U.S. patent application number 10/986543 was filed with the patent office on 2006-05-18 for method for infiltrating water-proof material into zipper.
Invention is credited to Shih Sheng Yang.
Application Number | 20060101632 10/986543 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36313911 |
Filed Date | 2006-05-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060101632 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Yang; Shih Sheng |
May 18, 2006 |
Method for infiltrating water-proof material into zipper
Abstract
A method for infiltrating a water-proof material into a zipper,
includes the steps of combining an upper mold with a lower mold,
filling a liquid polyurethane (PU) rubber into the mold cave of the
upper mold, drawing the zipper through the underside of the mold
cave such that the liquid PU rubber will infiltrate into the fabric
of the zipper tapes, passing the zipper through a scrapper portion
formed at the lower edge of the upper mold to remove surplus liquid
PU rubber, and forming a laminate on the zipper tapes, so as to
accomplish a water-proof zipper.
Inventors: |
Yang; Shih Sheng; (Taipei
Hsien, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LEONG C LEI
PMB # 1008
1867 YGNACIO VALLEY ROAD
WALNUT CREEK
CA
94598
US
|
Family ID: |
36313911 |
Appl. No.: |
10/986543 |
Filed: |
November 12, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
29/408 ; 29/458;
29/527.2 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A44B 19/32 20130101;
Y10T 29/49982 20150115; Y10T 29/49885 20150115; Y10T 29/49782
20150115 |
Class at
Publication: |
029/408 ;
029/458; 029/527.2 |
International
Class: |
B21F 45/18 20060101
B21F045/18 |
Claims
1. A method for infiltrating a water-proof material into a zipper,
including the following steps: A. providing a lower mold, which can
receive a zipper; B. providing on the top of the lower mold an
upper mold, which keeps a gap from the lower mold and has at least
one mold cave going through to said gap, and C. disposing a zipper
on the lower mold, such that the zipper is attached to the bottom
of the upper mold and is able to move freely in the gap; D. filling
the mold cave with a liquid impermeable material, which will
contact the surface of the zipper and infiltrate into the fabric of
the zipper tapes; and E. forming an impermeable layer on the
surface of the zipper after the liquid impermeable material is
solidified.
2. The method for infiltrating a water-proof material into a zipper
according to claim 1, wherein after accomplishment of step D, a
heating device can be applied for drying the zipper surface to
expedite humidifying the impermeable liquid material.
3. The method for infiltrating a water-proof material into a zipper
according to claim 2, wherein the lower mold is provided with a
positioning recession, in the center of which is provided with a
groove.
4. The method for infiltrating a water-proof material into a zipper
according to claim 1, wherein the bottom edge of the mold cave has
a scraper portion.
5. The method for infiltrating a water-proof material into a zipper
according to claim 1, wherein the liquid impermeable material is a
liquid polyurethane (PU) rubber.
6. The method for infiltrating a water-proof material into a zipper
according to claim 1, wherein in addition to the upper mold, a
supplementary upper mold, which is provided with a scraper portion
at the bottom of the mold cave, can be alternatively provided, such
that there is a selectively adjustable drop height between the
scrapper portion and the bottom surface of the mold cave.
7. The method for infiltrating a water-proof material into a zipper
according to claim 6, wherein the zipper is moving on the lower
mold during process, the zipper goes from the primary molds to the
supplementary molds to accomplish a multi-process manufacture, such
that the liquid impermeable material accumulated on the zipper
would become thickened.
8. The method for infiltrating a water-proof material into a zipper
according to claim 6, wherein a heating device can be further
provided between the primary upper mold and the supplementary upper
mold.
9. The method for infiltrating a water-proof material into a zipper
according to claim 6, wherein after the liquid impermeable material
applied onto the zipper surface is solidified, a pattern can be
imprinted on the zipper surface with colorant.
10. The method for infiltrating a water-proof material into a
zipper according to claim 9, wherein the colorant for imprinting
pattern on the zipper surface can be added with metal powder.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] (a) Technical Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a method for infiltrating a
water-proof material into a zipper, such that a common zipper will
become water-proof due to the infiltration of the impermeable
rubber material into the zipper tapes. The present invention is
applicable to processing water-proof zippers and water-proof
fabrics or the like.
[0003] (b) Description of the Prior Art
[0004] In the method for manufacturing water-proof zippers of the
prior art as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,105,214, a water-proof
layer is attached to the surface of the zipper tapes via adhesive
or heat press. The zipper is composed of a pair of opposed tapes,
which are combined or separated by a moving zipper tab. Therefore,
after application of the water-proof layer of to the surface of the
zipper via adhesive or heat press, an additional process for
cutting the water-proof layer to separate the tapes is required,
rendering the manufacture process relatively complicated, the
manufacture speed slower, and the manufacture cost higher.
