[0001] The present invention pertains generally to slide fasteners and more particularly
to the type of slide fastener commonly known as a zipper which has opposed strings
or rows of interlocking elements or zipper teeth which are brought into interlocking
engagement by the movement of a slider in one direction along the rows and disengaged
or unfastened by movement of the slider in the opposite direction.
[0002] The present invention addresses the problem of reducing the difficulty involved with
the initial engagement of the ends of a separable zipper on a jacket or similar garment.
It will be appreciated, however, that the solution provided by the present invention
has useful application to the entire field of slide fasteners. The present invention
permits the ends of a separable zipper to be interconnected and the zipper to be fastened
with a minimum of care and dexterity.
[0003] In accordance with a first " aspect of the invention, a device for connecting the
ends of a separable zipper includes a slider having first and second ports separated
by a center post at the front of the slider, the ports being adapted to receive first
and second opposed rows of zipper teeth and guide the zipper teeth into a common passageway
rearward from the center post within which the teeth in the opposed rows are progressively
forced into interlocking engagement as the slider is pulled forward, a base terminal
disposed at the rearward end of the first row of teeth and a receiving terminal disposed
at the rearward end of the second row of teeth, the base terminal being adapted to
carry the slider when the rows are fully disengaged and the terminals are seperated
and there being on the bottom of the slider means for guiding the slider, when in
its rearmost position on the base terminal, into a cooperating aperture in the receiving
terminal by movement in a direction generally perpendicular to the plane through which
the zipper rows move when passing through the slider.
[0004] In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, a device for connecting the
ends of a separable zipper having first and second opposed rows of zipper teeth includes
a leading slider and a trailing slider adapted to progressively engage the zipper
rows by the forward movement of the leading slider and progressively disengage the
zipper rows by the forward movement of the trailing slider following in the path of
the leading slider, a base terminal disposed at the rearward end of the first row
of teeth and a receiving terminal disposed at the rearward end of the second row of
teeth, the base terminal being adapted to carry the sliders when the rows of teeth
are fully disengaged and the terminals are separated and there being on the bottom
of at least one of the sliders a disc for guiding the sliders, when in their rearmost
position on the base terminal, into a cooperating aperture in the receiving terminal
by movement in a direction generally perpendicular to the plane through which the
zipper rows move when passing through the sliders.
[0005] Two examples of devices in accordance with the invention will now be described with
reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:
[0006] FIGURE I is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention showing
first and second zipper terminals aligned just prior to engagement, the first terminal
or base terminal carrying a slider adapted to fasten conventional rows of zipper teeth
which are shown in phantom, the second terminal or receiving terminal being adapted
to engage the slider and first terminal .in the indicated manner;
FIGURE 2 is a perspective view showing the terminals interlocked in operative engagement
and the slider moved slightly forward up the rows of zipper teeth;
FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the specially adapted slider shown separately;
FIGURE 4 is a vertial cross-section of the slider and a rearward portion of the base
terminal taken along the line 4-4 of FIGURE 1 in the direction indicated;
FIGURE 5 is a top plan view of a receiving terminal in accordance with a second embodiment
of the invention;
FIGURE 6 is a top plan view of a base terminal in accordance with the second embodiment;
FIGURE 7 is a perspective view from below and slighty rearward of the terminals of
FIGURES 5 and 6, including first and second back-to-back sliders in their rearmost
position on the base terminal, the sliders and terminals being aligned just prior
to being brought into operative engagement in the indicated manner;
FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of the sliders and terminals oriented in the same relative
position as in FIGURE 7 but looking from an overhead forward point of view from which
the right sides of the sliders are visible;
FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of the sliders and terminals interlocked in operative engagement
looking from an overhead forward point of view from which the left sides of the sliders
are visible;
FIGURE 10 is a perspective view from essentially the same point of view as FIGURE
9 but with the first slider pulled forward to fasten the rearmost ends of the zipper
rows; and
FIGURE 11 is a perspective view from a slightly higher elevation than FIGURE 10 but
with the second slider pulled forward to disengage the terminals and the rearmost
zipper teeth.
