Improvements to a zip assembly

Abstract

A zip assembly for an item The item comprises walls which define an interior cavity into which access can be gained via an opening in the said walls. The zip assembly is located at said opening so as to allow the selective closure of the opening and, when closed, to provide a closed substantially watertight and / or airtight seal of the said interior cavity of the item. The zip assembly includes: a puller portion of the zip assembly provided with first engagement means, and a second engagement means provided at a distance spaced from a slider of the zip assembly when in a closed condition. When the puller is in a closed position, and hence the zip assembly is closed, the first and second engagement means are engageable to retain the puller in the closed position.

Description

[0001] Improvements to a Zip assembly

[0002] The invention to which this application relates is an item such as a bag or a suit which can be used to contain within a cavity therein, a plurality of articles in the bag or a person in the suit in a substantially watertight and / or airtight condition at least to predetermined depth or pressure of water.

[0003] In particular, although not necessarily exclusively, the item, when provided as a bag, is used to carry articles therein which would be damaged if exposed to water for a prolonged period of time and, furthermore, the articles may also be required to be stored in the bag cavity in a secure manner so as to prevent access to the same from unauthorised persons and / or accidental opening.

[0004] Yet further, the invention relates to a closure for the item in the form of a zip assembly which can be selectively moved between open and closed positions which has first and second parts attached to opposing sides of the opening and which are brought together by the movement of a slider acting to engage teeth provided at the edges of the said parts and the slider is movable from one end of the zip at which the zip is in open position to an opposing end of the zip assembly at which the teeth are engaged and the zip assembly is closed. The slider is typically provided with a puller which can be grasped by the user of the zip assembly so as to move the slider. While it is known to be possible to provide items with an opening which can be locked in a closed position, these items are not watertight and / or airtight. Furthermore, known watertight and / or airtight zip assemblies typically include relative large pullers in order to allow the same to be readily grasped by the user and also to allow a sufficient force to be applied in order to exert sufficient force, such as more than 30 Newtons, to be able to engage the slider into a docking seal when in the closed position so as to ensure that the zip assembly is in a fully closed, watertight and / or airtight condition and also to subsequently disengage the puller from the docking seal. The size of the puller can therefore lead to the same being relatively easily caught or snagged when the item is in use and, in certain instances when snagged is pulled so as to move the slider and the zip assembly to the open position which can cause the articles or person within the item to be exposed towater in which the item is placed and which can cause risk to the person or damage to articles.

[0005] As such the aim of the invention is to provide an item with a zip assembly which when closed is substantially watertight and / or airtight and to provide improved means of ensuring that the zip assembly is retained in a closed watertight and / or airtight condition and the chance of inadvertent and / or deliberate access being attempted to gain access to the interior cavity of the item is resisted.

[0006] In a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a zip assembly for an item comprising walls which define an interior cavity into which access can be gained via at least one opening in the said walls, said zip assembly located at said opening so as to allow the selective closure of the opening and, when closed, to provide a closed substantially watertight and / or airtight seal of the said interior cavity of the item, wherein the zip assembly includes a puller portion of the zip assembly provided with first engagement means and a second engagement means is provided at a distance spaced from the slider of the zip assembly when in a closed position such that when the puller and hence zip assembly is in the closed position, the first and second engagement means are engageable to retain the puller in the closed position for the zip assembly.

[0007] In one embodiment the first engagement means are one of a protrusion or an aperture and the second engagement means is the other of the protrusion or aperture and when the zip assembly is in the closed substantially watertight and / or airtight condition the protrusion passes into and through the aperture to retain the puller in said position.

[0008] In one embodiment the protrusion is provided as an integral part of the zip assembly and in one embodiment is engaged with the tape of the zip assembly. In another embodiment the protrusion is engaged directly with the item.

[0009] In one embodiment the protrusion and aperture are retained in position by a locking element which can be engaged when the protrusion and aperture are in position. In one embodiment the protrusion includes a channel through which part of the locking means, such as a padlock hasp, can pass.

[0010] In addition or in another embodiment the said protrusion includes or received retention means which are biased to a position to retain the protrusion in the saidaperture. Typically in this embodiment manual actuation is required of the retaining means to allow the same to be moved to a release position.

[0011] The provision of the retention means can be utilised without the locking means when secure retention of articles in the interior cavity is not required and the retention means primarily act to prevent the unexpected snagging and release of the puller whilst the item is in use and hence prevent the watertight and / or airtight nature of the zip assembly being removed due to inadvertent operation of the puller and slider from the closed watertight and / or airtight position.

