A zipper type fastener for protective clothing, such as a firefighter or first responder turnout jacket is disclosed. One or more open ends of the zipper may be connected to the protective clothing by a zipper extender that creates a grip area to allow a user to more easily grasp the zipper end component(s) and fasten the zipper.

A waterproof, open-end zipper includes a first zipper tape with a first engagement rail unit, a second zipper tape with a second engagement rail unit, a zipper slider slidable to force the first engagement rail unit and the second engagement rail unit into engagement with each other or separate them from each other, a box located at one end of the first engagement rail unit for receiving one end of the second engagement rail unit, a locating rod fixedly located at the first engagement rail unit, and a locating hole located at the second engagement rail unit for receiving the locating rod after insertion of the second engagement rail unit into the box to prohibit relative displacement between the first and second zipper tapes.

A waterproof, open-end zipper includes a first zipper tape with a first engagement rail unit, a second zipper tape with a second engagement rail unit, a zipper slider slidable to force the first engagement rail unit and the second engagement rail unit into engagement with each other or separate them from each other, a box located at one end of the first engagement rail unit for receiving one end of the second engagement rail unit, a locating rod fixedly located at the first engagement rail unit, and a locating hole located at the second engagement rail unit for receiving the locating rod after insertion of the second engagement rail unit into the box to prohibit relative displacement between the first and second zipper tapes.

A zipper guide is provided to facilitate closure of an open-ended zipper. The zipper guide includes a base to which a zipper tape pin end is attached and a slider to which a zipper tape box end is attached. A key on a lower surface of the slider slides in a trench in an upper surface of the base at an orientation that guides the attached zipper tape box end toward the attached zipper tape pin end by planar sliding movements of the slider lower surface with respect to the base upper surface.

A lower stop assembly for slide fasteners comprises a left stop member and a right stop member. The inside of the right stop member is provided with a right slot and an annular orifice both extending in the direction of the inside, the annular orifice being located at the front end of the right slot and in direct communication with an opening of the right slot. The left stop member can be movably inserted into the opening of the right slot and then released from lateral notches of the right slot. As the left stop member can be released from the lateral notches of the right slot, when the left stop member needs to retreat from the right slot, the left stop member may rotate around the outer lateral wall of the annular orifice under the drive of the left slide fastener belt to come out from the right slot.

Open-ended slide fasteners that are watertight and/or airtight. The slide fasteners include box and pin mechanisms integrated with the slide fastener and configured to compress the tape edges and create a water and air tight seal, thus eliminating the need for installing a separate component after the slide fastener has been manufactured.