[0007] Referring to FIGURES 1-4, a device for connecting the ends of a separable zipper
is illustrated and designated generally by reference 10. With particular reference
to FIGURE 2, the zipper includes interlocking elements or teeth arranged in adjacent
opposing rows 12 and 14 in a conventional manner along the respective edges of flexible
supporting sheets or stringers 16 and 18. The device 10 includes a first terminal
or slider base terminal 20 and a second terminal or receiving terminal 22. As see
in FIGURE 1, the slider base terminal 20 is adapted to carry a slider 24, which is
illustrated separately in FIGURE 3. The slider 24 is manually operable for fastening
the zipper rows 12 and 14 by means of a handle 26 pivotally mounted atop the slider
24. Pulling the slider 24 forward as indicated by the arrow 27 in FIGURE 2 engages
the zipper rows 12 and 14 which can then be disengaged by pulling the slider 24 in
the opposite or rearward direction. In as much as the zipper rows 12 and 14 and supporting
stringers 16 and 18 are essentially conventional, they have merely been schematically
depicted in phantom in FIGURE 1 for ease of illustration.
[0008] In accordance with a unique feature of the present invention, a disc 28 is affixed
to the bottom of the slider 24 as seen best in FIGURE 3. The purpose and function
of the disc 28 will be described in detail below. More conventional portions of the
slider 24 include top and bottom plates 30 and 32 held in spaced-apart parallel planes
by a center post 34. The top plate 30 is provided with downwardly extending rims 36
and the bottom plate 32 is provided with upwardly extending rims
38. Adjacent opposing pairs of such rims 36 and 3
8 define conventional side slots through which the stringers 16 and 18 pass as the
slider 24 travels along the zipper rows 12 and 14. As the slider 24 moves forward,
the teeth in the opposed rows 12 and 14 enter respective slider ports 40 and 42 defined
between the center post 34 and the respective front edges of the rims 36 and 38. As
the zipper rows 12 and 14 pass through the slider 24, the individual teeth are progressively
brought into interlocking engagement within the slider 24 in the conventional manner.
Since the stringers 16 and 18 are ordinarily flexible, the full length of each stringer
will not necessarily lie in a single plane. However, portions of the stringers 16
and 18 will lie in what will be referred to herein as the "slider working plane" as
they pass through the slider 24. It will be appreciated that the slider working plane
is parallel to and lies intermediate the planes defined by the top and bottom plates
30 and 32 of the slider 24.
[0009] The terminals 20 and 22 are securely fastened to the respective zipper rows 12 and
14 by attaching the stringers 16 and 18 to respective wing plates 44 and 46 on each
terminal 20 and 22
[0010] The wings 44 and 46 lie in the same planes as their respective stringers 12, and
14 and become coplanar in the slider working plane whenever the terminals 20 and 22
are operativly engaged as seen in FIGURE 2. The wings 44 and 46 are sufficiently thin
that they can pass through the side slots of the slider 24, which can therefore be
readily moved from the position shown in FIGURE 2 to its rearmost position within
the receiving terminal 22.
[0011] The receiving terminal 22 includes a floor plate 48 lying in a plane below and parallel
to the wing 46, as seen best in the view of FIGURE 1. A sidewall 50 extends upward
from the periphery of the floor 48 to support the wing 46. The sidewall 50 includes
a rearward portion 52 which is curved through an arc of 180 degrees so that the disc
28 can move forward out of the receiving terminal 22 as the slider 24 is pulled forward
to fasten the zipper rows 12 and 14. The wing 46 includes a curved edge 54 which lies
in the same circular arc defined by the interior surface of the curved rearward portion
52 of the sidewall 50. The curved edge 54 and the upper interior edge of the wall
portion 52 define an aperture 56 extending through an are of about 270 degrees for
receiving the disc 28 as the slider 24 is brought down into the terminal 22 from the
position illustrated in FIGURE 1. The disc 28 includes a chamfered lower edge 58 adapted
to facilitate guiding the disc 28 into the receiving aperture 56.
