Open fastener detection & warning device

Abstract

 The invention comprises five components: a fastener, which is affixed or part on an article of clothing or some other object; a detection system, which detects whether the fastener has been left undone; a warning system, which warns the user that the fastener is undone; a timer circuit, which is activated when the detectors signal that the fastener has been left undone and thus controls the onset of the warning system; and the power source, that provides for the functioning of the detection system, the warning system and the timer circuit. This invention has the characteristic of warning the user that a fastener has been left undone and thus may prevent the occurrence of embarrassment, injury, loss or damage.

Description

[0001] This invention is a device that warns users of fasteners, fasteners which are on slacks, skirts, dresses and other articles, that they have forgotten to close the fastener. This device, which is called ZIP SURE, detects whether the said fastener has been closed and it uses a simple warning system that provides gentle vibrations which are felt and noticed only by the user.

[0002] Both men and women may suffer social embarrassment and humiliation when a fastener is left undone. When a fastener is not closed on a man's fly or on a woman's skirt, for example, those persons' private parts or underwear may be exposed to the view of others.

[0003] A person when dressing, such as when putting on a pair of trousers or a dress, may forget to close the fastener which could be a zipper or a set of buttons or some other type of fastener. Similarly, after toilet, when adjusting clothing, a person may forget to close the fastener. The ZIP SURE device would warn the person of the situation. With convention fasteners, no warning system is provided the user. The ZIP SURE will serve to prevent the occurrence of embarrassment or humiliation when a fastener is left undone.

[0004] In addition, a fastener on other types of items that is left undone may result in bodily injury, loss or damage. Users of (1) containers, such as handbags, wallets, luggage, breifcases and boxes, (2) body coverings, such as sealed face masks, protective suits and air tents used in hospitals, and (3) coverings for food, plants and flowers, may all benefit by the warning provided by the ZIP SURE.

[0005] The object of the present invention is to provide a device which includes a warning system that would prevent social embarrassment, humiliation, bodily injury, loss or damage.

[0006] The ZIP SURE comprises five components: a fastener, which is on an article of clothing or some other object; a detection system, which detects whether the fastener has been left undone; a warning system, which alerts the user that the the fastener is undone; a timer circuit, which is activated when the detectors signal that the fastener has been left undone and thereby controls the onset of the warning system; and the power source, that provides for the functioning of the detection system, the warding system, and the the timer circuit.

Fig. 1 shows how the ZIP SURE device is incorporated into the zipper of a fly.

Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 are block diagrams of the circuitry for the ZIP SURE device shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 shows how the ZIP SURE device is incorporated into the set of button of a fly.

Fig. 5 is a block diagram of the circuitry for the ZIP SURE device shown in Fig. 4.

[0007] Fig. 1 shows the ZIP SURE device incorporated into the zipper of the fly of a pair of slacks where the zipper is open. In Fig. 1, 1 shows the Waistband of the slacks, 2 shows the Clip and its Holder which closes the Waistband, 3 shows the Zipper Closer, and 4 shows the Tread of the zipper. Along the Treads are Detectors, 5A on the left and 5B on the right. These Detectors are located at a point about 70% of the distance from the bottom of the zipper.

[0008] When Zipper Closer 3 is pulled up along Tread 4, bringing together Detectors 5A and 5B, then an electric circuit is formed. The on/off function of Detectors 5A and 5B controls TIMER CIRCUIT 7 with respect to on/off/reset functions. 8A and 8B are Detectors which are located close to Clip 2A and Clip-Holder 2B, 2A and 2B being located on Waistband 1. Detector 8A is located on the outer surface of the underneath portion of Waistband 1 while Detector 8B is located on the inner surface of the covering portion of Waistband 1.

[0009] When Waistband Clip 2A and Clip-Holder 2B are joined and come into contact, then Detectors 8A and 8B come into contact and form a circuit. VIBRATION DEVICE 11 is connected to TIMER CIRCUIT by means of GATE 10 on the ouput side of TIMER CIRCUIT 7.

[0010] The TIMER CIRCUIT would not begin timing unless the waist of the slacks, skirt, etc. was fastened. Suppose, a person who is wearing slacks, and, for the purpose of toilet, undoes the waist (usually there is a flap with a clip), as well as unfastens the zipper of the fly. That person may not wish to get dressed again for some time, i.e., until that person has finished with his or her toilet. The person would not want to be disturbed by a warning. To prevent the onset of the warning, the TIMER CIRCUIT would begin to time only after the person has done up the waist but has not done up the fly fastener.

