Drawstring

Abstract

 A drawstring 1 comprises a cord 3 having zip fastener type coupling elements 5 mounted along a first end portion 7 of the cord 3, towards one end 9 of the cord 3, and further coupling elements 5 mounted along a second end portion 11 of the cord 3, towards the other end 13 of the cord 3. A slider 17 is slidably mounted on the coupling elements 5 of the second end portion 11 of the cord 3. The ends 9, 13 of the cord 3 can be latched together to allow the slider 17 to slide along the coupling elements 5 of the first and second end portions 7, 11 to engage the coupling elements 5 as the slider 17 moves away from the first and second ends 9, 13 of the cord 3, thereby tightening the drawstring 1.

Description

[0001] This invention relates to a drawstring.

[0002] Drawstrings are commonly used on an opening of garments and bags to close the opening when the drawstring is pulled tight. For example, a hooded garment may have a drawstring which runs around the opening of the hood, the drawstring being pulled tight to draw the hood around the face. Similarly jackets, coats, and waterproof cagoules have drawstrings running around their bottom hem which can be pulled tight in order to draw the garment close to the body, to prevent draughts.

[0003] It is also common for bags, such as tote bags, to have drawstrings around their opening, in order to close the bag.

[0004] These drawstrings are commonly made of a braided cord which is fed through a channel in the garment or bag. To fasten a drawstring after it has been pulled tight, either the ends of the drawstring are tied in a knot or one or more adjustable cord stoppers are provided on each end of the drawstring. Such cord stoppers are widely in use and are described in our applications published as EP 1279859 and JP 8182513, for example. These cord stoppers are prevented from becoming detached from the ends of the cord by tying a knot in the end of the cord. There is a possibility that the knot will loosen and the cord stoppers may become detached and lost. This in turn can lead to the end of the cord withdrawing irretrievably into the channel of the garment or bag. Furthermore, when the garment is worn or when a bag having such cord stoppers is carried, the cord stoppers may move around which can cause irritation to the user.

[0005] This invention provides an improved drawstring for garments or bags which comprises a cord having the structure of a zip fastener which can be releasably tightened, which alleviates the problems outlined above. The drawstring can also be used in other applications, for example as a cable tie to hold cables together.

[0006] According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a drawstring comprising: a flexible elongate member having coupling members provided towards the respective ends of the elongate member, the coupling members each extending part way along the length of the elongate member; and a slider which is slidable along the coupling members to engage and disengage the coupling members to hold the respective ends of the elongate member together for a desired distance along the length of the elongate member.

[0007] Preferably the coupling members each comprise a plurality of coupling elements, the coupling elements of the respective coupling members interdigitating under the action of the slider to engage the coupling members.

[0008] Preferably the drawstring further comprises an end stop at the end of one or both coupling members, distal to the respective end of the elongate member.

[0009] Preferably the drawstring further comprises: an insert pin mounted at the first end of the elongate member; and a retaining box for receiving the insert pin mounted at the second end of the elongate member.

[0010] Preferably the drawstring further comprises a tab or tabs attached to one or each of the insert pin and/or retaining box.

[0011] Preferably the slider is an automatic slider.

[0012] Preferably there is a gap between the coupling members in a centre portion of the elongate member.

[0013] According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a garment including a drawstring as defined above.

[0014] According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a bag including a drawstring as defined above.

[0015] According to a forth aspect of the invention there is provided a cable tie comprising a drawstring as defined above.

[0016] Other aspects and preferred features of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings.

[0017] The invention will now be further described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a drawstring according to the invention, when open;

Figure 2 shows the drawstring of Figure 1 when closed;

Figures 3A and 3B show alternative designs for the tabs of the drawstring of Figure 1;

Figure 4 shows a jacket including two drawstrings of Figure 1;

Figure 5 shows a bag including a drawstring of Figure 1; and

Figure 6 shows the drawstring of Figure 1 being used as a cable tie.