[0012] In order to fasten the zipper, the terminals 20 and 22 must first be brought into
interlocking engagement as depicted in FIGURE 2 from a separated position as depicted
in FIGURE 1. Briefly, with the slider 24 in its rearmost position on the slider base
terminal 20 the assembly of the slider 24 and terminal 20 is first oriented relative
to the receiving terminal 22 substantially as shown in FIGURE 1 and then brought down
into the terminal 22 until a locking element 60 extending rearward from the slider
base terminal 20 meets a ramp 62 formed by an upper edge of the sidewall 50. While
forcing the terminals 20 and 22 together, the assembly of the slider 24 and its base
terminal 20 is then rotated relative to the receiving terminal 22 in the direction
indicated by the curved arrow in FIGURE 1 until the locking element 60 moves into
a notch 64 formed within the sidewall 50 at the lower rearward end of the ramp 62.
At this stage, the wings 44 and 46 will have become essentially coplanar and the bottom
surface of the disc 28 will abut the top surface of the floor 48. Once the terminals
20 and 22 have been operatively engaged in the foregoing manner, the slider 24 can
be pulled forward up the zipper rows 12 and 14 to progressively fasten the teeth as
depicted in FIGURE 2. Guide segments 66 and 68 are formed on the forward mutually
adjacent portions of the wings 44 and 46 to assist the initial forward movement of
the slider 24 in the proper direction
[0013] Pulling the slider 24 forward from its rearmost position to fasten the zipper rows
12 and 14 will not cause the slider base terminal 20 to move forward relative to the
receiving teiminal
22 since the locking element 60 is provided with flanged portions 70 which abut the
outer vertical surface of the sidewall 50 as depicted in FIGURE 2.
[0014] It will be appreciated that the guide segments 66 and 68 will be separated transversely
by a slight amount as the slider 24 begins its forward movement from its rearmost
position within the terminal 22 because the center post 34 must pass between the guide
segments 66 and 68. The degree of separation of the guide segments 66 and 68 during
such initial forward movement of the slider 24 will be limited by the side rims 36
and 38 of the slider 24 engaging cooperating edges of the guide segments 66 and 68.
As the center post 34 of the slider 24 passes beyond the guide segments 66 and 68,
they will be forced together within the interior passageway of the slider 24 by the
side rims 36 and 38 which taper inward from front to back as will be appreciated by
those skilled in the art. Any slight relative rotation of the terminals 20 and 22
during such initial forward movement of the slider 24 will not cause the locking element
60 to move entirely out of the notch 64 since the notch 64 is made long enough to
compensate for such slight rotation.
[0015] Once the slider 24 has been pulled forward to at least partially fasten the zipper
rows 12 and 14, the terminals 20 and 22 will be interlocked in the position shown
in FIGURE 2. Relative movement of the terminals 20 and 22 in the axial direction (i.e.,
the direction perpendicular to the floor 48) is prevented at the rear by the locking
element 60 lodged within the notch 64 and at the front by a tongue 72 (FIGURE 1) extending
transversely from the guide segment 66 into a groove 74 in the guide segment 68. Pulling
apart the terminals 20 and 22 in the transverse direction, as indicated by the arrows
75 in FIGURE 2, is prevented at the rear once again by the locking element 60 nested
within the notch 64 at the front by the interlocking effect of at least the rearmost
teeth 12a and 14a of the zipper rows 12 and 14. Pushing the terminals 20 and 22 together
in the transverse direction to attempt to withdraw the locking element 60 from the
notch 64 is prevented by a downwardly extending post 76 (shown in dotted outline)
which is secured to the underside of the wing 44 and abuts the outer edge of the sidewall
5o when the terminals 2o and 22 are interlocked as shown in Figure 2.