[0011] Then, too, having a waist flap with detectors also will allow for the article to be stored without the TIMER CIRCUIT and warning system being activated. Timing would not begin if the waist flap is not done up regardless of whether the fastener is undone or not.

[0012] Fig. 2 is a block diagram which shows the circuit structure of the said ZIP SURE device. When Detectors 8A and 8B on Waistband 1 are in the 'on' (contact) position, and, Detectors 5A and 5B on the zipper are in the 'on' (contact) position, TIMER CIRCUIT 7 will not supply power to VIBRATOR 11; without electrical power, the VIBRATOR cannot function.

[0013] When Detectors 5A and 5B on the zipper are in the 'off' (non-contact) position, the TIMER CIRCUIT 7 starts to operate. After a certain period of time has passed, e.g., 60 sec., then GATE 10 which is connected to TIMER CIRCUIT 7 will close to form a circuit. As a result, VIBRATOR 11 will begin vibrating.

[0014] When the zipper is closed, i.e., Detectors 5A and 5B are in the 'on' (contact) position, then GATE 10 on TIMER CIRCUIT 7 will be reset. This will break the circuit and stop the vibrations.

[0015] Fig. 3 is a block diagram of said ZIP SURE device that has a different circuit structure. Detectors 8A and 8B on Waistband, Lead Wire 9, TIMER CIRCUIT 7, and POWER SOURCE 12 are connected in series. Waistband Detectors 8A and 8B in the 'on' and 'off' positions control whether or not a circuit is formed with TIMER CIRCUIT 7 and POWER SOURCE 12. When Detectors 8A and 8B are in the 'off' (non-contact) position, POWER SOURCE 12 for TIMER CIRCUIT 7 will be cut off with the result that the VIBRATOR cannot be activated.

[0016] Fig. 4 shows another application of said ZIP SURE device where it is applied to a button fly on a pair of slacks. Where the numbers in Fig. 4 are the same as those in Fig. 3, the numbers refer to the same entities. 1 is the Waistband; 2A and 2B comprise the Clip and Clip-Holder, respectively; 3A₁ to 3A₅ are the Buttons of the fly; 3B₁ to 3B₅ are the Buttonholes of the fly; 5L-1 to 5L-5 are Detectors affixed to the underside of Buttons 3A₁ to 3A₅; 5R-1 to 5R-5 are Detectors affixed to the surface of the Buttonholes, 3B₁ to 3B₅. When Buttons 3A₁ to 3A₅ are placed into their respective Buttonholes, 3B₁ to 3B₅, then Detectors 5L-1 to 5L-5 come into contact with Detectors 5R-1 to 5R-5, respectively, and, as a result, form a circuit.

[0017] Detectors 5L-1 to 5L-5, the plus terminal of NAND CIRCUIT 13, and Lead Wire 6L are connected in series. Detectors 5R-1 to 5R-5 are connected to NAND CIRCUIT 13 via Lead Wires 6R-1 to 6R-5.

[0018] The Waistband Detectors 8A and 8B are connected in a series circuit so that Lead Wire 9 will control the contact between TIMER CIRCUIT 7 and POWER SOURCE 12. Thus, when Waistband Detectors 8A and 8B come into contact, then the connection between TIMER CIRCUIT 7 and POWER SOURCE 12 is made. Since Detectors 5L-1 to 5L-5 and Detectors 5R-1 to 5R-5 are connected to NAND CIRCUIT 13, there will be no output from NAND CIRCUIT 13 unless Buttons 3A₁ to 3A₅ are inserted into Buttonholes 3B₁ to 3B₅, respectively.

[0019] Fig. 5 is a block diagram of the circuit structure of ZIP SURE in Fig. 4. The said NAND CIRCUIT 13 consists of a combination of AND CIRCUIT AND NOT CIRCUIT. The AND CIRCUIT will provide an output when the input is (1) and (1) but will not provide an output when the input is (0) and (1), (1) and (0), or (0) and (0); and, when the input is (0), the output is (1). Thus, the NOT CIRCUIT is inverter of the AND CIRCUIT.