[0005] As the water-proof layer for a conventional zipper can only
adhered to the surface of the zipper tapes, it cannot firmly
combine with the zipper tapes. Therefore, after being used for a
short period of time, the water-proof layer would easily detach
from the zipper tapes due to friction, causing the water-proof
effect apparently reduced.
[0006] In view of the disadvantages existing in the manufacture of
the water-proof zippers of the prior art, the inventor has
researched and developed the present invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The primary object of the invention is to provide a method
for infiltrating a water-proof material into a zipper, such that
after the impermeable material has solidified, it can infiltrate
into the zipper tapes and form a water-proof layer with the zipper
tape fabric to obtain a super water-proof effect. The secondary
object of the invention is to provide a method for infiltrating a
water-proof material into a zipper, which can efficiently shorten
the manufacture process, since there is no need to cut the zipper
to separate the zipper tapes. Accordingly, the manufacture cost can
be reduced.
[0008] A further object of the invention is to provide a method for
infiltrating a water-proof material into a zipper, which can
efficiently lengthen the use life of the water-proof zipper.
[0009] To obtain the above objects, the method for infiltrating a
water-proof material into a zipper according to the invention
include the following steps:
[0010] thickening--adding thickening agents and hardening agents
into a water-proof liquid PU rubber, and mixing the above materials
to present an appropriate viscosity;
[0011] pouring--combining an upper mold with a lower mold, and then
pouring the thicken water-proof liquid PU rubber into the mold cave
of the upper mold; and
[0012] applying the water-proof layer--pulling the zipper through
the underside of the mold cave, such that the water-proof liquid PU
rubber will infiltrate into the zipper tape fabric; scrapping away
the surplus liquid PU rubber by a scrapper portion at the lower
edge of the upper mold; meanwhile, the liquid PU rubber applied
onto the zipper tapes will further infiltrate into the tape fabric
and form a water-proof layer with the zipper tapes.
[0013] By way of the above steps, a water-proof zipper, which has
long use life, can be accomplished. Besides, the manufacture
procedure can be shortened, and the manufacture cost can be
reduced.
[0014] The foregoing object and summary provide only a brief
introduction to the present invention. To fully appreciate these
and other objects of the present invention as well as the invention
itself, all of which will become apparent to those skilled in the
art, the following detailed description of the invention and the
claims should be read in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings. Throughout the specification and drawings identical
reference numerals refer to identical or similar parts.
[0015] Many other advantages and features of the present invention
will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making
reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheets
of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment
incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by
way of illustrative example.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the upper mold, the lower mold
and the zipper of the present invention.
[0017] FIG. 2 shows the manufacture process according to the
invention, wherein the zipper is going into the mold cave.
[0018] FIG. 3 shows the manufacture process according to the
invention, wherein the zipper has gone into the mold cave for
infiltrating a impermeable liquid material into the fabric of the
zipper tapes, and zipper surface is applied with a layer of
water-proof rubber material.
[0019] FIG. 4 shows the multi-process procedure according to the
invention.
[0020] FIG. 5 shows the process of imprinting patterns on the
zipper.
[0021] FIG. 6 is a cut-away view showing the supplementary molds of
the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0022] The following descriptions are of exemplary embodiments
only, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability or
configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the following
description provides a convenient illustration for implementing
exemplary embodiments of the invention. Various changes to the
described embodiments may be made in the function and arrangement
of the elements described without departing from the scope of the
invention as set forth in the appended claims.
[0023] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the method for infiltrating a
water-proof material into a zipper according to the present
invention includes the steps of thickening, pouring and the
applying the water-proof layer, and can lengthen the use life of
the water-proof zipper, and relatively reduce the manufacture
procedure and cost.
[0024] FIGS. 1 and 2 show a preferred embodiment of the invention,
which includes a lower mold 10 and an upper mold 20. The lower mold
10 is provided with a positioning recession 11 and a groove 12,
which is most preferably arranged at the center of the positioning
recession 11, such that when a zipper 30 is born by and sliding on
the positioning recession 11, the groove 12 can receive the zipper
teeth 31, thus allowing the zipper tapes 32 stay flat on the
positioning recession 11. The upper mold 20 is provided with a mold
cave 21 on the top, and a scraper portion 22 on the bottom edge
adhering to the bottom surface of the position recession 11.