[0016] Separation of the terminals 2o and 22 proceeds as follows. The slider is pulled rearward
from a position such as that depicted in Figure 2 until the disc enters the terminal
22 and reaches its rearmost position therein. During this process, the center post
34 of the slider 24 passes between and separates the guide segments 66 and 68, which
causes a slight initial rotation of the terminals 2o and 22. Since the zipper rows
12 and 14 are no longer interlocked, the terminals 2o and 22 are free to continue-their
rotation relative to each other until the locking element 6o is withdrawn from. the
notch 64. During such rotation, the post 76'slides rearward along the outer surface
of the of the sidewall 5o. Once the locking element 6o has been withdrawn from the
notch 64, the terminals 2o and 22 can be separated by pulling axially upward on the
wing 44 and axially downward on the wing 46 to return the terminals 2o and 22 to a
separated position such as depicted in Figure 1. Although the terminals 2o and 22
can thus be separated, rearward movement of the slider 24 off its base terminal 2o
is prevented by an end stop 78 extending upwardly from the terminal 2o to contact
a rearward wall portion 8
0 of the slider 24, as seen in the sectional view of Figure 4.
[0017] As an optional desirable feature of the inventive device 1
0, a mechanism which tends to hold the slider 24 in its rearmost position on the slider
base terminal 2o to facilitate handling the slider 24 and the terminal 2o together
as a unit will now be described with reference to Figure 4. Housed within the thickened
rearward portion of the terminal 2o is a pointed pin 82 which is biased by a spring
84 to extend the pin 82 by a predetermined amount out from the bottom of the terminal
2o . When the slider 24 is in its rearmost position on the terminal 2o as depicted
in Figure 4, the pointed tip of pin 82 will lodge in an indentation 86 in the top
surface of the bottom slider plate 32, thereby tending to keep the the slider 24 in
the position shown. However, when it is desired to move the slider 24 forward, the
handle 26 can be urged forward without great effort to cause the pin 82 to lift up
as the indentation 86 moves forward beyond the pin 82. The pin 82 will snap back into
its fully extended position when the rearward edge of the bottom slider plate 32 passes
beyond the pin 82. It will be appreciated that the foregoing sequence of events occurs
in reverse order when the slider 24 is returned to its rearmost position.
[0018] . It will be appreciated from the foregoing description that the device 10 enables
the connection of the ends of a seperable zipper with relative ease when compared
to prior-art devices employing the conventional pin-and-socket terminals. The principle
advantage of the present invention over such prior-art devices is the relatively large
size of the disc 28 and its cooperating receiving aperture 56 which permit the terminals
20 and 22 to be brought together conveniently in the direction perpendicular to the
slider working. plane and then interlocked by a slight rotational movement. It has
been found that such an arrangement requires less dexterity to operate than the conventional
pin-and-socket terminal arrangement.
[0019] Another advantage which is inherent in the design of the device 10 when employed
with the zipper on a jacket or similar item of apparel is that the device 10 can readily
be adapted to permit its engagement and the fastening of the zipper rows 12 and 14
with one hand by the wearer. This is accomplished by securing gripper strips (not
shown), such as the material sold under the trademark Velcro, to the back outer surface
(not visible in the illustrated views) of the floor plate 48 and on a front surface
of a belt buckle (not shown) or the like of the wearer. The wearer will then be able
to secure the receiving terminal 22 to the belt buckle. Next, the slider disc 28 can
be inserted into the aperture 56 and slider 24 and terminal 20 rotated to interlock
the element 60 in the notch 64. Finally, the wearer can pull the slider 24 forward
using the handle 26 to fasten the zipper rows 12 and 14. It will be appreciated that
each of the foregoing steps can be performed using only one hand.
[0020] Another embodiment of my invention will now be described with reference to FIGURES
5-11. A zipper terminal device of my invention is designated generally by reference
numeral 110 in FIGURES 7-11. The device 110 is designed to facilitate connecting the
ends of the type of separable zipper sometimes referred to in the art as a two-way
slide fastener which employs a first slider for fastening the zipper rows and a second
slider for at least partially unfastening the zipper rows to permit the zipper to
be open at both ends and fastened in the middle.
