 5a is a side view of the in Fig. 4 dome element 30 shown and section of the sealing part along the belt longitudinal direction. Fig. 5b is a side view of dome element 30 of Fig. 5a without the sealing part 50. Fig. 5c is a side view of the in Fig. 5a section of the sealing part 50. Fig. 6a is a front view of the in Fig. 4 the dome element 30 shown and the section of the sealing part 50 in the left direction. Fig. Figure 6b is a sectional view of the dome member 30 and the section of the sealing part 50 along the in Fig. Line AA shown in 6a.

[0042] First, the coupling element 30 without the sealing part 50 is described in more detail, in particular with reference to Fig. 1, Fig. 2, Fig. 3, Fig. 5b and Fig. 8. The coupling member 30 comprises an upper section 33a, which is provided on the upper belt surface 21a of the support belt 20 (see, for example, Fig. 1), a lower section 33, which is provided on the lower belt surface 21b of the support belt 20 (see for example Fig. 2), and a connecting section 34, which connects the upper and lower sections 33a,b in the upward-downward direction and is provided outside the support belt 20 at the edge section 23 of the support belt 20. The connecting section 34 comprises a first connecting section 34a, which extends in the upward-downward direction to connect the upper and lower sections 33a,b, and a thickened part 34b, which is integral with the first connecting section 34a and which has a width in the belt width direction that increases in the downward direction. The thickened part 34b reinforces the first connecting section 34a. The upper section 33a, the lower section 33b, and the connecting section 34 define a boundary of a gripping section 35 for gripping the support belt 20.The gripping section 35 comprises a first gripping section 35a for gripping the core thread 24 and a second gripping section 35b, which is in contact with the upper and lower belt surfaces 21a,b of the support belt 20.

[0043] The upper section 33a comprises an upper end face 36a, which points upwards. The lower section 33b comprises a lower end face 36b, which points downwards. The upper section 33a comprises an upper base section 37a, which is provided on the upper belt surface 21a and is in contact with it. The lower section 33b comprises a lower base section 37b, which is provided on the lower belt surface 21b of the support belt 20 and is in contact with it. The lower section 33b further comprises a dome section 38, which extends from the lower base section 37b towards the opposite support belt (see Fig. 9a and Fig. 9b) and is designed for coupling with an opposing coupling section of an opposing coupling member, which is provided on the opposing support belt. In the embodiment shown in the figures, the upper section 33a is not provided with a coupling section, but the invention is not limited thereto.

[0044] The dome member 30 further comprises a projection 32 that extends upwards and downwards from the upper end face 36a of the upper section 33a. The projection 32 is located entirely within the upper end face 36a (see in particular ). Fig. 3) The projection 32 comprises a side wall surface 32a, which rises continuously from the upper end face 36a in the upward direction, and an upper end face 32b, which is connected to the side wall surface 32a and points upwards. In particular, the upper end face 32b can be parallel to the upper strip surfaces 21a. The upper section 33a further comprises an upper inner surface 39a, which is provided opposite to the edge section 23 and which extends continuously downwards from the upper end face 36a towards the upper strip surface 21a and is connected to an upper leg section 40a, which is arranged on and in contact with the upper strip surface 21a.Similarly, the lower section 33b includes a lower inner surface 39b, which is provided opposite to the edge section 23 and which extends continuously from the lower end surface 36a upwards towards the lower strip surface 21b and is connected to a lower leg section 40a which is arranged on and in contact with the lower strip surface 21b.

[0045] The dome member 30 further comprises an upper rear wall surface 41a, which faces rearward and extends upward from the upper band surface 21a and is connected to the upper end surfaces 36a. The dome member 30 further comprises a lower rear wall surface 41b, which faces rearward and extends downward from the lower band surface 21b and is connected to the lower end surface 36b. The dome member 30 further comprises an upper front wall surface 42a, which faces forward and extends upward from the upper band surface 21a and is connected to the upper end surface 36a. The dome member 30 further comprises a lower front wall surface 42b, which points in the front direction and extends downwards from the lower band surface 21b and is connected to the lower end surface 36b.

