US 6,502,285 B2Granted

Immobilized and aligned closure systems

OwnerAlice Mary Kielyinventor

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Abstract

An immobile and aligned closure system with nine embodiments comprises two elongated coupling elements (62, 62L) and (76, 76I), a self-locking slider (40, 42, 42S, 42D), a socket member (50), and a male interlocking plug member (60, 60D, 61, 84). A locking member on the slider aligns and arrests the movement of the slider, so as to couple the closure system dependably, traditionally or laterally, without movement in the slider. Embodiments include a dead person's locking pull tab (42L, 43L), a locking tab holder (44), a locking pull tab (40T), additional molding (40M, 40E 42M), locking flanges (42R, 42F, 42), and a releasable, interlocking rigid buckle for instantly coupling the closure system. Safety features, separable and non-separable applications, weather resistant zippers, two-way zippers, double zippers, hidden zippers, reversible zippers, coiled and profile zippers, magnetically coupled zippers, disposable zippers, a zipper having a minimum of components, a spring-lock assembly, and a easy method of installing immobile and aligned closure systems are also disclosed.

Claims23

Dependent claims

An immobile and aligned closure system, comprising:

(a) two elongated coupling elements, each having an inner edge and an opposite outer edge, said two elongated coupling elements being affixable to respective lengths of material, said two elongated coupling elements each having a row or chain of interengaging and locking members mounted on and along said inner edge, said two elongated coupling elements being lockable to each other for coupling and closing and alternately uncoupling and opening said two elongated coupling elements,
(b) a self-locking sliding zipper head, situated on one of said two elongated coupling elements and said two rows or chains for locking and closing and alternately unlocking and opening said two elongated coupling elements and said two rows or chains along their length, said self-locking sliding zipper head comprises means for arresting a) lateral movement of said self-locking sliding zipper head perpendicular to said rows or chains, b) anterior-posterior movement of said self-locking sliding zipper head on said rows or chains, and c) vertical movement of said self-locking sliding zipper head along said rows or chains, said self-locking sliding zipper head comprises a locking projection and means for solely providing an immobile and aligned coupling socket for instant, initial coupling of said closure system, said initial coupling being the first attachment of said two elongated coupling elements and said two rows or chains to each other at an initiating end of said two rows or chains for operation of said closure system, said self-locking sliding zipper head being a sole arresting member and comprising means for solely providing said immobile and aligned coupling socket for initial coupling and operation of said closure system, wherein said immobile and aligned closure system comprises a minimum number of components and means for providing a safety, laterally coupled, immobile and aligned closure system adapted for releasing a garment or article of manufacture under a predetermined pressure resulting in less injury to a wearer, and
(c) a male interlocking member, situated on the other of said two rows or chains for initially coupling and uncoupling with said self-locking sliding zipper head and said closure system, whereby a self-locking sliding zipper head can solely provide an initial coupling socket for instant snap-lock lateral and traditional coupling of a slide fastener.

An immobile and aligned closure system comprising:

(a) two elongated coupling elements, each having an inner edge and an opposite outer edge, said two elongated coupling elements being affixable to respective lengths of material, said two elongated coupling elements each having a row or chain of interengaging and locking members mounted on and along said inner edge, said two elongated coupling elements being lockable to each other for coupling and closing and alternately uncoupling and opening said two elongated coupling elements,
(b) a self-locking sliding zipper head, slidably connected to one of said two elongated coupling elements for coupling and uncoupling said two elongated coupling elements along their lengths, said self-locking sliding zipper head has a locking projection and is adapted to solely arrest a) lateral movement of said self-locking sliding zipper head perpendicular to said rows or chains, b) anterior-posterior movement of said self-locking sliding zipper head on said rows or chains, and c) vertical movement of said self-locking sliding zipper head along said rows or chains, said self-locking sliding zipper head being a sole arresting member adapted for solely providing said immobile and aligned coupling socket for initial coupling and operation of said closure system, and
(c) a wide interlocking male member, situated on the other of said two elongated coupling elements, said wide interlocking male member being wider than said self-locking sliding zipper head, said wide interlocking male member is adapted for coupling and uncoupling said closure system, said wide interlocking male member being partially situated in a housing in an intergarment plate while coupled, said housing comprising means for use of a plurality of coupling methods for initially coupling said closure system, said intergarment plate being situated at the initiating end of said one of said two elongated coupling elements for operation of said closure system, said wide interlocking male member provides the user more surface area for holding and easier guiding of said wide interlocking male member into said socket for coupling, and
(d) a socket member on one of said two rows or chains for locking with said wide interlocking male member and for operation of said closure system.