[0020] In Fig. 4, NAND CIRCUIT 13 will not provide any output when Buttons 3A₁ to 3A₅ are inserted into Buttonholes 3B₁ to 3B₅, since Detectors 5L-1 to 5L-5 will bring Detectors 5R-1 to 5R-5 into contact. However, when Buttons 3A₁ to 3A₅ are not all inserted into Buttonholes 3B₁ to 3B₅, then after a predetermined period of time TIMER CIRCUIT 7 will begin to function and activate the VIBRATOR so that it will warn the wearer by means of vibrations. Thus, when the fly buttons are unbuttoned, Detectors 5L-1 to 5L-5 will not be placed into contact with Detectors 5R-1 to 5R-5. When TIMER CIRCUIT 7 is set for 60 sec., for example, then after the passage of this 60 sec. interval, the TIMER CIRCUIT will start to function such that it will signal the VIBRATOR to issue vibrations. The warning vibrations will continue until all the buttons are closed, namely when Detectors 5L-1 to 5L-5 are in contact with Detectors 5R-1 to 5R-5. The wearer will thus be alerted so as to be able to avoid embarrassing situations.

[0021] A unique feature of this invention is that it has a discreet personal warning system that does not attract the attention of others. The said invention can also be applied to other types of objects.

[0022] The ZIP SURE invention consists of five components, namely, A. a fastener, B. a detection system, C. a warning system, D. a timer circuit, and E. a power sources. These components may be realized and used in a variety of ways.

A. Fastener: ZIP SURE will operate with a variety of closing devices such as zippers, buttons, snaps, hooks, clips, adhering cloth, e.g., velcro, and magnets. Such closing devices may be attached to: (i) articles of clothing, e.g., slacks, jeans, pants, skirts, sweaters, shirts, blouses, dresses, shoes and boots; (ii) containers, e.g., handbags, wallets, suitcases, luggage, briefcases, and boxes; and (iii) body and other coverings, e.g., diving suits, protective suits, sealed face masks, sealed head helmets, air tents such as those used in hospitals, and coverings for foods, plants and flowers.

B. Detection System: The detectors respond to electrical impulses and determine whether said fastener is closed. The detectors may be affixed to any fastener or to any object that is used in conjunction with the fastener, e.g., on the flap of a waistband of a pair of slacks.

C. Warning System: Warnings may be provided through various means: tactilely, e.g., vibrations, electric shock; auditorily, e.g., buzzer, beeper; visually, e.g., a colored light, a flashing light; and olfactorily, e.g., a perfume smell, a sulphur smell. Depending on the particular object which has the fastener, one warning system means may be more desirable than another. The tactile one has the advantage of being private and unobservable by others. The auditory one has the advantage of being heard by many persons. The visual one also has the advantage of being observed by many persons but also can be used in situations where silence is desired. Smells can have the advantage of being silent and generally invisible.

D. Timer Circuit: the timer circuit can be used and set for different time periods, e.g., 60 sec., 90 sec., 2 min., depending on need. For certain objects, it may be desirable for the fastener to remain open for a longer period of time before a warning is issued.

E. Power Source: The ZIP SURE device requires an energy source for power. A dry cell battery, solar battery, etc. can provide the needed power.

Claims

1. A ZIP SURE device, that warns the user of a fastener that the fastener has been left undone, and which is comprises of:
a fastener, which is on an article of clothing or some other object
a detection system, which detects whether the fastener has been left undone
a warning system, which warns the user that the fastener is undone
a timer circuit, which is activated when the detectors signal that the fastener has been left undone and controls the onset of the warning system
a power source, which provides for the functioning of the detection system, the warning system and the timer circuit.

2. The ZIP SURE device, according to claim 1, wherein the said fastener has the characteristic of a zipper, buttons, snap, hook, clip, adhering cloth or magnet.

3. The ZIP SURE device, according to claim 1, wherein the said detection device has the characteristic of being able to detect electrically whether the said fastener is undone.

4. The ZIP SURE device, according to claim 1, wherein the said warning system has the characteristic of warning the user tactilely such as through vibrations or electric shock.

5. The ZIP SURE device, according to claim 1, wherein the said warning system has the characteristic of warning the user auditorily such as through a buzzer, beeper, chime or other sound.

6. The ZIP SURE device, according to claim 1, wherein the said warning system has the characteristic of warning the user visually, such as through lights, various colors and shapes.

7. The ZIP SURE device, according to claim 1, wherein the said warning system has the characteristic of warning the user olfactorily, such as through perfume, sulfur and other smells.

8. The ZIP SURE device, according to claim 1, wherein the said power source has the characteristic of being a dry cell, solar battery or some other electrical source.

Drawing