[0021] The device 110 includes a slider base terminal 120, which is separately illustrated
in FIGURE 6, and a receiving terminal 122, which is separately illustrated in FIGURE
5. The terminals 120 and 122 are securely fastened at the rearmost ends of zipper
rows 112 and 114 which are schematically depicted in phantom along with their supporting
stringers 116 and 118 in FIGURES 5 and 6. The zipper rows 112 and 114 and stringers
116 and 118 are not shown in FIGURES 7-9 for ease and clarity of illustration.
[0022] As seen best in FIGURE 8, the slider base terminal 120 is adapted to carry two back-to-back
sliders consisting of a leading slider 124a and a trailing slider 124b. The sliders
124a and 124b are manually operable by means of pivotally mounted handles 126a and
126b, respectively. As seen in FIGURE 7, a disc 128 is disposed in overlapping relationship
on the bottom surfaces of the sliders 124a and 124b. The disc 128 comprises a first
semicircular portion 128a affixed to the bottom of the leading slider 124a and a second
semicircular portion 128b affixed to the bottom of the trailing slider 124b. When
the sliders 124a and 124b are in their rearmost abutting positions on the base terminal
120 as seen in FIGURE 7, the disc halves 128a and 128b are kept in longitudinal alignment
by a tongue-and-groove arrangement seen in dotted outline and designated by reference
numeral 129.
[0023] Referring to FIGURES 8 and 9, the sliders 124a and 124b include top and bottom plates
with adjoining side rims, the plates being interconnected by respective center posts
134a and 134b, all of which are essentially conventional in construction like their
corresponding parts in the single-slider embodiment 10 previously described with reference
to FIGURES 1-4. The leading slider 124a has right and left slider ports 140a and 142a
on opposite sides of the center post 134a, as seen best in FIGURE 8. Likewise, the
trailing slider 124b has right and left slider ports 140b and 142b on opposite sides
of the center post 134b, as seen best in FIGURE 7.
[0024] With reference again to FIGURES 5 and 6, the terminals 120 and 122 are securely fastened
to their respective zipper rows 112 and 114 by attaching the stringers 116 and 118
to respective wing plates 144 and 146 in a suitable manner. The wings 144 and 146
lie in the same planes as their respective stringers 112 and 114 and become coplanar
in the slider working plane whenever the terminals 120 and 122 are operatively engaged,
such as in FIGURE 9.
[0025] Referring again to FIGURE 8, the receiving terminal 122 includes a floor 148 lying
in a plane below and parallel to the wing 146, the floor 148 and wing 146 being interconnected
by one side of a generally U-shaped sidewall 150. The sidewall 150 includes a semicircular
rearward portion 152 adapted to receive the disc 128 during initial engagement of
the terminals 120 and 122. The forward portions of the sidewalls 150 are provided
with shelves 153a and 153b which extend transversely inward. The shelves 153a and
153b terminate rearwardly in curved edges 154a and 154b, respectively, and together
with the curved wall portion 152 provide an arced receiving aperture 156 subtending
an angle somewhat in excess of 180 degrees. The disc 128 includes a chamfered lower
edge 158 (FIGURE 7) adapted to facilitate guiding the disc 128 into the receiving
aperture 156 as the assembly of the sliders 124a and 124b and their base terminal
120 are brought down into engagement with the terminal 122 from the position shown
in FIGURE 8. The disc half 128b on the trailing slider 124b includes a locking element
160 in the form of a flat tongue-like flange protruding transversely from the top
left surface of the disc half
128b, as shown in FIGURE
8 and seen in dotted outline in FIGURE 11. When the terminals are initially engaged,
the locking element 160 comes to rest on a shoulder 162, which is visible in FIGURE
8. The shoulder 162 extends rearward into a notch 164 formed within the sidewall 150
under an overhanging shelf 165. The locking element 160 is adapted to lodge within
the notch 164 to assist in interlocking the terminals 120 and 122, as will be described
more fully below.