[0046] In the following, the sealing part 50 is described in combination with and without the coupling member 30, particularly with reference to Fig. 4, Fig. 5a, Fig. 5c, Fig. 6a, Fig. 6b and Fig. 8 explained. The sealing element 50 preferably consists of a material that exhibits a certain degree of elasticity and that is fluid-impermeable, in particular impermeable to liquids and / or gases. As already explained with reference to Fig. 1 and Fig. As explained in section 2, the sealing element 50 of the present embodiment adheres to the band surface section 25 of the upper band surface 21a of the support band 20 and extends over the link surface section 31 of each coupling element 30. In particular, the link surface section 31 comprises a surface section of the upper rear wall surface 41a and the upper front wall surface 42a of the coupling element 30 as well as a covered section 36c of the upper end surface 36a. As explained in particular in Fig. As can be seen in Figure 6b, the upper end face 36a comprises an uncovered section 36d, which is not covered by the sealing part 50, and the covered section 36c, which is covered by the sealing part 50. Furthermore, the coupling member 30 comprises a side surface section 39c, which is a section of the upper inner surface 39a and which is designed for sliding engagement with the boundary of the guide channel of the slide, as shown in Figure 6b. Fig. 7 is explained in more detail, and which is not covered by the sealing part 50. That is to say, the sealing part 50 comprises an upper sealing part section 52, which is provided on the upper end face 36a, an outer sealing part section 53, which is provided outside the support band at the connecting section 34, a rear wall sealing part section 55, which extends over the upper rear wall surface 41a, a front wall sealing part section 56, which extends over the upper front wall surface 42a, and a lower sealing part section 54, which adheres to the band surface section 25 of the support band 20 and extends over the edge section 23 of the support band 20 towards the opposite support band (see, for example, Fig. 1 and Fig. 8).

[0047] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 6b, the upper sealing part section 52 has a thickness t in the upward-downward direction that is less than the height h of the projection 32 in the upward-downward direction. The projection has a projecting section 32c that extends beyond the upper sealing part section 52 in the upward-downward direction. The projection 52 extends through the opening 51 of the sealing part 50. In the embodiment shown in the figures, the upper sealing part section 52 is in contact with the side wall surface 32a of the projection 32 along the circumference of the projection 32. However, the invention is not limited to this.

[0048] The interaction of the coupling element 30 with a slider 60 of the zipper 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention is described below with reference to Fig. 7 explained. Fig. 7 is the same sectional view as the one in Fig. Figure 6b shows the slide 60 being moved via the coupling element 30. For the sake of simplicity, the illustration is shown in Fig. Figure 7 shows only the left zipper longitudinal section 1 of the pair of zipper longitudinal sections of the zipper 100 and only a part of the slider 60. The slider 60 is designed to slide on the coupling section rows 3 for coupling and uncoupling opposing coupling links 30. The slider 60 comprises an upper plate 61, a lower plate 62, and a slider wedge 63 that connects the upper and lower plates 61, 62 in the upward-downward direction. The upper and lower plates 61, 62 and the slider wedge 63 define a boundary of a guide channel 64 for the coupling links 30. The upper plate 61 comprises an upper plate surface 61a that extends parallel to the upper tape surface 21a. The upper plate 61 further comprises a left and a right upper flange (in Fig. Figure 7 shows only the left upper flange 61b), which project downwards from a left and a right side section of the upper shield surface 61a in the left-right direction towards the lower shield 62. Similarly, the lower shield 62 comprises a lower shield surface 61a extending parallel to the lower band surface 21b. The lower shield 62 comprises a left and a right lower flange (in Figure 7). Fig. 7 shows only the lower left flange 62b), which project from a left or right side section of the lower shield surface 62 in the left-right direction in the upward-downward direction to the upper shield 61.

[0049] In the Fig. In the embodiment shown in Figure 7, the upper end face 32b of the projection 32 is in sliding engagement with the upper shield surface 61a of the slide 60 when the slide 60 is moved in the front-to-back direction along the coupling member rows 3 to engage and disengage the coupling members 30. A clearance C between the upper shield surface 61a and the upper sealing part section 52, which is provided on the upper end face 36a of the coupling member 30, is maintained due to the projection 32 extending in the upward-downward direction through the opening 51 of the sealing part 50.

[0050] The upper left flange 61b is provided with an inner flange surface 65, which faces the coupling member 30 in the left-right direction and is designed for sliding engagement with the side surface section 39c of the coupling member 30, thus guiding the coupling members 30 of the opposing zipper longitudinal sections towards each other for coupling. Since the sealing element 50 extends over the coupling member 30 without extending over the side surface section 39c, the inner flange surface 65 does not come into contact with the sealing element 50. Furthermore, since the upper end face 36a includes the uncovered section 36d, which is not covered by the sealing element 50, the upper sealing element section 52 is prevented from touching the boundary of the guide channel 64, even if the coupling member is slightly tilted within the guide channel 64 with respect to the longitudinal direction of the belt.This provides additional protection for the sealing part 50 against damage by the slide 60.

