U.S. patent application number 13/111941 was filed with the patent office on 2012-11-22 for zipper head structure.
This patent application is currently assigned to CHUNG CHWAN ENTERPRISE CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Yu-Pau Lin.
Application Number | 20120291236 13/111941 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47173806 |
Filed Date | 2012-11-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120291236 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lin; Yu-Pau |
November 22, 2012 |
ZIPPER HEAD STRUCTURE
Abstract
A zipper head structure includes a slider body, a pull-tab, and
a locking hook. The slider body has an assembling surface for
disposing an extension and a ridge. The pull-tab has a holding
portion on one end with an opening formed on an opposite end. A
hinge portion is defined between the opening and the corresponding
end of the pull-tab, with the hinge portion being opposite of the
holding portion. The pull-tab is disposed onto the assembling
surface of the slider body. The extension of the slider body is
received by the opening of the pull-tab. The hinge portion is
disposed in between the ridge and the extension. The locking hook
is secured to the assembling surface of the slider body. By
restricting the movement of the hinge portion, the pull-tab is
prevented from separating with the slider body when pulling the
zipper.
Inventors: |
Lin; Yu-Pau; (Taoyuan
County, TW) |
Assignee: |
CHUNG CHWAN ENTERPRISE CO.,
LTD.
Tao Yuan Hsien
TW
|
Family ID: |
47173806 |
Appl. No.: |
13/111941 |
Filed: |
May 19, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
24/429 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A44B 19/26 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
24/429 |
International
Class: |
A44B 19/26 20060101
A44B019/26 |
Claims
1. A zipper head structure, comprising: a slider body having an
assembling surface, wherein an extension is formed on one end of
the assembling surface and a ridge is formed on the assembling
surface near the extension; a pull-tab having a holding portion on
one end and an opening formed on another end thereof, a hinge
portion being defined between the opening and the corresponding end
of the pull-tab, the hinge portion being on the opposite end of the
holding portion, wherein the pull-tab is disposed on the assembling
surface of the slider body, wherein the extension of the slider
body is arranged in opening of the pull-tab, and wherein the hinge
portion is disposed between the ridge and the extension; and a
locking hook having a base portion disposed over the hinge portion
of the pull-tab on the assembling surface of the slider body,
thereby retaining the pull-tab on the slider body.
2. The zipper head structure of claim 1, wherein the slider body
further comprises a slot and a joining portion formed thereon,
wherein the slot projects through the slider body and is formed on
one end of the slider body, and wherein the joining portion is
formed on another end of the slider body opposite of the slot.
3. The zipper head structure of claim 2, wherein a hooking portion
is formed by bending one end of the base portion, and wherein a
fixing portion is formed by bending another end of the base
portion.
4. The zipper head structure of claim 3, wherein the hooking
portion of the locking hook projects through the slot of the slider
body.
5. The zipper head structure of claim 3, wherein the fixing portion
is secured to the joining portion of the slider body.
6. The zipper head structure of claim 4, wherein the joining
portion is concaved.
7. The zipper head structure of claim 1, wherein a mouth is formed
in between the base portion and the hooking portion of the locking
hook, and wherein the extension of the slider body projects through
the mouth of the locking hook.
8. The zipper head structure of claim 1, wherein the slider body is
integrally formed.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The instant disclosure relates to a zipper head structure;
more particularly, to a zipper head structure that prevents a pull
tab of separating from the zipper.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Art
[0004] In modern clothing, buttons or zippers are often used to
secure two pieces of fabric together. Compare to buttons, the
zippers are sturdier and easier to use. A conventional zipper
comprises a zipper head and a tape. The zipper head works with the
tape to allow the pulling action. In years to come, zippers are
forecasted to be used widely for clothing and other
accessories.