[0018] The drawstring 1 of Figure 1 comprises a cord 3 having coupling members mounted along a first end portion 7 of the cord 3, towards one end 9 of the cord 3, and further coupling members mounted along a second end portion 11 of the cord 3, towards the other end 13 of the cord 3. The coupling members are comprised of a row of coupling elements 5. The coupling elements 5 are of the type used on zip fasteners. There are no coupling elements 5 running along the centre portion 15 of the cord 3 between the two end portions 7, 11. The length of the first end portion 7 is similar to the length of the second end portion 11.

[0019] A slider 17 is slidably mounted on the coupling elements 5 of the second end portion 11 of the cord 3. There is an insert pin 23 at the first end 9 of the cord 3 and a retaining box 19 at the second end 13 of the cord 3. There are end stops 21 at the inner ends 31 of the coupling members of the first end portion 7 and the second end portion 11. The slider 17, the retaining box 19, the insert pin 23 and the end stops 21 are of the type used on zip fasteners. In other embodiments there may be only one end stop 21 on the cord 3, at the end of the second portion 11 distal to the retaining box 19.

[0020] The slider 17 is slidable between the retaining box 19 and the end stop 21 on the second end portion 11. Tabs 25 are integral with each of the insert pin 23 and retaining box 19 to provide convenient handling positions when closing the drawstring 1. When the drawstring 1 is located in a channel of a garment or bag, the tabs 25 also prevent the ends of the drawstring 1 from being drawn into the channel.

[0021] In use, the drawstring 1 is fed through or sewn into a channel in a garment or bag, so that the first end portion 7 and second end portion 11 protrude from the channel. To close the drawstring 1, the slider 17 is moved to the bottom end 13 of the first portion 11 to abut the retaining box 19 and the insert pin 23 is inserted through the slider 17 into the retaining box 19. The slider 17 is moved along the coupling elements 5 of the first end portion 7 and second end portion 11 away from the ends 9, 13 to engage opposed coupling elements 5, in a similar manner to how a slider engages coupling elements of a zip fastener, and thereby tightens the drawstring 1, as shown in Figure 2.

[0022] Preferably an automatic slider is used as the slider 17. Such automatic sliders are well known and have a pawl which engages between coupling elements 5 to prevent movement of the slider 17 to the ends 9, 13 of the drawstring 1, to lock the slider 17 in place when it is in the desired position. The pawl is released to allow free movement of the slider 17 along the cord 3 by lifting the pull tab 27, as is known in the art. The pull tab 27 of the slider 17 shown in Figures 1 and 2 is a metal pull tab, and other pull tabs, such as fabric pull tabs, may be used.

[0023] In this embodiment each of the coupling members extends part way along the length of the cord 3 and there is a gap between the coupling members in a centre portion 15 of the cord 3. In other embodiments the coupling members may extend along the full length of the cord 3 between the retaining box 19 and the insert pin 23.

[0024] An advantage of having no coupling elements 5 on the centre portion 15 of the cord 3 is that this portion 15 of the drawstring 1 can move within a channel in a garment or bag without catching and damaging the material from which the channel is made. Furthermore, if there were coupling elements 5 along this centre portion 15 and if these coupling elements 15 became caught on the material from which the channel is made, the drawstring 1 may become anchored in the channel. If this were to happen when unequal lengths of the first and second portions 7, 11 protrude from the channel, the drawstring 1 would be lopsided and the amount by which the drawstring 1 could be tightened would be limited. As there are no coupling elements 5 along this portion 15, these disadvantages are avoided.

[0025] The length of the cord 3 and the relative length of the centre portion 15 in Figure 1 are shown as an example only and the actual lengths will depend on where the drawstring 1 is to be used. For example, a drawstring 1 in the bottom hem of a jacket will be longer than a drawstring 1 around the opening of a hood of a coat, with a corresponding longer centre portion 15. The length of the centre portion 15 is determined by the desired minimum tightened length of the drawstring 1.

[0026] The coupling elements 5 shown in Figure 1 are made of metal and are crimped onto the cord 3. The cord 3 is made of several twisted strands of fibre.

[0027] Figures 3A and 3B show other designs for the tabs 25 of the drawstring 1 of Figure 1. The tabs 25 provide an aesthetic element to the design as well as providing a functional purpose, and the form of the tabs 25 depends on the context in which the drawstring 1 is used. In other embodiments there is only one tab 25 on the drawstring 1.