[0051] How Fig. 1 and also the one in Fig. As can be seen in the perspective view of the zipper longitudinal section 1 shown in Figure 8, in a top view of the upper band surface 21a of the support band 20, the distance between adjacent coupling elements 30 from the inner band section 26 increases towards the outer section 23 of the support band 20. That is, a notch 4 is formed between adjacent coupling elements 30, which widens in the front-to-back direction as it extends from the inner band section 26 towards the outer section 23. This notch 4 helps to suppress a pull-out force when the zipper longitudinal section 20 is bent in the longitudinal direction of the band, with the lower band surface 21b facing upwards. If the incision 4 did not widen towards the edge section 23 as it extended, the dome member 30 would absorb a detachment force, as adjacent upper sections 33a press against each other.With the incision 4, mutual interference of adjacent upper sections 33a only occurs at one section of the dome member 30, which lies on the inner section 26 of the band, which helps to suppress the detachment force.

[0052] Fig. 9a and Fig. Figure 9b shows partial perspective views of the top and bottom of the zipper 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention. The zipper 100 comprises a pair of zipper longitudinal parts 1, as described above, and the slider 60, which is slidably provided on the coupling element rows 3 for coupling and uncoupling the opposing coupling elements 10 of the pair of zipper longitudinal parts 1. Fig. 9a and Fig. 9b, the zipper 100 is partially open. When the slider 60 is moved forward (F), opposing coupling links 30 are engaged, and the zipper 100 is closed. When the slider 60 is moved backward (B), opposing coupling links 30 are disengaged, and the zipper 100 is opened.

[0053] In Fig. 9a The upper belt surface 21a of the support belt 20 and the upper shield 61 of the slide 60, as well as one of its left or right upper flanges 61b, are visible. In Fig. In Figure 9b, the lower band surface 21b of the support belt 20 and the lower shield 62 of the slider 60, as well as one of its left or right lower flanges 62b, are fully visible, while the upper shield 61 of the slider 60 is partially visible. The upper and lower flanges 61b, 62b are in sliding engagement with the side surface sections 39c of the coupling elements 30 in order to guide the coupling elements 30 of the opposing zipper longitudinal parts 1 towards each other for their coupling. As shown in particular Fig. As can be seen from Figure 9a, the two sealing parts 50, 50 of the pair of zipper longitudinal parts 1 are in a sealing position when the coupling elements 30, 30 are in the coupled state. The sealing part 50 is protected against possible damage by the slider 60, as described above with reference to Fig. 7 was explained.

[0054] The slide 60 can also have a pull tab (not shown) attached to a pull tab mounting rod 66 provided on the upper plate 61 of the slide 60.

[0055] The embodiment is not limited with respect to the materials from which the coupling elements 30, the support belt 20, and the sealing element 50 are made. In one example, the support belt 20 may consist of a base web onto which a plastic material has been extruded or injection-molded, as explained above. In this example, the coupling elements 30 may be made of a first resin material, and the sealing element 50 may be made of a second resin material. The second resin material and the plastic material may be softer than the first resin material. The hardness / softness may, in one example, be defined in terms of a Shore A hardness of the materials, but the invention is not limited thereto. Reference symbol list: 1 zipper length 3-piece dome section 4. Cut 20 Carrying strap 21a upper belt surface 21b lower band surface Section 22 23 marginal section 24 core threads 25 Band area section 26 Band inner section 30 dome link 31 limb section 32 lead 32a Side wall surface 32b upper front surface 32c projecting section 33a upper section 33b lower section 34 Connecting section 34a first connecting section 34b thickened part 35 Gripping section 35a first gripping section 35b second gripping section 36a upper front surface 36b lower front surface 36c covered section of the upper frontal surface 36d uncovered section of the upper frontal surface 37a upper base section 37b lower base section 38 Dome section 39a upper inner surface 39b lower inner surface 39c Side surface section 40a upper thigh section 40b lower thigh section 41a upper rear wall surface 41b lower rear wall surface 42a upper front wall surface 42b lower rear wall surface 50 sealing parts 51 Opening 52 upper sealing part section 53 outer sealing part section 54 lower sealing part section 55 Rear wall sealing part section 56 Front wall sealing part section 60 sliders 61 upper shield 61a Top shield area 61b left upper flange 62 lower shield 62a Undersigned area 62b left lower flange 63 Slide wedge 64 Guide channel 65 mm inner flange area 66 Pull tab mounting rod 100 zippers C Free space U upward direction D Downward direction L Left-direction R Right-hand direction F Front direction B Rear direction