[0005] Please refer to FIG. 1, which shows a sectional view for a
standard zipper head structure. The zipper head structure comprises
a slider body 1a, a pull-tab 1b, a locking hook 1c, and a stopper
1d. The pull-tab 1b is disposed onto the slider body 1a. The
pull-tab 1b has a hinge portion 11b, which is disposed in between
an extension 11a of the slider body 1a and the stopper 1d. When the
zipper is closed, the hinge portion 11b of the pull-tab 1b would
move away from the extension 11a and toward the stopper 1d, which
is disposed across the locking hook 1c. Thereby, the stopper 1d
acts to block the pull-tab 1b from moving unrestrictedly. However,
the aforementioned zipper head structure may be more difficult to
assemble, involve more manufacturing steps, increase manufacturing
cost, waste raw materials, being less user-friendly, etc.
[0006] To address the above issues, the inventor proposes the
following solution.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The instant disclosure provides a zipper head structure,
which can improve the assembling process for reducing manufacturing
effort and cost.
[0008] The disclosed zipper head structure comprises a slider body,
a pull-tab, and a locking hook. The slider body has an assembling
surface for disposing an extension and a ridge. The extension is
disposed at one end of the slider body, wherein the ridge is
disposed near the extension. The pull-tab has a holding portion
formed at one end thereon. An opening is formed at the opposite end
of the pull-tab away from the holding portion. At one end of the
pull-tab wherein the opening is formed, a hinge portion is defined.
The pull-tab is disposed onto the assembling surface of the slider
body. The extension of the slider body is received by the opening
of the pull-tab. The hinge portion is disposed in between the ridge
and the extension. The locking hook is disposed on the assembling
surface of the slider body.
[0009] Based on the above, the zipper head structure of the instant
disclosure uses the ridge that formed integrally with the slider
body on the assembling surface to confine the hinge portion of the
pull-tab in between the extension and the ridge. Thus, the movement
of the hinge portion over the assembling surface is controlled
accordingly. No stopper is required for the locking hook to
restrict the movement of the pull-tab over the slider body. The
advantages include reducing the assembling complexity of the zipper
head structure, which reduces the manufacturing effort and cost,
saves raw material usage, and promotes environmental friendliness,
etc.
[0010] In order to further appreciate the characteristics and
technical contents of the instant disclosure, references are
hereunder made to the detailed descriptions and appended drawings
in connection with the instant disclosure. However, the appended
drawings are merely shown for exemplary purposes, rather than being
used to restrict the scope of the instant disclosure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a conventional zipper head
structure.
[0012] FIG. 2 is an assembled view of a zipper head structure of
the instant disclosure.
[0013] FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the zipper head structure of
the instant disclosure.
[0014] FIG. 4 is a top view of the zipper head structure of the
instant disclosure.
[0015] FIG. 4A is a sectional view of FIG. 4 along the cut line
A-A.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0016] Please refer to FIGS. 2 and 3, which show an assembled view
and an exploded view of a zipper head structure of the instant
disclosure respectively. The zipper head structure comprises a
slider body 11, a pull-tab 12, and a locking hook 13. The slider
body 11 has an assembling surface 114, which has an extension 111
and a ridge 112 formed thereon. The extension 111 is formed at one
end of the slider body 11, and the ridge 112 is formed near the
extension 111. The pull-tab 12 has a holding portion 121 formed on
one end thereof and an opening 122 formed on an opposite end. A
hinge portion 123 is defined in between the opening 122 and
corresponding end of the pull-tab 12. The hinge portion 123 is
opposite of the holding portion 121. The pull-tab 12 is disposed on
the assembling surface 114 of the slider body 11. The extension 111
of the slider body 11 is received by the opening 122 of the
pull-tab 12. The hinge portion 123 is disposed in between the ridge
112 and the extension 111. The locking hook 13 has a base portion
131, which is disposed over the hinge portion 123. The locking hook
13 itself is secured onto the assembling surface 114 of the slider
body 11.
[0017] The slider body 11 further comprises a slot 113 projected
thru the slider body 11 and a joining portion 115 formed on the
slider body 11. The slot 113 is formed on one end of the slider
body 11 opposite of the joining portion 115. The joining portion
115 extends from the assembling surface 114 to the opposite face
(not labeled) of the slider body 11.
