Buckles – buttons – clasps – etc. – Zipper or required component thereof – Slider having specific configuration – construction,...
Reexamination Certificate
2002-03-29
2003-11-18
Sandy, Robert J. (Department: 3677)
Buckles, buttons, clasps, etc.
Zipper or required component thereof
Slider having specific configuration, construction,...
C024S421000, C024S436000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06647598
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of zipper slides, and more particularly to a zipper slide provided with means for restraining interlocking teeth thereof from disengaging when the slide has been moved with a coupled pull tab to a desired position on a zipper. The teeth on the zipper tape may be made from either metal or plastic materials.
2. Description of the Prior Art
FIG. 1
to
FIG. 3
illustrate a typical needle locking mechanism for a zipper slide. As shown in
FIG. 1
, the needle locking mechanism generally includes a slide body
10
that is integrally made by metal or the like, a leaf spring piece
11
, and a pull tab unit
12
. On a top surface of the slide body
10
there are provided a first joint portion
101
and a second joint portion
102
. The first joint portion
101
and the second joint portion
102
are used to buckle the leaf spring piece
11
and also the pull tab unit
12
in place. Engagement channel
104
is provided in a front end of the slide body
10
. As shown in
FIG. 2
, the engagement channel
104
slides along the lengths of interlocking teeth
15
of the teeth tapes
13
and
14
to facilitate the engagement and disengagement thereof.
The leaf spring piece
11
buckles the pull tab unit
12
by passing through opening
121
of the pull tab unit
12
. As illustrated, the leaf spring piece
11
has a hooked portion
111
in one end and a downwardly extending portion
112
formed in the other end. When assembling, the hooked portion
111
is inserted into the front end of the slide body
10
, as shown in FIG.
2
. The first joint portion
101
is then bent down so as to clip and fasten the leaf spring piece
11
. The extending portion
112
is inserted into a slot
103
located on the rear of the slide body
10
.
Still referring to
FIG. 2
, the pull tab unit
12
facilitates manipulation of sliding the slide body to engage or disengage the metal teeth
15
of opposite teeth tapes
13
and
14
. The opening
121
is formed on the pull tab unit
12
and is designed to allow the passing of the leaf spring piece
11
. One side of the opening
121
is a beam
123
with a recess portion
122
thereon. The beam
123
is coupled with the second joint portion
102
and is restrained by the leaf spring piece
11
. The recess portion
122
is provided for positioning purpose for the leaf spring piece
11
. Typically, the width of the recess portion
122
is substantially equivalent to the width of the leaf spring piece
11
.
The horizontal level of the first joint portion
101
is lower than the level of the second joint portion
102
. As shown in
FIG. 3
, when the pull tab unit
12
is pulled in an angle relative to the slide body
10
, the beam
123
slightly rotates and the extending portion
112
of the leaf spring piece
11
is uplifted by the recess portion
122
to leave the slot
103
. By this way, the slide body can smoothly slides along the two lengths of interlocking teeth to facilitate the engagement and disengagement. When one stop pulling the pull tab unit
12
the extending portion
112
is pushed back into the slot
103
to lock the teeth in place and thus preventing slipping of the slide body
10
and unwarily open of the zipper.
However, the above-mentioned prior art structure is only suited for metal teeth
15
that have smaller inter-space between two adjacent teeth. When the prior art structure is applied to two lengths of plastic teeth the extending portion
112
of the leaf spring piece usually malfunctions due to a larger inter-space between two adjacent teeth. As shown in
FIG. 3
, the extending portion
112
of the leaf spring piece
11
is too close to the front of the engagement line
131
at one side of the teeth tape
13
. This deteriorates the functioning of the extending portion
112
to prevent slide body
10
from sliding down along the lengths of interlocking teeth. Consequently, there is a strong need to provide an improved needle locking mechanism for zipper slides.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide an improved needle locking mechanism for zipper slides. The needle locking mechanism according to this invention is capable of engaging with either metal teeth or plastic teeth in a more tight-knit way.
According to the claimed invention, a needle locking structure of a zipper slide for engaging or disengaging two lengths of teeth on two opposite teeth tapes is provided. A monolithic main body has two joint portions formed thereon. An engagement part is formed on each side of the main body. A spring piece is fixed by the joint portions of the main body. A pull tab unit is fixed by the joint portions of the main body for facilitating the manipulation of pulling the zipper slide. A laterally shifted extending portion is provided at one end of the spring piece. Since the extension portion jabs the top of an engagement line of one of the teeth tapes, the friction force is increased whereby improving the positioning of the main body and preventing unwarily sliding of the zipper slide.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2989792 (1961-06-01), Hueister
patent: 3287780 (1966-11-01), Cooperberg
patent: 4069556 (1978-01-01), Takahashi
patent: 4422220 (1983-12-01), Oda
patent: 5901420 (1999-05-01), Oda
Rosenberg , Klein & Lee
Sandy Robert J.
LandOfFree
Needle locking structure of a zipper slide does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Needle locking structure of a zipper slide, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Needle locking structure of a zipper slide will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3161161