Claims

[1] Zipper (100) comprising the following: a pair of zipper longitudinal parts (1), each zipper longitudinal part (1) having a support strap (20) and a dome link row (3) attached to opposite side sections (21) of the two support straps (20); a slide (60) which is slidably provided on the coupling member rows (3) for coupling and uncoupling opposing coupling members (30), wherein the slide (60) has an upper shield (61), a lower shield (62) and a slide wedge (63) which connects the upper and lower shields (61, 62) in an upward-downward direction, wherein the upper and lower shields (61, 62) and the slide wedge (63) define a boundary of a guide channel (64) for the coupling members (30); wherein each zipper longitudinal part (1) has a sealing part (50) which adheres to a belt surface section (25) of the support belt (20) and extends over a link surface section (31) of each coupling member (30) of the zipper longitudinal part (1), wherein the two sealing parts (50) are in a sealing arrangement when the zipper (100) is in a coupled state; characterized by , that at least one coupling member (30) has a projection (32) which extends in the upward-downward direction through an opening (51) of the sealing part (50) in order to keep the sealing part (50) spaced apart from the boundary of the guide channel (64). [2] Zipper (100) according to claim 1, wherein each coupling member (30) has a projection (32) extending in the upward-downward direction through an opening (51) of the sealing part (50) in order to keep the sealing part (50) spaced apart from the boundary of the guide channel (64). [3] Zipper (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein each support belt (20) has a base sheet which is coated and / or impregnated with a plastic material which is impermeable to fluid. [4] Zipper (100) according to claim 3, wherein the dome members (30) are made of a first resin, the sealing part (50) is made of a second resin, and wherein the first resin is harder than the plastic material and the second resin. [5] Zipper (100) according to claim 4, wherein the second resin is harder than the plastic material. [6] Zipper (100) according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the first resin comprises a polyamide resin, the plastic material comprises a first polyurethane and the second resin comprises a second polyurethane. [7] Zipper (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one coupling member (30) has an upper end face (36a) which points in the upward direction and is spaced apart in the upward direction from an upper band surface (21a) of the support band (20), and an opposite lower end face (36b) which points in the downward direction and is spaced apart in the downward direction from a lower band surface (21b) of the support band (20), wherein the projection (32) projects from the upper and / or the lower end face (36a,b). [8] Zipper (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the coupling members (30) has a side surface section (39c) which is provided opposite to an edge section (23) of the support belt (20) and is intended for sliding engagement with the boundary of the guide channel (64) in order to guide the coupling members (30) of the opposing support belts (20) towards each other for coupling, and wherein the sealing part (50) extends over the coupling member without extending over the side surface section (39c). [9] Zipper (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein each coupling member (30) has an upper section (33a) provided on the upper band surface (21a) of the support band (20), a lower section (33b) provided on the lower band surface (21b) of the support band (20), and a connecting section (34) that connects the upper and lower sections (33a,b) in the upward-downward direction and is provided outside the support band (20) on its edge section (23). [10] Zipper (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the edge section (23) of the carrying strap has a core thread (24). [11] Zipper (100) according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the upper section (33a) has an upper base section (37a) provided on the upper tape surface (21a) of the support tape (20), the lower section (33b) has a lower base section (37b) provided on the lower tape surface (21b) of the support tape (20), and the upper and / or the lower section (33a,b) has a coupling section (38) extending from the respective base section (37a,b) towards the opposite support tape (20) and is configured for coupling with an opposite coupling section (38) of an opposite coupling member (30) provided on the opposite support tape (20). [12] Zipper (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein in a top view of the upper and / or the lower band surface (21a,b) a distance between adjacent dome members (30) from an inner band section (26) increases in the direction towards the edge section (23) of the support band (20). [13] Zipper (100) according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the dome section is arranged in the upward-downward direction such that it contains a center line of the support belt in the upward-downward direction.

Images