Back to results
US 12,016,436 B2Granted
Releasable coupling device
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorsAndrew A. Owings, Nicholas Buck, Adam Whiton
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Aspects herein are directed to a releasable coupling device having a first housing structure than includes a temporary magnet and a second housing structure that includes a permanent magnet. The first housing structure is receivable by a receiving receptacle of the second housing structure. The releasable coupling device may be included as part of a slide fastener assembly having two slider tapes.
Claims21
A slide fastener assembly comprising:
- a first slider tape having a first set of coupling elements;
- a second slider tape having a second set of coupling elements;
- a magnet having a magnetic field;
- a first housing structure of a releasable coupling device attached to the first slider tape, the first housing structure having a complimentary member which is attracted to the magnet when within the magnetic field, the first housing structure further comprising a flange and a first extension member, the further extension member having a zipper tooth extending therefrom, wherein the zipper tooth is shaped identical to each of the first set of coupling elements, and wherein the zipper tooth is shaped to be received in the second set of coupling elements;
- a second housing structure of the releasable coupling device attached to the second slider tape, the second housing structure including the magnet and a receiving receptacle adapted to receive the first housing structure such that the magnet is in near contact with a first surface of the complimentary member, the second housing structure further comprising a recess sized to receive the zipper tooth of the first housing structure;
- and
- wherein the complimentary member becomes magnetically attracted to the magnet when within the magnetic field of the magnet and is not magnetically attracted to the magnet when the complimentary member is beyond the magnetic field of the magnet.
4 more elements
A slide fastener assembly comprising:
- a fabric layer;
- a first slider tape affixed to the fabric layer having a first set of coupling elements;
- a second slider tape affixed to the fabric layer having a second set of coupling elements;
- a first housing structure of a releasable coupling device attached to the first slider tape, the first housing structure comprising a magnet having a magnetic field, wherein the first housing structure further comprising a flange and a first extension member, the further extension member having a zipper tooth extending therefrom, wherein the zipper tooth is shaped identical to each of the first set of coupling elements, and wherein the zipper tooth is shaped to be received in the second set of coupling elements;
- and
- a second housing structure of the releasable coupling device attached to the second slider tape, the second housing structure comprising a complimentary member which is attracted to the magnet when within the magnetic field, wherein the complimentary member becomes magnetically attracted to the magnet when within the magnetic field of the magnet and is not magnetically attracted to the magnet when the complimentary member is beyond the magnetic field of the magnet;
- and
- wherein when the first housing structure and second housing structure are interlocked, the magnetic attraction between the magnet and the complimentary member is aligned orthogonal to the fabric layer.
5 more elements
A slide fastener assembly comprising:
- a fabric layer;
- a first slider tape having a first set of coupling elements;
- a second slider tape having a second set of coupling elements;
- a magnet having a magnetic field;
- a complimentary member which is attracted to the magnet when within the magnetic field;
- a first housing structure of a releasable coupling device attached to the first slider tape, the first housing structure including an encircling structure that encircles a portion of the magnet such that a first surface of the magnet is exposed, wherein the first housing structure further comprising a flange and a first extension member, the further extension member having a zipper tooth extending therefrom, wherein the zipper tooth is shaped identical to each of the first set of coupling elements, and wherein the zipper tooth is shaped to be received in the second set of coupling elements;
- a second housing structure of the releasable coupling device attached to the second slider tape, the second housing structure including a receiving receptacle adapted to receive the first housing structure such that the complimentary member is in near contact with the first surface of the magnet;
- and
- wherein the complimentary member becomes magnetically attracted to the magnet when within the magnetic field of the magnet and does not exhibit a magnetic field when the complimentary member is beyond the magnetic field of the magnet;
- and
- wherein when the first housing structure and second housing structure are interlocked, the magnetic attraction between the magnet and the complimentary member is aligned orthogonal to the fabric layer.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.