[0026] Referring briefly again to FIGURE 6, the slider base terminal 120 is provided with
an elongated guide segment 166 which curves slightly to the right away from the rearward
projection of the zipper row 112. When the sliders 124a and 124b are in their rearmost
position on the base terminal 120, the elongated guide segment 166 extends through
the right side of each slider as seen best in FIGURE 7.
[0027] Referring briefly again to FIGURE 5, the receiving terminal 122 includes a guide
segement 168 cantilevered inward from the forward portion of the wing plate 146. The
guide segment 168 is adapted to guide the center post 134a into operative proximity
with the rearmost end of the zipper row 114 as will be appreciated from the view of
FIGURE 9. As seen in FIGURES 8 and 9, the guide segment 166 includes a tongue 172
adapted to mate with a groove 174 in the guide segment 168.
[0028] In order to keep the sliders 124a and 124b on the slider base terminal 120 when the
terminals 120 and 122 are separated, the terminal 122 is provided with an end stop
178, as shown in FIGURE 6. The end stop 178 extends above the adjacent top surface
of the guide segment 166 so that the end stop 178 will lodge within a recessed surface
180 under the top plate of the slider 124b as seen in FIGURE 7, thereby preventing
rearward movement of the slider 124b from the position shown in FIGURE 7.
[0029] Referring again to FIGURES 7 and 8, the slider base terminal 120 is provided with
a circular plate 190 which is carried below the wing 144 by means of a downwardly
extending rod 192. The plate 190 is adapted to lodge partially within a notch 194
in an upper surface portion of the disc half 128b when the slider 124b is in its rearmost
p
ostion on the terminal
120 as seen in FIGURE 7. The plate 190 extends outward from the disc half 128b so that
it will come to rest on a recessed surface 196 in the curved rearward portion 152
of the sidewall 150 as depicted in FIGURE 8. The terminal 122 is provided with a slot
198 and an outlet 200 adapted to permit the rod 192 and plate 190 to pass laterally
out the sidewall 150 in order to separate the terminals 120 and 122 as will be described
more fully below with reference to FIGURE 11.
[0030] The operation of the device 110 will now be described. With the sliders 124a and
124b in their rearmost positions on the slider base terminal 120 and the terminal
120 oriented at a slight angle relative to the receiving terminal 122 as shown in
FIGURES 7 and 8, the terminals 120 and 122 are operatively engaged by bringing them
together in the axial direction (i.e., the direction perpendicular to the floor 148)
so that the disc 128 nests down within the receiving aperture 156. The slider base
terminal 120 is then rotated relative to the receiving terminal 122 in the direction
indicated by the arrow in FIGURE 8 in order to bring the guide segment 168 into alignment
in front of the left slider port 142a as depicted in FIGURE 9. Once rotated into the
position seen in FIGURE 9, the locking element 160 moves into the notch 164, which
is visible in FIGURE 8, in order to prevent axial movement of the terminals 120 and
122 relative to each other. In order to further assist in axially interlocking the
terminals 120 and 122, it will be appreciate from the view in FIGURE 8 that the outer
edge of the circular plate 190 will have moved from its initial resting position on
the recessed surface 196 under the rearward portions of the shelf 153b stradled by
the slot 198.
[0031] Once the terminals 120 and 122 have become operatively engaged and interlocked in
the foregoing manner, the leading slider 124a can be pulled up the zipper rows 112
and 114 to progressively fasten the teeth as depicted in FIGURE 10. As long as the
trailing slider 124b is left in its rearmost position, the terminals 120 and 122 will
remain interlocked against separation. Relative movement in the axial direction is
prevented at the rear by the floor 148 abutting the bottom of the disc half 128b,
the locking element 160 lodged under the shelf 165, and the circular plate
190 lodged under the rearward portions of the shelf 153b. Relative movement of the terminals
120 and 122 in the axial direction is prevented at the front by the interlocked tongue
172 and groove 174, which are seen separated in FIGURE 9. Relative movement of the
terminals 120 and 122 in the transverse directions is prevented by the disc half 128b
nested rearwardly within the sidewall 150, the interlocking effect of the rearmost
zipper teeth 112a and 114a, and the side rims of the slider 124b grasping the adjacent
edges of the elongated guide segment 166. During the forward movement of the sliders
124a and 124b, the shelves 153a and 153b and the adjacent portions of the wall 150
and floor 148 below the shelves 153a and 153b serve as guide chutes for the edges
of the disc halves 128a and 128b which extend beyond the sides of their respective
sliders 124a and 124b, thereby keeping the sliders 124a and 124b in proper alignment
for engaging the rearmost ends of the zipper rows 112 and 114.
