Zipper

Abstract

A zipper includes a slider head including a base; two side walls; two roofs each inwardly extending from a top of the side wall; a division wall on a longitudinal central line of the base; two grooves each defined among and by the roof, the side wall, and the base at the same side; a spring biased front mounting block on a top of the division wall and having a longitudinal central trough; a rear mounting member having a through hole; and a well between the front mounting block and the rear mounting member; a coupling including a hook at a rear end, and an intermediate recess, the coupling pivotably secured to the front mounting block; and a zipper pull releasably secured to the hook. The hook is disposed in the through hole to hold the zipper pull and the slide head in position.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

[0001] The invention relates to zippers and more particularly to a zipper having improved characteristics including zipper pull.

2. Description of Related Art

[0002] A conventional zipper 101 is shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 and comprises a slider head 110, a coupling 120, a zipper pull 130 and a torsion spring 133. The slider head 110 includes a base 111, two opposite walls 112 on two sides of the base 111 respectively, two roofs 113 each inwardly extending from a top of the wall 112, a division wall 114 on a longitudinal central line of the base 111, two grooves 115 each defined among and by the roof 113, the wall 112 and the base 111 of the same side, a front mounting block 116 on a top of the division wall 114, and a rear mounting member 118 having a through hole 1181 and a closed wall 1182 on an inner surface of the through hole 1181. The coupling 120 is pivotably secured to the front mounting block 116 by means of a pivot 125 and includes a hook 121 at a rear end. The hook 121 passes through a front loop 131 of the zipper pull 130 into the through hole 1181 to attach the zipper pull 130 to the slider head 110. The torsion spring 133 is anchored in a receptacle of the front mounting block 116 and has a top end urging against a front end of the coupling 120.

[0003] However, the closed wall 1182 is thin and has a lower height. Further, only three edges of the hook 121 contact the closed wall 1182 for fastening the coupling 120, the loop 131 and the rear mounting member 118 together. Furthermore, the hook 121 is subject to deformation and/or breakage because the cross-section of the three contact edges of the hook 121 is small. In addition, the zipper being pulled cannot be stopped by the deformed or broken hook 121. Additionally, the triangular loop 131 attached to the coupling 120 does not effect a smooth pulling of the zipper pull 130.

[0004] Thus, the need for improvement still exists.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] It is a first object of the invention to provide a zipper comprises a coupling including a hook at a rear end, the hook being reliable in use.

[0006] It is a second object of the invention to provide a zipper comprises a coupling including a hook at a rear end, the hook being easy to install.

[0007] It is a third object of the invention to provide a zipper comprising a zipper pull which is easy to pull.

[0008] For achieving above and other objects, the invention provides a zipper comprising a slider head including a base; two opposite side walls on two sides of the base respectively; two roofs each inwardly extending from a top of the side wall; a division wall on a longitudinal central line of the base; two grooves each defined among and by the roof, the side wall, and the base at the same side; a front mounting block on a top of the division wall and having a longitudinal central trough and a receptacle on a front end of the longitudinal central trough; a rear mounting member having a through hole and two opposite side walls on two sides of the through hole respectively; and a well between the front mounting block and the rear mounting member; a biasing member anchored in the receptacle; a coupling partially disposed in the longitudinal central trough and including a hook at a rear end, and an intermediate recess wherein the coupling is pivotably secured to the front mounting block and has a front end urged against by the biasing member; and a zipper pull releasably secured to the hook; wherein the hook is disposed in the through hole to hold the zipper pull and the slide head in position.

[0009] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a zipper according to the invention;

[0011] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the zipper;

[0012] FIG. 3 is a side elevation in part section of the zipper of FIG. 1;

[0013] FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing the coupling being unfastened and a rearward pulling of the zipper pull for separating two series of the locking teeth;

[0014] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of FIG. 4 showing the zipper being pulled along a fabric strip;

[0015] FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing the coupling being unfastened and a forward pulling of the zipper pull for engaging two series of the locking teeth;

[0016] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of FIG. 6 showing the zipper being pulled along a fabric strip;

[0017] FIG. 8 is an exploded view of a conventional zipper; and

[0018] FIG. 9 is a side elevation in part section of the assembled zipper of FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 7, a zipper 1 in accordance with the invention comprises a slider head 10, a coupling 20, and a zipper pull 30 as discussed in detail below.

[0020] The slider head 10, the coupling 20, and the zipper pull 30 are formed of thermoplastics, zinc alloy, aluminum alloy or the like and can be made by injection molding, squeeze molding, casting or the like.

[0021] The slider head 10 includes a base 11; two opposite side walls 12 on two sides of the base 11 respectively; two roofs 13 each inwardly extending from a top of the wall 12; a division wall 14 on a longitudinal central line of the base 11; two grooves 15 each defined among and by the roof 13, the side wall 12 and the base 11 of the same side; a front mounting block 16 on a top of the division wall 14 and having a longitudinal central trough 161, a receptacle 164 on a front end of the trough 161, two rear cavities 162 spaced apart by the trough 161, and a hole 163 through the rear cavities 162; a rear mounting member 18 having a through hole 181, two opposite side walls 182 on two sides of the through hole 181 respectively, and a cut 183 and a front wall 184 on a front end of the through hole 181; and a well 17 between the front mounting block 16 and the rear mounting member 18, the well 17 communicating with both the cut 183 and the trough 161.