[0012] Typically when the aperture and protrusion are in position the slider is retained at a dock on the zip assembly to retain the same in the closed watertight and / or airtight condition.

[0013] Typically the opposing end of the zip assembly is also formed and joined to the item so as to be watertight and / or airtight.

[0014] Typically the zip assembly tape is formed of a textile base coated in a watertight and / or airtight material such as Polyurethane or Neoprene and sewn and / or taped and / or glued and / or welded by using RF, heat and / or sonic welding, to the item so as to provide watertight and / or airtight seal between the zip tape and the item. Typically the protrusion is provided as part of a clasp body which has a base which is sewn and / or taped and / or glued to the tape of the zip assembly. Typically the distance between the periphery of the base and the edge of the tape is at least 7mm so as to allow a reliable seal to be achieved.

[0015] In one embodiment the protrusion is provided with a longitudinal axis and in one embodiment the aperture is provided as a slot with a longitudinal axis and said axes are substantially parallel.

[0016] In one embodiment one or both of said longitudinal axes are perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the zip assembly. In an alternative embodiment said longitudinal axes are parallel which may provide greater flexibility of manipulation of the zip assembly.

[0017] Typically the slider of the zip assembly is movable along teeth members of the zip assembly in a conventional manner so as to move the zip assembly and hence item opening, between open and closed positions.In one embodiment, the slot is provided in. the puller and the protrusion is provided at a distance from the dock and substantially in line with the longitudinal axis of the zip assembly.

[0018] Typically the puller is of a size and form so as to allow the same to be relatively easily gripped by the user and so as to allow sufficient force to be applied via the puller to remove the slide from the docking seal. In one embodiment the force required is greater than 30 Newtons.

[0019] In one embodiment, the protrusion is located so that the distance between the slot on the puller so as to enable, wdien the slider is in the dock and hence the zip assembly is in a closed watertight and / or airtight condition, the slot to be placed over the protrusion and provide a positive engagement which is retained by the movement of the locking means into position.

[0020] In one embodiment the said item is a bag for the storage of articles in the interior cavity thereof. In one embodiment the articles are weapons, ammunition and / or components thereof.

[0021] In one embodiment the zip assembly is of a size known as a Number 10 zip.

[0022] In a further aspect of the invention there is provided a bag including a zip assembly as herein described.

[0023] In a further aspect of the invention there is provided a drysuit including a zip assembly as herein described.

[0024] Specific embodiments of the invention are now described with reference to the accompanying drawings; wherein

[0025] Figure 1 illustrates a zip assembly in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

[0026] Figures 2a-c illustrate the engagement means including a protrusion and aperture arrangement of the zip assembly in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

[0027] Figures 3a and b illustrate the zip assembly with locking means in accordance with the invention;Figures 4a and b illustrate a bag in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

[0028] Figure 5 illustrates a drysuit in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; and

[0029] Figure 6 illustrates a further embodiment of the invention.

[0030] Referring firstly to Figure 1 there is illustrated a zip assembly 2 which includes tapes 4, 4’ with respective sets of teeth 6,6’ for engagement along the longitudinal axis 8 of the zip assembly 2. The teeth are engaged and disengaged in a conventional manner by the movement of slider 10 from a first end 12 as shown in Figure 1 in which the zip assembly is open, to an opposing end 14 at which the teeth are engaged and the opening is closed. Also, to render the zip assembly watertight and / or airtight when closed, the end 12 is formed to be watertight and / or airtight and the opposing end includes a docking seal 16 in which the slider 10 is engaged into so as to form a watertight and / or airtight closure. In order to provide sufficient force to engage and release the slider from the docking seal 16, a relatively large force, typically greater than 30 Newtons, is required to be applied and this is achieved by the user gripping the puller 18 which is attached to the slide via engagement staple 20.

[0031] In accordance with the invention the puller is provided with an aperture 22, typically in the form of a slot which has a longitudinal axis 24. The assembly also includes, in this embodiment as part of the zip assembly 2 a protrusion 26 mounted on a base 28 which is sealed to the tapes 4,4’ so that the protrusion is located at a distance D which is substantially the same as the distance E between the slider 10 end and the aperture 22 so that when the slide is in the dock formation 16, the protrusion 26 can pass through the aperture 22 and the longitudinal axis 29 of the protrusion is substantially parallel to the axis 24 and, in this embodiment both of these axes are perpendicular to the axis 8.