[0028] Figure 4 shows a jacket 33 having a first drawstring 1 running through its bottom hem 41 and a second drawstring 1 running through a channel in the neck 43 of the jacket 33. The drawstrings 1 can be drawn closed to tighten the neck 43 and bottom hem 41 of the jacket 33.

[0029] Figure 5 shows a bag 35 having a drawstring 1 running around its opening. The opening is closed by pulling the drawstring 1 tight.

[0030] The drawstring 1 can also be used as a cable tie to hold cables 37 together as shown in Figure 6, or for other applications where an adjustable tightening cord is required.

[0031] Various modifications will be apparent to those in the art and it is desired to include all such modifications as fall within the scope of the accompanying claims. The invention is not limited to coupling elements 5 made of metal or of the shape shown in the Figures. Similarly, the invention is not limited to a cord 3 made of strands of fibre. Other materials may be used for the coupling elements 5 and/or the cord 3. For example, flexible elongate strips of plastic or other material may be used as the cord 3. Coupling elements marketed by the applicant under the VISLON trade mark and which are made of thermoplastic may be insert moulded onto the cord 3, or may be integrally moulded with a cord made of a plastic elongate strip. In other embodiments there may be no tabs 25 on the ends 9, 13 of the cord 3.

Claims

1. A drawstring (1) comprising:

a flexible elongate member (3) having coupling members (5) provided towards the respective ends (9, 13) of the elongate member (3), the coupling members (5) each extending part way along the length of the elongate member (3); and

a slider (17) which is slidable along the coupling members (5) to engage and disengage the coupling members (5) to hold the respective ends (9, 13) of the elongate member (3) together for a desired distance along the length of the elongate member (3).

2. A drawstring (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the coupling members (5) each comprise a plurality of coupling elements (5), the coupling elements (5) of the respective coupling members (5) interdigitating under the action of the slider (17) to engage the coupling members (5).

3. A drawstring (1) as claimed in claim 1 or 2, further comprising an end stop (21) at the end of one or both coupling members (5), distal to the respective end (9, 13) of the elongate member (3).

4. A drawstring (1) as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, further comprising:

an insert pin (23) mounted at the first end (9) of the elongate member (3); and

a retaining box (19) for receiving the insert pin (23) mounted at the second end (13) of the elongate member (3).

5. A drawstring (1) as claimed in claim 4, further comprising a tab or tabs (25) attached to one or both of the insert pin (23) and/or retaining box (19).

6. A drawstring (1) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the slider (17) is an automatic slider.

7. A drawstring (1) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein there is a gap between the coupling members (5) in a centre portion (15) of the elongate member (3).

8. A garment (33) including the drawstring (1) of any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. A bag (35) including the drawstring (1) of any one of claims 1 to 7.

10. A cable tie (37) comprising the drawstring (1) of any one claims 1 to 7.

11. A drawstring (1) comprising:

a flexible elongate member (3) having an insert pin (23) at a first end (9) of the elongate member (3) and a retaining box (19) for receiving the insert pin (23) at a second end (13) of the elongate member (3) and coupling elements (5) extending along the length of the elongate member (3) between the insert pin (23) and the retaining box (19); and

a slider (17) which is slidable along the coupling elements (5) to engage and disengage the coupling elements (5) to hold the respective ends (9, 13) of the elongate member (3) together for a desired distance along the length of the elongate member (3).

12. A drawstring (1) comprising:

a flexible elongate member (3) having a first coupling member (5) provided towards a first end (9) of the flexible elongate member (3) and a second coupling member (5) provided towards a second end (13) of the flexible elongate member (3), each of the first and second coupling members (5) extending part way along the length of the elongate member (3), such that there is a gap between the first coupling member (5) and the second coupling member (5) in a centre portion (15) of the elongate member (3); and

a slider (17) which is slidable along the coupling members (5) to engage and disengage the coupling members (5) to hold the first and second ends (9, 13) of the elongate member (3) together for a desired distance along the length of the elongate member (3).

Drawing