[0022] The coupling 20 includes a hook 21 at a rear end, a contact portion 23 at a bottom of a front end, a through hole 24 adjacent to the contact portion 23, and a recess 22 between the hook 21 and the through hole 24. The coupling 20 is pivotably secured to the front mounting block 16 by means of a pivot 25 passing through the hole 163 and the through hole 24. A torsion spring 33 is anchored in the receptacle 164 and has a top end urging against the contact portion 23. The zipper pull 30 includes a rectangular loop 31 loosely attached thereto, the loop 31 having a front fixing edge 32 disposed in the well 17. The loop 31 is placed on an outer surface of the rear mounting member 18. The hook 21 inserts through the through hole 181 and the fixing edge 32 urges against the recess 22. As a result, the zipper pull 30, the coupling 20 and the slider head 10 are assembled.

[0023] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a user may press the rear end of the coupling 20 to compress the torsion spring 33. And in turn, the coupling 20 pivots clockwise to dispose the hook 21 completely in the through hole 181. Also, the loop 31 is loosened. Thus, the user may grasp the zipper pull 30 and pull the zipper pull 30 rearward to separate two series of locking teeth 40 along a fabric strip.

[0024] As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, in a reverse operation, the user may grasp the zipper pull 30 and pull the zipper pull 30 forward. And in turn, the fixing edge 32 moves upward along the hook 21. Further, the hook 21 moves upward toward an unfastening state. Furthermore, the torsion spring 33 is compressed to store elastic force. In addition, the hook 21 is disengaged from the locking teeth 40 to allow the zipper pull 30 to pull. Thereafter, a pulling of the zipper pull 30 along the direction indicated by arrow can engage two series of the locking teeth 40 long a fabric strip.

[0025] It is understood that a release of the zipper pull 30 can return the expanding torsion spring 33 to its original shape. And in turn, the hook 21 moves downward and the fixing edge 32 also moves downward. Further, the hook 21 is pushed into the through hole 181 again to dispose (i.e., lock) between the two series of the locking teeth 40 due to the expansion of the torsion spring 33. In the locked state, the zipper 1 is prevented from being pulled as shown in FIG. 3.

[0026] The invention has the following characteristics and advantages: Height of the side wall 182, which is approximately equal to the height of the hook 21, is labeled by X (see FIG. 3), which is about 2.5 times greater than height of the closed wall 1182 of the conventional art which is labeled by Y (see FIG. 9). This means a torsion force exerted by pulling the zipper pull 30 is about 2.5 times greater than a torsion force exerted by pulling zipper pull 130 of the conventional art. In one exemplary example, height of the side wall 182 is at least 60% of height of the hook 21, and the hook 21 can withstand a torsion force about 1.5 times of that of the conventional hook, i.e., withstanding more torsion force. Further, the height increased side walls 182 facilitate pulling of the zipper pull 30. Furthermore, the hook 21 is more durable. In addition, the assembly of the zipper 1 is made easy.

[0027] It is appreciated that the through hole 181 is configured of a substantially tapered and longitudinally deep shape, so as to have the hook 21 disposed in the through hole 181 to positively hold the zipper pull 30 and the slide head 10 in position, as viewed from the drawing of FIGS. 3-6.

[0028] Furthermore, the front wall 184 of the through hole 181 is further provided to protect the hook 21 in position, when a greater external torsion force is applied thereto.

[0029] While the invention has been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be practiced with modifications within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A zipper comprising: a slider head (10) including a base (11); two opposite side walls (12) on two sides of the base (11) respectively; two roofs (13) each inwardly extending from a top of the side wall (12); a division wall (14) on a longitudinal central line of the base (11); two grooves (15) each defined among and by the roof (13), the side wall (12), and the base (11) at the same side; a front mounting block (16) on a top of the division wall (14) and having a longitudinal central trough (161) and a receptacle (164) on a bottom of a front end of the longitudinal central trough (161); a rear mounting member (18) having a through hole (181) and two opposite side walls (182) on two sides of the through hole (181) respectively; and a well (17) between the front mounting block (16) and the rear mounting member (18); a biasing member (33) anchored in the receptacle (164); a coupling (20) partially disposed in the longitudinal central trough (161) and including a hook (21) at a rear end, an intermediate recess (22), and a through hole (24) near the recess (22), wherein the coupling (20) is pivotably secured to the front mounting block (16) and has a front end (23) urged against by the biasing member (33); and a zipper pull (30) releasably secured to the hook (21); wherein the through hole (181) is a longitudinally deep, the hook (21) is disposed in the through hole (181) to hold the zipper pull (30) and the slide head (10) in position.

2. The zipper of claim 1, wherein height of the side wall (182) is at least 60% of height of the hook (21).

3. The zipper of claim 1, wherein the rear mounting member (18) further comprises a cut (183) on a front end of the through hole (181) for supporting the hook (21).

4. The zipper of claim 1, wherein the zipper pull (30) includes a rectangular loop (31) loosely attached thereto, the loop (31) having a front fixing edge (32) disposed in the well (17); wherein the loop (31) is placed on an outer surface of the rear mounting member (18); and wherein the front fixing edge (32) urges against the intermediate recess (22) in an inoperative position of the zipper pull (30).

5. The zipper of claim 1, wherein a front wall (184) of the through hole (181) is further protecting the hook (21) when operating.