[0032] Typically the aperture and protrusion are formed so as to provide, when the same are engaged, a relatively close fit in order to reduce the risk of the slider moving out of the docking seal and hence prevent the leakage of liquid through the zip assembly. Figures 2a- c illustrate the puller 18, slide 10, docking seal 16, base 28 and protrusion 26 and tapes 4,4’ tn accordance with one embodiment. The Figure 2a illustrates the puller 18 and hence slider being pulled as illustrated by arrow 30 towards the dockingseal 16 to a closed position. Figure 2b illustrates the slider 10 having been engaged in the docking seal 16 and the zip assembly is now closed and watertight and / or airtight. In accordance with the invention the aperture 22 in the puller 18 is also now in position such that the protrusion 26 can pass through the aperture 22 to a retained position as shown in the Figure 2b and in the end elevation of Figure 2c.

[0033] It can be seen in Figure 2c that the protrusion 26 includes a channel 32 which is located to as to be accessible when the protrusion is engaged through the aperture 22. The engagement of the aperture and protrusion can act as a retention for the zip assembly in the closed position but in addition the channel 32 allows for the receipt of a locking means 34, such as in the form of a padlock, with the shackle 36 passing through the channel 32 to retain the zip assembly in a closed, watertight and / or airtight and locked position.

[0034] Figure 3b illustrates an end elevation of an alternative arrangement wherein the longitudinal axes 24, 29 of the aperture and protrusion are oriented by 90 degrees and are substantially parallel and are also now parallel with the longitudinal axis 8. For certain uses this may be a preferred embodiment such as when greater flexibility of engagement and fit is required.

[0035] figure 6 illustrates another embodiment in which the axes 8, 24,29 are in parallel, although they need not always be, and illustrate the provision of retention means 48. In this embodiment the retention means is provided to be slid as indicated by arrow 50 into position in a port 52 in the protrusion 26 but in another embodiment, particularly where locking means are not required, could be provided as integral part of the protrusion. The retention means 48 include biased retainers 54,54’ which are biased as indicated by respective arrows 56, 56’ to protruding positions but can be manually pushed against the biasing means to a release position so that the ends of the retainers 54,54’ lies substantially flush with the respective side walls 58,58’ of the retention means 48.

[0036] When the retention means is in position in the port 52, the side walls 58, 58’ lie substantially flush with the side walls of the protrusion 26 and so that the protrusion 26 can be moved into and through the aperture 22 as indicated by arrow’ 60 and, when fully engaged, the retainers 54, 54’ are released and extend outwardly and hence prevent the puller from being removed from the protrusion until manual movement of the retainers against the biasing means is performed and so the zip assembly isretained in the closed, watertight and / or airtight condition and resists any inadvertent opening action which may be caused, for example, by the puller becoming snagged during movement of the item to which the zip assembly is fitted. The locking means may also be provided if a channel is provided at a suitable location on the protrusion or the retention means.

[0037] Figures 4a and b illustrate the zip assembly 2 fitted to a bag 42 with an opening 40 along which the zip assembly 2 is provided and shows the zip assembly in a closed, watertight and / or airtight and locked position by engagement of the locking means 34 so that the bag can then be carried in that condition via, for example handle 38 with the articles within the bag held in a secure, watertight and / or airtight condition within the inner cavity of the bag.

[0038] Figure 5 illustrates the zip assembly 2 fitted to a drysuit so as to allow the zip assembly to be moved between an open position as indicated by movement of puller 18 in the direction of arrow 46 and the closed watertight and / or airtight position shown. In this embodiment locking means may be used as before but more typically a more easily releasable retention means such as that shown in Figure 6, may be used to retain the aperture and protrusion 26 in position and hence ensure the safe watertight and / or airtight use of the zip assembly 2 in accordance with the invention.

Claims

Claims1. A zip assembly for an item, the item comprising walls which define an interior cavity into which access can be gained via an opening in the said walls, said zip assembly located at said opening so as to allow the selective closure of the opening and, when closed, to provide a closed substantially watertight and / or airtight seal of the said interior cavity of the item, wherein the zip assembly includes:a puller portion of the zip assembly provided with first engagement means, and a second engagement means provided at a distance spaced from a slider of the zip assembly when in a closed condition,such that when the puller is in a closed position, and hence the zip assembly is closed, the first and second engagement means are engageable to retain the puller in the closed position.