[0032] Referring to FIGURE 11, it will be appreciated that the rearward ends of the zipper
rows ll2 and 114 can be separated by pulling the trailing slider 124b forward as far
as desired up to the point where it once again abuts the leading slider 124a. Although
the sliders 124a and 124b are shown relatively close to the terminals 120 and 122
for ease of illustration, it will be appreciated that the leading slider 124a can
be pulled any desired distance up the zipper rows 112 and 114 up to the opposite end
(not shown) and that the trailing slider 124b can be positioned at any point between
its rearmost position as seen in FIGURE 10 and the leading slider 124a.
[0033] With reference to FIGURES 10 and 11, the separation of the terminals 120 and 122
is achieved as follows. As the trailing slider 124b is pulled forward from its rearmost
position as seen in FIGURE 10, the center post 134b (visible more clearly in FIGURE
7) progressively forces the elongated guide segment 166 to the right by bearing against
a curved inner face 202 extending along the length of the guide segment 166. The initial
forward movement of the slider 124b forces the rod 192 out through the slot 198 since
the rod 192 is carried on the terminal 120 in fixed relationship to the guide segment
166. As the slider 124b continues its forward movement, the tongue 172 at the forward
end of the guide segment 166 pulls free from its mating groove 174 in the guide segment
168. As the slider 124b exits from terminal 122, the center post 134b begins to progressively
disengage the individual zipper teeth in the rows 112 and 114. In the view of FIGURE
11, the slider 124b is shown after having just passed beyond the rearmost zipper teeth
112a and 114a.
[0034] It will be appreciated from FIGURE 11 that the terminals 120 and 122 can be brought
back into interlocking relationship to close the rearward ends of the zipper rows
112 and 114 by merely pulling the trailing slider 124b back into its rearmost position
within the receiving terminal 122. In particular, as the center post 134b of the slider
124b nears the guide segments 166 and 168, the fastening action of the slider 124b
working on the zipper rows 112 and 114 pulls the guide segments 166 and 168 into proper
position for passing into the respective slider ports 140b and 142b (visible in FIGURE
7). As the slider 124b is pulled partially into the receiving terminal 122, the guide
segments 166 and 168 begin to move through the slider 124b, thereby causing the base
terminal 120 to begin to swing toward the receiving terminal 122. By the time the
guide segment 168 passes out the forward end of the slider 124b, the disc half 128b
will have moved between the forward ends of the U-shaped sidewall 150 and under the
shelves 153a and 153b, thus assuring that the slider 124b will be guided properly
back into its rearmost position in terminal 122. As the slider 124b approaches its
rearmost position, the rod 192 is pulled back through the slot 198 and finally comes
to rest in the notch 194 in the disc half 128b, as previously described with reference
to FIGURE 7. It will of course be appreciated that the leading slider 124a can then
be moved rearward to unfasten the zipper rows 112 and 114 and then be pulled into
abutting relationship with the trailing slider 124b to return to the position shown
in FIGURE 9. Disconnecting the terminals 120 and 122 is then easily achieved by merely
rotating the terminals in the direction opposite from the arrow shown in FIGURE 8
until the locking element 160 is withdrawn from the notch 164, whereupon pulling upward
on the wing 144 and downward on the wing 146 will achieve separation.
