Buckles – buttons – clasps – etc. – Zipper or required component thereof – Interlocking surface constructed from plural elements in series
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-11
2001-06-12
Sandy, Robert J. (Department: 3626)
Buckles, buttons, clasps, etc.
Zipper or required component thereof
Interlocking surface constructed from plural elements in series
C024S390000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06243926
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a zip fastener, a method for joining two edges of material together with a zip fastener and apparatus for making a zip fastener. In particular, the present invention is concerned with zip fasteners for joining together two edges of patterned material where the pattern needs to match across the join.
2. Description of the Related Art
Zip fasteners are commonly used for joining together two edges of material. They may be used for providing a closeable slit in a unit e.g. as in a dress zip, or they may be used for joining two separate pieces of material together. They are widely used in a upholstery, clothing etc., with almost any type of material. In many situations, a zip fastener will be used to join together two edges of patterned material. A particular example is the manufacture of car seat covers. In this situation, it is important that the pattern on the two edges of material matches.
Matching two such patterns is an awkward process. A conventional zip fastener has two stringers which are formed from a plurality of coupling elements located on an edge of a tape. The edges of material to be joined are attached to the respective tape and the zip fastener is closed by engaging the coupling elements with a slider. In many situations, it is not practical to attach the material when the zip fastener is closed. Therefore, the zip fastener stringers need to be marked so that the pattern on the edges of the material can be matched with the corresponding position on the stringers.
A method of doing this has been to mark the tapes of the zip fastener stringers with a pen. However, this has many disadvantages. For example, during handling of the pen mark can be rub off. Also, the tape must be marked on its upper and lower surfaces. It is awkward to accurately align pen marks on both of these surface.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention overcomes the above problem by providing a zip fastener with an alignment mark where the alignment mark extends through the tapes of the stringer.
Holes have been made in the tape of zip fasteners previously for reinforcement purposes. For example, in so called ‘fixers’ which provide an additional means for securing the coupling elements to the tape. These are formed by making a series of holes next to the coupling elements. The zip fastener is put into an injection mold and a melt is injected into the mold. Also, a similar reinforcement technique has been used at the base of a zip fastener. Here a number of holes are made at the base of the zip fastener and the base of the zip fastener is inserted into an injection mold. Thus, the base of the zip fastener is reinforced with plastic above, below and through the plane of the tape.
In a first aspect, the present invention provides a zip fastener for fastening two edges of material together, the fastener having a pair of stringers, each stringer comprising a plurality of coupling elements located on an edge of a tape, the fastener further comprising an alignment mark (for matching the two edges of material together), wherein the alignment mark is a pair of open holes with an open hole being provided through the tape of each stringer, the pair of holes being located at the same position as one another along the length of the zip fastener.
It is preferable, if the hole on each stringer is located on an opposing side of the line of attachment to the coupling elements, the line of attachment being defined as the line closest to the coupling elements where the edges of the material will be attached to the tape.
By providing the holes between the attachment line and coupling elements the strength of zip is not weakened.
In most situations, the attachment line would be the stitching line where the zip fastener tapes are attached to the material. However, in some cases the material will be glued to the zip fastener. Here, the attachment line is the closest line at which the material is glued to the tape.
It may be preferable if the plurality of alignment marks are provided so that the material can be matched at more than one point. This is particularly useful for long zip fasteners which are used in car seat manufacturer.
Preferably, the two stringers are completely separable.
Preferably, the alignment mark is provided about halfway along the length of the zip fastener.
A second aspect of the present invention provides a method of fastening two edges of patterned material together such that the pattern on the first material edge aligns with the pattern on the second material edge, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a zip fastener;
forming a pair of holes through the zip fastener, wherein the zip fastener has first and second stringers, each stringer comprising a plurality of coupling elements located on a tape, one hole being formed through each stringer, the holes being formed at the same level as each other along the length of the zip fastener;
aligning the first material edge the hole the first stringer;
aligning the second material edge the hole the second stringer; and
attaching the first and second material edges to the first and second stringers respectively, the material being attached so that a line of attachment of the edges of material to the tape is located between the hole on the tape and the coupling elements the line of attachment being defined as the line closest to the coupling elements, where the edges of the material are attached to the tapes.
As described above, it may be preferable if the method according to a second aspect of the present invention comprises a step of forming a plurality of alignment marks.
There is also provided apparatus for making a zip fastener according to the present invention, the apparatus comprising a surface for supporting a closed zip fastener, the closed zip fastener having a pair of stringers, each stringer comprising a plurality of coupling elements located on an edge of a tape, the stringers being joined by said coupling elements, the apparatus further comprising means for making a pair of holes in the zip fastener, the means comprising a head with two pins extending towards the zip fastener, the apparatus further comprising means for punching the pins through the tapes of the zip fastener such that a hole is formed in each tape, the holes being level with each other along the length of the zip fastener.
Many zip fastener tapes are made of a polyester type material. If the pins of the head are heated then the heat from the pins will seal the walls of the hole and prevent them from fraying. Therefore, it is more preferable if the pins of the head are heated.
According to a preferred design of apparatus, the head is movable along the length of the tape, thus the head can punch holes at various intervals along the length of the tape.
More preferably, the apparatus further comprises means for feeding the tape over the surface such that lengths of tape can be moved over the surface.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3444598 (1969-05-01), Glindmeyer et al.
patent: 4125911 (1978-11-01), Moertel
patent: 4265190 (1981-05-01), Moertel
patent: 2 925 831 (1981-01-01), None
patent: 0 414 553 (1991-02-01), None
patent: 0 458 220 (1991-11-01), None
patent: 0 641 637 (1995-03-01), None
patent: 2 634 990 (1990-02-01), None
Futakuchi Masahiko
Jimenez Agustin
Takashima Kazuhiko
Vilarrubi Francesc
Zaragoza Enrique
Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner L.L.P.
Sandy Robert J.
YKK Corporation
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