2. A zip assembly according to claim 1, wherein the zip assembly can be selectively moved between open and closed conditions, the zip assembly having which has first and second parts attached to opposing sides of the opening and which are brought together by movement of the slider acting to engage teeth provided at the edges of the said parts,the slider being movable from one end of the zip assembly at which the zip assembly is in said open condition to an opposing end of the zip assembly at which the teeth are engaged and the zip assembly is in said closed condition,the slider being provided with the puller which can be grasped by the user of the zip assembly so as to move the slider.

3. A zip assembly according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the first engagement means are one of a protrusion or an aperture, and the second engagement means is the other of the protrusion or aperture, and when the zip assembly is in the closed substantially watertight and / or airtight condition the protrusion passes into and through the aperture to retain the puller in said closed position.

4. A zip assembly according to claim 3, wherein the protrusion is provided as an integral part of the zip assembly.69931743-15. A zip assembly according to claim 4, wherein the protrusion is engaged with a tape of the zip assembly.

6. A zip assembly according to claim 4, wherein the protrusion is engaged directly with the item.

7. A zip assembly according to any of claims 3 to 6, wherein the protrusion and aperture are retained in position by a locking means which can be engaged when the protrusion passes into and through the aperture.

8. A zip assembly according to claim 7, wherein the protrusion includes a channel through which part of the locking means can pass.

9. A zip assembly according to any of claims 3 to 8, wherein said protrusion includes or receives retention means which are biased to a position to retain the protrusion in the aperture when the protrusion passes into and through the aperture.

10. A zip assembly according to claim 9, wherein manual actuation is required of the retaining means to allow the retaining means to be moved to a release position, such that, in the release position, the retaining means does not retain the protrusion in the aperture.

11. A zip assembly according to any of claims 3 to 10, wherein when the zip assembly is in the closed condition the slider is retained at a dock on the zip assembly to retain the slider in the closed position.

12. A zip assembly according to claim 11, wherein an opposing end of the zip assembly to that including said dock is also formed and joined to the item so as to be watertight and / or airtight.

13. A zip assembly according to claim 5 or any claim dependent directly or indirectly on claim 5, wherein the zip assembly tape is formed of a textile base coated in a watertight and / or airtight material and sewn and / or taped and / or glued and / or welded by using RF, heat and / or sonic welding, to the item so as to provide watertight and / or airtight seal between the zip tape and the item.

1. A zip assembly according to claim 5 or any claim dependent directly or indirectly on claim 5, wherein the protrusion is provided as part of a clasp body which has a base which is sewn and / or taped and / or glued to the tape of the zip assembly.69931743-115. A zip assembly according to claim 14, wherein a distance between a periphery of the base and an edge of the tape is at least 7mm.

16. A zip assembly according to any of claims 3 to 15, wherein the protrusion extends along a longitudinal axis and the aperture is provided as a slot which extends along a longitudinal axis and the longitudinal axis of the protrusion and the longitudinal axis of the slot are substantially parallel.

17. A zip assembly according to claim 16, wherein one or both of said longitudinal axis of the protrusion and said longitudinal axis of the aperture are perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the zip assembly.

18. A zip assembly according to claim 16, wherein said longitudinal axis of the protrusion and said longitudinal axis of the aperture are parallel to a longitudinal axis of the zip assembly.

19. A zip assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the slider of the zip assembly is movable along teeth members of the zip assembly so as to move the zip assembly and hence item opening, between open and closed conditions.

20. A zip assembly according to claim 11 or any claim dependent directly or indirectly on claim 11, wherein the aperture is provided in the puller and the protrusion is provided at a distance from the dock and substantially in line with the longitudinal axis of the zip assembly.

21. A zip assembly according to claim 11 or any claim dependent directly or indirectly on claim 11, wherein the puller is of a size and form so as to allow the puller to be gripped by the user and so as to allow sufficient force to be applied via the puller to remove the slide from the dock, and, optionally, wherein said sufficient force is greater than 30 Newtons.

22. A zip assembly according to claim 11 or any claim dependent directly or indirectly on claim 11, further dependent directly or indirectly on claim 7, wherein the protrusion is located so that the distance between the aperture on the puller so as to enable, when the slider is retained at the dock and hence the zip assembly is in a closed watertight and / or airtight condition, the aperture to be placed over the protrusion and provide a positive engagement which is retained by the movement of the locking means into position.69931743-123. A zip assembly according to any preceding claim, said item is a bag for the storage of articles in the interior cavity thereof, and, optionally, the articles are weapons, ammunition and / or components thereof.

24. A item including a zip assembly according to any preceding claim.

25. A drysuit including a zip assembly according to any of claims 1 to 22.69931743-1

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