[0025] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the invention relates to a method
for processing a normal upper 30 into a water-proof zipper,
including the steps of combining the lower mold 10 integrally with
the upper mold 20, processing the zipper 30 via a conveyor roller
50 forwardly such that the zipper 30 will go into the positioning
recession 11 with the zipper teeth 31 filled into the groove 12 of
the lower mold 10. Accordingly, the zipper 30 is moving under the
upper mold 20.
[0026] Following is the steps of--
[0027] Thickening--A liquid PU rubber water-proof material 40 is
added with a thickening agent and a hardening agent and mixed
together to form a liquid PU rubber 41 of an appropriate
viscosity.
[0028] Pouring--The thickened liquid PU rubber 41 is poured into
the mold cave 21 of the upper mold 20 (as shown in FIG. 2).
[0029] Applying a water-proof layer--The zipper 30 is disposed on
the conveyor roller 50 and transmitted into the molds, such that
the zipper teeth 31 fills into the groove 12 of the lower mold 10
and the zipper tapes 32 stay flat on the bottom of the positioning
recession 11. The zipper tapes 32 go through the underside of the
mole cave 21, the liquid PU rubber 41 in the mold cave 21 will
infiltrate into the fabric of the zipper tapes 32 as desired. As a
traction force generates between the liquid PU rubber 41 and the
processing zipper tapes 32, the liquid PU rubber 41 will form a
liquid wheel 42, which will attach to and roll on the surface of
the zipper 30. Furthermore, by way of a scraper portion 22 at the
lower edge of the upper mold 20, the surplus liquid PU rubber 41
can be removed and those adhered to the tapes 32 of the zipper 30
would have a even thickness to form a water-proof layer 43 (as
shown in FIG. 3). Being pressed by the liquid wheel 42 and the
scraper portion 22, the liquid PU rubber 41 will infiltrate into
the fabric of the tapes 32 of the zipper 30 and form a layer of
even height on the surface of the tapes 32. In order to expedite
drying the water-proof layer, a heating device 60 can be provided
at the outlet end for drying purposes. According to the above
steps, a novel method for infiltrating a water-proof material into
a zipper can be accomplished.
[0030] Now refer to FIGS. 4 and 6, showing another embodiment of
the invention, the zipper applied with a water-proof layer 43 can
be baked by the heating device 60, such that the water-proof layer
43 will be instantly dried. After that, application of a second
layer of water-proof 43 can be applied, including provision of a
supplementary lower mold 15 and upper mold 25. Likewise, the
supplementary lower mold 15 is provided with a positioning
recession 11 and groove 12. The gap 27 at the lower edge of the
supplementary upper mold 25 forms a supplementary scraper portion
26 (as shown in FIG. 6). After application of second water-proof
layer 44 to the zipper 30, the gap 27 of the supplementary scrapper
portion 26 can allow the tapes 32 along with the applied
water-proof layer 43 to pass through. Therefore, when the zipper is
pulled through the supplementary upper and lower molds, the second
water-proof layer 44 will cover the original water-proof layer 43
(as shown in FIG. 4). Accordingly, a water-proof zipper of an
appropriate thickness can be accomplished.
[0031] Referring to FIG. 5, showing a further embodiment of the
invention, the zipper 30 with the water-proof layer can be
imprinted with a pattern 45 via patterning roller 70 which is
provided with notches 71 such that when the zipper 30 is pressed by
the patterning roller 70, a pattern 45 can be imprinted on the
water-proof layer 43 of the zipper 30, accomplishing a beautiful
water-proof zipper.
[0032] Under the principle of the manufacture process, the pattern
can be imprinted on the zipper via roller printing, mold pressing
or spraying with colorants, which can be added with metal powder
such as gold power and silver powder, etc. to increase the
impressiveness of the product. Furthermore, after imprinting the
pattern 45 on the surface of the water-proof zipper, an additional
protective layer (not shown) can be applied to coat the colorants
and/or metal power for the pattern, such that the patter would not
be easily scratched.
[0033] Concluded above, the method for infiltrating a water-proof
material into the fabric of the zipper tapes according to the
invention can lengthen the use life of the water-proof zipper,
prevent the zipper from being easily bended and damaged. Although
specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, it will
be obvious to those skilled in the art that various modifications
may be made without departing from what is intended to be limited
solely by the appended claims.
[0034] It will be understood that each of the elements described
above, or two or more together may also find a useful application
in other types of methods differing from the type described
above.
[0035] While certain novel features of this invention have been
shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claim, it is
not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be
understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and
changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in
its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without
departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.
* * * * *