A zip fastener

Abstract

A zip slide fastener for an article comprising a pair of zip tracks with a slider 22 to open and close them and a gutter 30 on an inside surface of the zip tracks which feeds a drain hole 38 leading t

Claims

1. A zip fastener on an article for closing an opening in the article, the zip fastener comprising a pair of zip tracks and a slider which is displaceable along the zip tracks between an open position at which the zip tracks are released from each other and a closed position in which the tracks are engaged with each other to close the opening, a gutter being provided on an inside surface of the article adjacent the closed position of the slider, the gutter comprising a gutter component which is formed from a water-impermeable material and which extends across the zip tracks, the gutter component having side edges which are secured in a watertight manner to the material of the article on each side of the zip tracks and an end edge which is secured in a watertight manner to the material of the article at a position beyond the closed position of the slider in a direction away from the open position, a drain hole in the material of the article providing a flow path from the gutter to the exterior of the article.

2. A zip fastener as claimed in claim 1, in which the gutter component is secured to the material of the article by welding.

3. A zip fastener as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the gutter extends at least beneath a region between the slider in its closed position and the end of zip tracks.

4. A zip fastener as claimed in claim 3, in which the gutter extends to a position beyond the closed position of the slider in the direction towards the open position.

5. A zip fastener as claimed in claim 3 or 4, in which the gutter extends towards the open position of the slider for a distance less than 10% of the length of the zip tracks6. A zip fastener as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the gutter is open to the interior of the article at the end of the gutter directed towards the open position of the slider.

7. A zip fastener as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which a hood is provided on the exterior of the article at the closed position of the slider for accommodating the slider when in the closed position.

8. A zip fastener as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, which extends5 downwardly from the open position to the closed position of the slider in the intended use position of the article.

9. An article in the form of a cargo pack provided with a zip fastener in accordance with any one of the preceding claims.

10. A cargo pack as claimed in claim 9, provided with attachments for securing10 the cargo pack to a frame member of a bicycle.

11. An article provided with a zip fastener in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, the article being made from a flexible material to which the zip tracks are secured.

Images