Buckles – buttons – clasps – etc. – Zipper or required component thereof – Slider having specific configuration – construction,...
Reexamination Certificate
1997-11-03
2001-04-03
Sakran, Victor N. (Department: 3626)
Buckles, buttons, clasps, etc.
Zipper or required component thereof
Slider having specific configuration, construction,...
C024S421000, C024S430000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06209176
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to a device for selectively securing a cord, rope, or other elongated flexible article and more particularly to a device for selectively securing and attaching a zipper pull.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Various clamps are known in the prior art. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 4,368,999 discloses a coupling for connecting the end part of a flexible element such as a cable or wire. The part is formed from two separate portions. The first portion is a cage receiving the flexible element and includes laterally at least one extending flexible strip normally projecting outside of the cage. A second portion is a slider being adapted to be slid over the cage in order to urge the strip inwardly so that a portion of the strip is embedded in the flexible element.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,283,930 discloses a clasp for a folded cord includes two portions which make to form a clasp body thereby capturing the folded cord therebetween. The portions include gripping teeth for defining a tortious path for the cord.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,688,337 discloses a two piece buckle type fastener including a receptacle and clasp. The clasp includes a base, a substantially rigid stem protruding from the base, a pair of resilient arms extending from the stem, and locking means on the arms. The receptacle includes a body that defines a cavity adapted to receive and to cooperatively engage the pair of resilient arms within the cavity. The fastener also includes means for disengaging the locking means so that the receptacle sand clasp can be separated.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,469,583 discloses a buckle device for temporarily fastening at least two straps together having a base unit and an arm rotatably mounted on the base unit. The arm has a strap engagement part with a protuberance thereon, the arm being movable from a locked position to an open position, the arm in its locked position forcing at least two straps in engagement with each other between the engagement part and the base unit. The arm is movable to an open position wherein the engagement part is rotated away from the straps so that the straps are free to move relative to each other and relative to the device.
U.S. Pat. No. Des. 355,147 discloses a zipper pull.
One shortcoming of these prior art securing devices is that they may be complicated and, thus, expensive to manufacture.
Another shortcoming of these prior art devices is that it may be difficult or time consuming to introduce and remove the cord or rope from the securing device.
Yet another shortcoming of prior art devices is that the portions securing the cord or rope may tend to open or loosen in response to the cord or rope being pulled in a direction away from the housing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of this invention to provide an apparatus for easily and quickly securing a rope or cord to a zipper that is simple and inexpensive to manufacture.
It is another object of this invention to provide an apparatus for securing a rope or cord to a zipper that urges the locking portions into a locking position in response to a pull or tug or other tension applied to the rope or cord.
It is another object of this invention to provide a device for selectively securing an elongated flexible article to a zipper, comprising: a device for selectively securing a zipper cord, comprising: a base portion having a base portion wall, a first side wall projecting from the base portion wall and a second side wall projecting from the base portion wall, the walls defining a U-shaped channel; and a locking arm rotatably mounted on the base portion, the locking arm provided with a locking arm engagement protrusion, the locking arm rotatably movable from an unlocked first position which provides a first clearance between the base portion wall and the locking arm engagement protrusion, the first clearance sufficient for the zipper cord to be introduced into and withdrawn from the U-shaped channel, the locking arm rotatable to a locked second position providing a second clearance between the base portion wall and the locking arm engagement protrusion, the second clearance smaller than the first clearance and sized so that when the locking arm is in the second position, the locking arm engagement protrusion impinges on the zipper cord in an amount sufficient to secure the zipper cord in the U-shaped channel, the locking arm engagement protrusion sized and disposed so that when the zipper cord is pulled in a direction away from the base portion, the locking arm is urged toward the second position; means for selectively moving the locking arm from the first position to the second position; and means for locking the locking arm in the second position.
It is yet another object of this invention to provide a device for selectively securing a zipper cord, comprising a base portion having a base portion wall, a first side wall projecting from the base portion wall and a second side wall projecting from the base portion wall, the walls defining a U-shaped channel; and a locking arm rotatably mounted on the base portion, the locking arm provided with a flexible tooth-like member, the locking arm rotatably movable from an unlocked first position which provides a first clearance between the base portion wall and the flexible tooth-like member, the first clearance sufficient for the zipper cord to be introduced into and withdrawn from the U-shaped channel, the locking arm rotatable to a locked second position providing a second clearance between the base portion wall and the flexible tooth-like member, the second clearance smaller than the first clearance and sized so that when the locking arm is in the second position, the flexible tooth-like member, impinges on the zipper cord in an amount sufficient to secure the zipper cord in said U-shaped channel, the flexible tooth-like member sized and adapted to accommodate and secure cords of varying diameters when the locking arm is disposed in the second position, the flexible tooth-like member sized and disposed so that when the zipper cord is pulled in a direction away from the base portion, the rotatable arm is urged toward the second position; means for selectively moving the locking arm from the first position to the second position; and means for locking the locking arm in the second position
REFERENCES:
patent: 1921286 (1933-08-01), Erickson
patent: 3641634 (1972-02-01), Asai
patent: 3852943 (1974-12-01), Healy
patent: 4373234 (1983-02-01), Boden
patent: 4424609 (1984-01-01), Boden
patent: 4639978 (1987-02-01), Boden
patent: 4716630 (1988-01-01), Skyba
patent: 4790050 (1988-12-01), Ishii
patent: 5283930 (1994-02-01), Krauss
patent: 5347692 (1994-09-01), Ebata
patent: 5416951 (1995-05-01), Keyaki et al.
patent: 5469583 (1995-11-01), Akeley et al.
patent: 0800217 (1968-12-01), None
patent: 1247781 (1971-09-01), None
patent: 1164645 (1989-09-01), None
Kenyon & Kenyon
National Molding Corporation
Sakran Victor N.
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