Buckles – buttons – clasps – etc. – Zipper or required component thereof – Including complementary – aligning means attached to ends of...
Reexamination Certificate
2000-11-28
2003-09-16
Miller, William L. (Department: 3677)
Buckles, buttons, clasps, etc.
Zipper or required component thereof
Including complementary, aligning means attached to ends of...
C024S432000, C024S434000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06618911
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to invisible zipper and, more particularly, to a bottom open-end type invisible zipper, which has movable bottom-end piece that can be moved away from the stitching area when using a sewing machine to stitch the zipper to an object.
(b) Description of the Prior Art
A regular bottom open-end type invisible zipper (see
FIG. 1
) is generally comprised of two zipper tapes
10
, two series of teeth
20
, two plug members
30
, and a bottom-end piece
40
. The two series of teeth
20
and the two plug members
30
are respectively fixedly fastened to the zipper tapes
10
. The bottom-end piece
40
is fixedly fastened to one plug member
30
. This structure of bottom open-end type invisible zipper is suitable for use to close/open an opening in a dress, jacket, etc. When closing, the other plug member is inserted into the bottom-end piece
40
, and then the slide is pulled upwards to interlock the two series of teeth. However, because the dimension of the bottom-end piece
40
is much greater than the cross section of the series of teeth
20
, the presser foot
100
of the sewing machine cannot pass over the bottom-end piece when fastening the zipper tapes
10
to a dress or the like (see FIG.
2
). In order to eliminate the aforesaid problem, an invisible zipper with detachable bottom-end piece is disclosed. According to this design, one plug member
30
is constructed having a split hook
301
, and the bottom-end piece
40
is made having hooked portions
402
disposed in one insertion hole
401
for engagement with the split hook
301
after insertion of the plug member
30
into the insertion hole
401
. The bottom-end piece
40
is separated from the corresponding plug member
30
before fastening the zipper tapes
10
to the dress or the like. After installation of the invisible zipper, the bottom-end piece
40
is secured to the split hook
301
of the plug member
30
. Because the plug member
30
and the bottom-end piece
40
are small elements, it is complicated to form the designed split hook
301
on the plug member
30
and the designed hooked portions
402
in the bottom-end piece
40
. Any small error during die-casting or injection molding procedure causes a defective product. Further, because the bottom-end piece
40
is kept separated from the invisible zipper when selling, it tends to be missed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is the main object of the present invention to provide a bottom open-end type invisible zipper, which has a movable bottom-end piece that does not hinder the stitching operation to fasten the invisible zipper to an object. According to one aspect of the present invention, the bottom open-end type invisible zipper comprises a first zipper tape and a second zipper tape, the zipper tapes each having a respective series of teeth longitudinally disposed at an inner side for interlocking; a first plug member and a second plug member respectively fixedly fastened to the zipper tapes and longitudinally connected to one end of the series of teeth at the respective zipper tape; a movable bottom-end piece slidably coupled to the first zipper tape, the movable bottom-end piece having a receiving chamber adapted to receive the first plug member and the second plug member in parallel; and an escape-preventive structure adapted to stop the movable bottom-end piece from falling out of the first zipper tape, the escape-preventive structure including a male locating means fixedly disposed at the first plug member and a female locating means fixedly disposed at the second plug member for engagement with the male locating means to stop the movable bottom-end piece at the first plug member. According to another aspect of the present invention, the first plug member with the first zipper tape and the second plug member with the second zipper tape can be selectively arranged at either side to fit the left-handed user or the right-handed user.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3805339 (1974-04-01), Howell
patent: 5131120 (1992-07-01), Akashi
patent: 5697130 (1997-12-01), Smith
patent: 6112376 (2000-09-01), Akashi et al.
patent: 541221 (1957-05-01), None
patent: 0581319 (1994-02-01), None
patent: 0715691 (1931-12-01), None
patent: 0979360 (1951-04-01), None
Bacon & Thomas PLLC
Jackson André L.
Miller William L.
LandOfFree
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