# US 10,368,616 B2 · Zipper assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,368,616 B2 - Document ID: US10368616B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/366,815 - Filed: 2016-12-01 - Published: 2017-06-08 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2015-12-02 - Assignees: NIKE, Inc. - Applicants: NIKE, Inc. - Inventors: Christine Burke; Stephanie J. Scott; Rebecca M. Sheehan - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10368616B2 ## CPC - A44B 19/30: with means for locking in position - A41F 1/00: Fastening devices specially adapted for garments {(for pairing socks A41B11/002; for fur garments A41D5/006)} - A43C 11/12: Slide or glide fastenings - A43C 11/20: Fastenings with tightening devices mounted on the tongue - A44B 19/02: with a series of separate interlocking members secured to each stringer tape - A44B 19/262: {Pull members; Ornamental attachments for sliders} - A45C 13/103: {Arrangement of zip-fasteners} - A41D 1/02: Jackets - A41D 1/04: Vests, jerseys, sweaters or the like - A41D 27/201: {Pocket closures} - A41D 2300/322: using slide fasteners - A44B: BUTTONS, PINS, BUCKLES, SLIDE FASTENERS, OR THE LIKE (fastenings specially adapted for footwear A43C) - A41F: GARMENT FASTENINGS; SUSPENDERS - A43C: FASTENINGS OR ATTACHMENTS OF FOOTWEAR; LACES IN GENERAL - A45C: PURSES; LUGGAGE; HAND CARRIED BAGS - A41D: OUTERWEAR; PROTECTIVE GARMENTS; ACCESSORIES ## Abstract A zipper assembly includes various elements, such as a zipper-slider body and a zipper puller. The zipper puller can be gripped when manually traversing the zipper-slider body along zipper-teeth assemblies, such as when releasably fastening portions or edges of an article together. In addition, the zipper puller includes one or more additional hooking loops that releasably attach onto other surfaces or items. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A zipper assembly comprising: a zipper-slider body having a puller-retention link, a first zipper-teeth guide slot and a second zipper-teeth guide slot, wherein a first set of zipper-teeth of a first zipper-teeth assembly are passable through the first zipper-teeth guide slot, and wherein a second set of zipper-teeth of a second zipper-teeth assembly are passable through the second zipper-teeth guide slot; a zipper puller coupled directly to the zipper-slider body, the zipper puller including a puller attachment loop and a hitch loop that are separated by a cross member, the puller attachment loop being interlocked with the puller-retention link, the hitch loop including a gate that is movable between an open position and a closed position; and a zipper-slider anchor that releasably attaches to the hitch loop; wherein the zipper-slider anchor is positioned at a location that is in between a first end and a second end of the first and second zipper-teeth assemblies. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The zipper assembly of claim 1, wherein the hitch loop and the gate include at least part of a carabiner, and wherein the cross member separates the puller attachment loop from the carabiner. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The zipper assembly of claim 1 further comprising, a spring-loaded coupling that hingedly attaches the gate to the cross member. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The zipper assembly of claim 3, wherein the gate includes a spring-loaded wire gate. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The zipper assembly of claim 1, wherein the gate includes a threaded nut, and the hitch loop and the gate include at least part of a maillon-type link. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The zipper assembly of claim 1, wherein the zipper-slider body further comprises: a first plate and a second plate that are connected by a web, the first plate including a web-facing surface and a puller-facing surface, the puller-facing surface facing away from the web-facing surface, wherein the first zipper-teeth guide slot is between the web-facing surface of the first plate and the second plate and on a first side of the web, and wherein the second zipper-teeth guide slot is between the web-facing surface of the first plate and the second plate and on a second side of the web, the puller-retention link being coupled to the puller-facing surface. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The zipper assembly of claim 1, wherein the first zipper-teeth assembly, the second zipper-teeth assembly, and the zipper-slider anchor are coupled to a garment. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The zipper assembly of claim 1, wherein the first zipper-teeth assembly, the second zipper-teeth assembly, and the zipper-slider anchor are coupled to a bag. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The zipper assembly of claim 8, wherein the zipper-slider anchor is positioned on the bag at a location that is in between a first end and a second end of the first and second zipper-teeth assemblies. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The zipper assembly of claim 1, wherein the first and second zipper-teeth assemblies form a releasable fastener for a garment pocket. ### Claim 11 An upper body garment comprising a first portion and a second portion: an offset zipper assembly, the offset zipper assembly comprising: a first zipper-teeth assembly attached to a first textile edge of the first portion; a second zipper-teeth assembly attached to a second textile edge of the second portion, the second portion having a larger surface area than the first portion, wherein the second portion comprises a zipper-slider anchor; a zipper-slider body coupled to the first zipper-teeth assembly and the second zipper teeth assembly, the zipper-slider body having a puller-retention link; and a zipper puller coupled directly to the zipper-slider body, the zipper puller including a puller attachment loop and a hitch loop that are separated by a cross member, the puller attachment loop being interlocked with the puller-retention link, the hitch loop including a gate that is movable between an open position and a closed position, wherein the hitch loop being releasably attachable to the zipper-slider anchor when the zipper-slider body is located in between a first end and a second end of the first and second zipper-teeth assemblies. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The upper body garment of claim 11, wherein the first textile edge is releasably attachable to the second textile edge by traversing the zipper-slider body along the first zipper-teeth assembly and the second zipper-teeth assembly. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The upper body garment of claim 12, wherein the first textile edge and the second textile edge form an opening to a pocket of the upper body garment. ### Claim 14 An article with a zipper assembly, the article comprising: a first zipper-teeth assembly; a second zipper-teeth assembly; a zipper-slider body that is attachable to the first zipper-teeth assembly and the second zipper-teeth assembly, the zipper-slider body having a puller-retention link, the zipper-slider body being traversable through a series of slider positions along the first and second zipper-teeth assemblies when the zipper-slider body is attached to the first and second zipper-teeth assemblies; a zipper puller coupled directly to the zipper-slider body, the zipper puller including a puller attachment loop and a hitch loop that are separated by a cross member, the puller attachment loop being interlocked with the puller-retention link, the hitch loop including a gate that is movable between an open position and a closed position; and a plurality of zipper-slider anchors affixed to the article at different anchor positions, the hitch loop being releasably attachable to the plurality of zipper-slider anchors when the zipper-slider body is located at one or more slider positions of the series of slider positions located in between a first end and a second end of the first and second zipper-teeth assemblies, wherein traversal of the zipper-slider body along the first and second zipper-teeth assemblies is impeded when the hitch loop is attached to one of the plurality of zipper-slider anchors, wherein the zipper-slider body is retainable at a first slider position by releasably attaching the hitch loop to a first zipper-slider anchor at a first anchor position, and wherein the zipper-slider body is retainable at a second slider position by releasably attaching the hitch loop to at least one other zipper-slider anchor at a second anchor position, the first slider position being different from the second slider position. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The article of claim 14, wherein the article includes a bag having a first textile edge, and a second textile edge that form an opening to a pocket; wherein the first zipper-teeth assembly is attached near the first textile edge and the second zipper-teeth assembly is attached near the second textile edge; and wherein the first textile edge is releasably attachable to the second textile edge by traversing the zipper-slider body along the first zipper-teeth assembly and the second zipper-teeth assembly. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The article of claim 14, wherein the article includes a footwear article having an upper, the upper including a first textile edge and a second textile edge; wherein the first zipper-teeth assembly is attached near the first textile edge and the second zipper-teeth assembly is attached near the second textile edge; and wherein the first textile edge is releasably attachable to the second textile edge by traversing the zipper-slider body along the first zipper-teeth assembly and the second zipper-teeth assembly.