1 more element

An immobile and aligned closure system comprising:

(a) two elongated coupling elements, each having an inner edge and an opposite outer edge, said two elongated coupling elements being affixable to respective lengths of material, said two elongated coupling elements each having a row or chain of interengaging and locking members mounted on and along said inner edge, said two elongated coupling elements being lockable to each other for coupling and closing and alternately uncoupling and opening said two elongated coupling elements,
(b) a self-locking sliding zipper head, slidably connected to one of said two elongated coupling elements for coupling and uncoupling said two elongated coupling elements along their lengths, said self-locking sliding zipper head has a locking projection and is adapted to solely arrest a) lateral movement of said self-locking sliding zipper head perpendicular to said rows or chains, b) anterior-posterior movement of said self-locking sliding zipper head on said rows or chains, and c) vertical movement of said self-locking sliding zipper head along said rows or chains, said self-locking sliding zipper head being a sole arresting member adapted for solely providing said immobile and aligned coupling socket for initial coupling and operation of said closure system, and
(c) means for releasably installing said closure system comprising a) releasably locking components for installing, uninstalling and reinstalling said closure system without hindrance of having to sew around bulky components and to correct inaccurate installation and mishap, b) means for providing permanent installation after said closure system has been inspected, c) means for installing said closure system in a factory, d) means for installing said closure system in the home including plurality of tools, and instructions, and e) means for temporary use and for display and packaging.
(d) a male interlocking member, situated on the other of said two rows or chains for coupling and uncoupling with said self-locking sliding zipper head and said closure system for operation of said closure system.

1 more element

A method of providing an immobile and aligned closure system comprising:

(a) providing two elongated coupling elements, each having an inner edge and an opposite outer edge, said two elongated coupling elements being affixable to respective lengths of material, said two elongated coupling elements each having a row or chains of interengaging and locking members mounted on and along said inner edge, said two elongated coupling elements being lockable to each other for coupling and closing and alternately uncoupling and opening said two elongated coupling elements along said lengths,
(b) providing a self-locking sliding zipper head, slidably connected to one of said two elongated coupling elements for coupling and uncoupling said two elongated coupling elements along their lengths, said self-locking sliding zipper head has a locking projection and means for solely arresting a) lateral movement of said self-locking sliding zipper head perpendicular to said rows or chains, b) anterior-posterior movement of said self-locking sliding zipper head on said rows or chains, and c) vertical movement of said self-locking sliding zipper head along said rows or chains, said self-locking sliding zipper head being a sole arresting member adapted for solely providing said immobile and aligned coupling socket for initial coupling and operation of said closure system,
(c) a wide interlocking male member, situated on the other of said two elongated coupling elements, said wide interlocking male member being wider than said self-locking sliding zipper head, said wide male interlocking member is adapted for coupling and uncoupling said closure system, said wide male interlocking member being partially situated in a housing in an intergarment plate while coupled, said housing comprising means for use of a plurality of coupling methods for initially coupling said closure system, said wide male interlocking member provides the user more surface area for holding and easier guiding of said wide male interlocking member into a socket for initial coupling, and
(d) said socket member
(e) unlocking said self-locking sliding zipper head and drawing said self-locking sliding zipper head in a first direction along said one of said two elongated coupling elements to one end thereof,
(f) providing an immobile and arrested initial coupling socket,
(g) initially coupling said two elongated coupling elements,
(h) unlocking and drawing said self-locking sliding zipper head in a second direction along said two elongated coupling elements closing said two elongated coupling elements along their length,
(i) unlocking and drawing said self-locking sliding zipper head in said first direction along said two elongated coupling elements to said one end thereof, and
(j) unlocking said closure system.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 09/811,282Filed 16 Mar 2001
Published: US 2002/0129470 A119 Sep 2002
Granted: 7 Jan 2003
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

A44B 19/38
Details: means at the end of stringer by which the slider can be freed from one stringer, e.g. stringers can be completely separated from each other
Y10T 24/2561
Zipper or required component thereof: slider having specific configuration, construction, adaptation, or material
Y10T 24/2593
Zipper or required component thereof: including complementary, aligning means attached to ends of interlocking surfaces
Y10T 24/2595
Including complementary, aligning means attached to ends of interlocking surfaces: having specific mounting connection or reinforcing structure at…