[0018] A hooking portion 132 is formed by bending one end of the
base portion 131 of the locking hook 13. A fixing portion 133 is
formed by bending another end of the base portion 131. The hooking
portion 132 of the locking hook 13 runs thru the slot 113 of the
slider body 11, and the fixing portion 133 is secured to the
joining portion 115 of the slider body 11.
[0019] Notably, the joining portion 115 of the slider body 11 is
concaved, such that the fixing portion 133 of the locking hook 13
can fit to the joining portion 115 for securing to the slider body
11.
[0020] In addition, a mouth 134 is formed in between the base
portion 131 and the hooking portion 132 of the locking hook 13. The
extension 111 of the slider body 11 projects thru the mouth 134 of
the locking hook 13. The extension 111 of the slider body 11 abuts
one side of the mouth 134, such that when closing the zipper (not
shown), the hooking portion 132 of the locking hook 13 is caught by
the extension 111 to prevent from disengaging the slot 113 of the
slider body 11.
[0021] Please refer to FIGS. 4 and 4A, which show a top view and a
sectional view along the cut line A-A for the zipper head structure
of the instant disclosure respectively. Please also refer back to
FIGS. 2 and 3 in conjunction. For assembling the zipper head
structure, the opening 122 of the pull-tab 12 is first aligned to
the extension 111 on the assembling surface 114 of the slider body
11. Next, the pull-tab 12 is disposed onto the assembling surface
114 of the slider body 11, such that the extension 111 of the
slider body 11 is within the opening 122 of the pull-tab 12. Then,
the hooking portion 132 of the locking hook 13 is projected thru
the slot 113 of the slider body 11. When closing the zipper, the
hooking portion 132 of the locking hook 13 is caught by the
extension 111 to prevent from disengaging the slot 113 of the
slider body 11. The fixing portion 133 of the locking hook 13 is
secured to the concaved joining portion 115 of the slider body 11.
Finally, the base portion 131 of the locking hook 13 is pressed
toward the assembling surface 114 of the slider body 11, such that
the fixing portion 133 of the locking hook 13 is completely secured
to the slider body 11. Once completely secured, no more pressing is
required on the base portion 131 of the locking hook 13. Thus, the
assembling process of the zipper head structure is completed.
[0022] In use, when closing the zipper (not shown), the holding
portion 121 of the pull-tab 12 is first pulled upward relative to
the slider body 11. Next, the hinge portion 123 disposed in between
the extension 111 and the ridge 112 and over the assembling surface
114 of the slider body 11 is defined as a pivot point. By pulling
upward, the pull-tab 12 is rotated, such that the holding portion
121 is at the same end with the joining portion 115. As the zipper
is being closed by pulling the pull-tab 12, the hinge portion 123
of the pull-tab 12 abuts to the ridge 112 of the slider body 11.
The shape of the ridge 112 is not restricted. Thus, when using the
zipper, the integrally formed slider body 11 utilizes the ridge 112
on the assembling surface 114 to confine the movement of the hinge
portion 123 of the pull-tab 12 over the assembling surface 114, to
keep the pull-tab 12 from separating with the slider body 11.
[0023] The disclosed zipper head structure mainly uses the ridge,
which is integrally formed with the slider body, to confine the
hinge portion of the pull-tab in between the extension and the
ridge of the slider body. When pulling the zipper, the ridge of the
slider body can effectively confine the movement of the hinge
portion over the assembling surface of the slider body. Thereby,
the zipper head does not need a stopper to confine the movement of
the pull-tab. As a result, the assembling complexity of the zipper
head structure is reduced. Accordingly, the manufacturing effort
and cost can be saved, along with saving raw material usage,
promoting design simplification and environmental friendliness,
etc.
[0024] The descriptions illustrated supra set forth simply the
preferred embodiment of the instant disclosure; however, the
characteristics of the instant disclosure are by no means
restricted thereto. All changes, alternations, or modifications
conveniently considered by those skilled in the art are deemed to
be encompassed within the scope of the instant disclosure
delineated by the following claims.
* * * * *