Fashion accessory and method of operating a zipper
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Solution Overview
Problem
Women face difficulties in operating zippers on garments, particularly those located on the back or side, which can be time-consuming and inconvenient, with some spending up to 9 hours annually struggling with this task, and there is a concern about zippers being opened unintentionally.
Innovation Solution
A flexible elongated element with a hook and adjustable attachment point that can be converted between configurations for wearing and operating zippers, allowing the hook to engage the zipper, enabling easier operation by applying a pulling force.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a woman uses her hand to operate a zipper on the back or side of a garment, then she can directly manipulate the zipper, but she cannot reach the zipper when it is located on the back of a dress
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a zipper tool as an intermediary device between the user's hand and the zipper. The tool includes a handle and a hook that can engage with the zipper, allowing the user to operate the zipper from a distance. The flexible element connects the hook to the handle, enabling the user to reach back zippers by extending the tool behind their back.
2Ease of operation
If a woman carries a separate zipper tool, then she can operate zippers on back or side garments, but she needs to carry an additional item
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the zipper tool functionality with a fashion accessory (necklace, bracelet, or anklet). The flexible element with hook is integrated into a decorative piece that women already wear, eliminating the need to carry a separate tool. The accessory serves dual purposes: decoration and zipper operation assistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The fashion accessory is designed to serve multiple functions: it acts as a decorative item that can be worn on the body, and simultaneously functions as a zipper tool when needed. The hook can engage with zippers on garments, and the flexible element allows reaching difficult-to-access zippers, making the accessory universally useful for both aesthetic and practical purposes.
3Shape
If a zipper is located on the back of a dress, then the garment design is aesthetically pleasing, but it becomes difficult for the woman to operate the zipper independently
Solution Approach 1:
The zipper tool acts as an intermediary that bridges the gap between the user and the back-located zipper. The flexible element can extend behind the user's back to reach the zipper, while the hook engages with the zipper mechanism, allowing operation without direct hand contact with the zipper itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible element provides dynamic adaptability, allowing the tool to bend and extend in various directions to reach the zipper on the back of the garment. The flexibility enables the tool to conform to the user's body position and the garment's location, making operation of back zippers feasible.
4Loss of time
If a woman struggles with zipper operation, then she spends time fighting with the zipper, but she also worries about the zipper being opened unintentionally
Solution Approach 1:
The zipper tool provides better control over the zipper mechanism through the hook engagement. The hook can securely engage with the zipper teeth or slider, allowing the user to apply controlled force to zip up or zip down the garment, reducing the risk of unintentional opening while saving time compared to struggling with direct manual operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A fashion accessory and a method of operating a zipper are provided. The fashion accessory includes a flexible elongated element, a hook, and an attachment point disposed on the flexible elongated element. The fashion accessory is convertable between a configuration for wearing and a configuration for operating the zipper. The method involves wearing the fashion accessory in a configuration and converting the fashion accessory to allow the fashion accessory to engage a zipper.