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US 12,108,848 B2Granted
Slide fastener sealing systems and methods
AssigneeYKK (U.S.A.) Inc.
InventorsRichard Kerr Myerscough, Ross Davis Harrington
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A slide fastener sealing system and related methods. In one example, the slide fastener sealing system includes a separating slide fastener in which a first end overlaps and is secured to a second end such that a sealing zone is located between the overlapping ends of the slide fastener. The sealing system also includes in this example a sealing member that can be secured to the slide fastener in a removable fashion with a portion of the sealing member located in the sealing zone to seal against fluid penetration through the sealing zone.
Claims24
A slide fastener sealing system, comprising:
- (a) a separating slide fastener, comprising:
- (i) a first tape and a second tape, each tape comprising a first end, a second end, and fastening elements positioned along each tape;
- and
- (ii) wherein the first end of the first tape overlaps and is secured to the second end of the first tape, wherein the first end of the second tape overlaps and is secured to the second end of the second tape, wherein a sealing zone is located between the overlapping ends of the first and second tapes;
- (iii) a slider configured to engage and disengage the fastening elements of the first and second tapes, the first tape being separable from the second tape when the fastening elements are disengaged;
- and
- (iv) wherein the sealing zone comprises a passage surrounded on the passage's sides by the first and second tapes;
- (b) a sealing member, the sealing member configured to be secured to the slide fastener in a removable fashion such that at least a portion of the sealing member is positioned in the sealing zone to seal the passage, the sealing member comprising:
- (i) a sealing body;
- (ii) a connector configured to connect the sealing member to the slide fastener;
- and
- (iii) a sealing body actuator configured to expand the sealing body.
9 more elements
A slide fastener sealing system, comprising:
- (a) a separating slide fastener, comprising:
- (i) a first tape and a second tape, each tape comprising a first end, a second end, and fastening elements positioned along each tape;
- and
- (ii) wherein the first end of the first tape overlaps and is secured to the second end of the first tape, wherein the first end of the second tape overlaps and is secured to the second end of the second tape, wherein a sealing zone is located between the overlapping ends of the first and second tapes;
- (iii) a slider configured to engage and disengage the fastening elements of the first and second tapes, the first tape being separable from the second tape when the fastening elements are disengaged;
- (iv) wherein the sealing zone comprises a passage surrounded on the passage's sides by the first and second tapes;
- and
- (v) a first side seal located between the first and second ends of the first tape in the sealing zone, and a second side seal located between the first and second ends of the second tape in the sealing zone;
- (b) a sealing member, the sealing member configured to be secured to the slide fastener in a removable fashion such that at least a portion of the sealing member is positioned in the sealing zone to seal the passage, the sealing member comprising:
- (i) a sealing body;
- and
- (ii) a connector configured to connect the sealing member to the slide fastener.
9 more elements
A sealing member for a slide fastener sealing system, the sealing member comprising:
- (a) a deformable sealing body;
- (b) a connector attached to the sealing body, the connector comprising a resilient hook configured to connect the sealing member to a slide fastener, and
- (c) a sealing body actuator configured to deform and expand the sealing body when actuated, wherein the sealing body actuator extends through the sealing body in a sliding fashion.
A method of sealing a multi-piece article, the method of sealing comprising:
- (a) fastening together a first piece and a second piece of the multi-piece article with a slide fastener, the slide fastener comprising:
- (i) a first tape associated with the first piece of the article and a second tape associated with the second piece of the article, each tape comprising a first end, a second end, and fastening elements positioned along each tape;
- and
- (ii) wherein the first end of the first tape overlaps and is secured to the second end of the first tape, wherein the first end of the second tape overlaps and is secured to the second end of the second tape, wherein a sealing zone is located between the overlapping ends of the first and second tapes;
- (b) connecting a sealing member to the slide fastener, the sealing member comprising:
- (i) a sealing body;
- (ii) a connector configured to connect the sealing member to the slide fastener;
- and
- (iii) a sealing body actuator;
- and
- (c) actuating the sealing body actuator to expand the sealing body and seal the sealing zone.
8 more elements
A slide fastener sealing system, comprising:
- (a) a slide fastener, comprising:
- (i) a first and second tape, each tape comprising a first end, a second end, and fastening elements positioned along each tape;
- and
- (ii) wherein the first end of the first tape overlaps and is secured to the second end of the first tape, wherein the first end of the second tape overlaps and is secured to the second end of the second tape, wherein a sealing zone is located between the overlapping ends of the first and second tapes;
- (b) a sealing member, the sealing member configured to be secured to the slide fastener in a removable fashion such that at least a portion of the sealing member is positioned in the sealing zone;
- (c) wherein, when the sealing member is positioned in the sealing zone and the fastening elements of the first tape are engaged with the fastening elements of the second tape, the slide fastener sealing system is configured to prevent fluid at a pressure of 1 PSI from penetrating through the sealing zone for 20 seconds.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.