[0035] Those skilled in the art will appreciate from the foregoing description that the
device 110 enables the connection of the ends of the a two-way slide fastener with
relative ease when compared to prior-art devices employing the conventional pin-and-socket
terminals. One merely brings the disc 128 down into the receiving aperture 156 and
rotates the terminals 120 and 122 slightly as previously described in order to bring
the terminals 120 and 122 into interlocking engagement. Once the terminals 120 and
122 are thus engaged and interlocked, they cannot be separated by the mere forward
movement of the leading slider 124a, which occurrence has been a problem with conventional
pin-and-socket terminal devices.
[0036] In a modification of the device 11o, the disc 128 is an integral piece secured entirely
to the bottom of either slider 124a or 124b and the other slider is essentially conventional
in construction.
1. A device for connecting the ends of a separable zipper of the type having first
and second rows (12,14) of teeth disposed along the opposed edges of supporting stringers
(16,18), the .device comprising:
a slider (24) having top and bottom plates (3o,32) held in spaced-apart parallel planes
by a center post (34), the plates having facing side rims (36,38) defining first and
second side slots through which the stringers pass, the front edges of the side rims
defining first and second ports (4o,42) on opposite sides of the center post, the
ports leading to a common passageway within the slider where the teeth are progressively
engaged or disengaged depending on the direction of slider movement;
a base terminal (2o) disposed at the rearward end of the first row of teeth and adapted
to carry the slider when the rows are fully disengaged; and
a receiving terminal (22) disposed at the rearward end of the second row of teeth,
the device being characterized in that the receiving terminal includes wall portions
(50,54) defining an apetture; and in that there is on the bottom of the slider first
means (28) insertable into the aperture in the direction generally perpendicular to
said parallel planes to permit the ports of the slider to be aligned for receiving
the rearmost ends of the rows of teeth upon forward movement of the slider.
2. The device of claim 1 further comprising:
second means (60,64, 72,72) for interlocking the terminals (2o,22) against separation when the slider
is pulled forward to engage the rows of teeth.
3. The device of claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said first means (28) comprises a disc
of a first diameter, and the aperture of the receiving terminal (22) defines an arc
in excess of 18o degress with a diameter slightly larger than.said first diameter.
4. The device of claim 2 wherein said second means includes a locking element (60) disposed on the base terminal (2o) and adapted to lodge in a..notch (64) in the
receiving terminal (22) upon rotating the terminals to bring the rearmost ends of
the zipper rows into operative proximity in front of their respective slider ports.
5. The device of claim 4 further comprising a sloped ramp (62) formed on the upper
edge of a curved rearward wall (5o) of the receiving terminal, and wherein the looking
element (60) extends from a rearward portion of the base terminal and is adapted to be guided
by the ramp into the notch by a slight relative rotation of the terminals.
6. The device of any preceding claim comprising means (82) for locating the slider
(24) in its rearmost position on the base terminal (20): when the terminals are separated.
7. The device of claim 1 further comprising:
a second slider (124b) similar to the first-mentioned slider (124a) and disposed rearward
from the first-mentioned slider, the second slider being oriented to progressively
disengage the zipper rows upon forward movement after the zipper tows have at least
been partially engaged by the forward movement of the first-menioned slider.
8. The device of claim 7 wherein said first means includes first and second semicircular
portions (128a, 128b) of a disc on the bottoms of the respective first and second
sliders and disposed to form a single disc when the sliders are located in their rearmost
positions on the base terminal (120), the disc being insertable in the aperture of
the receiving terminal (122) to bring the terminals into operative engagement.
9. The device of claim 7 or the device of claim 8 further comprising third means (160,
164, 172, 174) for interlocking the terminals against separation when the terminals
are rotationally positioned so that the rearmost ends of the zipper are aligned in
front of the respective ports of the first-mentioned slider.
10. The device of claim 9 wherein the third means remains operative to interlock the
terminals against separation whenever the second slider (124b) is nested in the receiving
terminal (122) independent of the position of the first slider (124a).