ZIP WITH PIVOTING COUPLING ELEMENTS

Abstract

The present invention describes a zip comprising a pair of webbings (29; 38), each of which has in its side edges sequences of coupling elements or teeth (5; 12) facing with respect to their sector of joining with the webbing, each of these coupling elements (5; 12), being able to pivot around its central vertical axis thanks to a support placed between the coupling element (5; 12) and the webbing (29; 38), wherein the coupling element (5; 12) engages with the support and the latter with the webbing (29; 38), characterised in that said support consists of a cylinder (30) or of two half-cylinders (18, 19) placed in a specular manner at the opposite sides of the webbing (29).

Claims

1. A Zip comprising a pair of webbings (29; 38), each of which has on its side edges sequences of coupling elements or teeth (5; 12) facing with respect to their sector of joining with the webbing, each of these coupling elements (5; 12) being able to pivot around its central vertical axis thanks to a support, placed between the coupling element (5; 12) and the webbing (29; 38), wherein the coupling element (5; 12) engages with the support and the latter with the webbing (29; 38), characterized in that said support consists of a cylinder (30) or of two semi-cylinders (18, 19) arranged in a specular manner at opposite sides of the webbing (38; 29).

2. The Zip according to claim 1, characterized in that the aforementioned half-cylinders (18, 19) have holes (27, 28) which traverse them from side to side and are firmly joined one to the other and to the webbing itself (29) by means of a pin (24) which, traversing the holes (27, 28) present in the half-cylinders, pierces, in the middle, the fabric of the webbing.

3. The Zip according to claim 1, characterized in that said half-cylinders (18, 19) have two pairs of identical tracks (20, 21) and (22, 23) positioned on their horizontal planes, or upper and lower faces, perpendicular to the longitudinal plane of the halfcylinders.

4. The Zip according to claim 3, characterized in that said coupling elements (5) have a pair of legs with an L shape (6, 7) having, in their inner part, four protrusions (8, 9, 10, 11) apt to slide in the tracks of the abovementioned half-cylinders (20, 21, 22, 23).

5. The Zip according to claim 4, characterized in that it has two of the aforementioned protrusions (8, 9) positioned in the horizontal part of the “L” of each leg (6, 7) of the coupling element (5), while the other two protrusions (10, 11) are positioned in a specular manner in front of the latter, under the head of the coupling element.

6. The Zip according to claim 3, characterized in that the protrusions positioned in the horizontal part of the legs (6, 7) of the coupling element (5) are inserted in the lower tracks (22, 23) of the half-cylinders (18, 19), while the protrusions arranged in a specular manner (10, 11) are inserted in the upper tracks (20, 21) of the halfcylinders (18, 19).

7. The Zip according to claim 1, characterized in that said cylinder (30) has a vertical slot along the central axis (37), which traverses it for the entire length of the diameter of the lower base.

8. The Zip according to claim 7, characterized in that the edge of the webbing (38) is inserted in the aforementioned slot (37), the walls of which have a knurling (36), and each cylinder (30) is firmly fixed to the fabric by means of compression.

9. The Zip according to claim 7, characterized in that each cylinder (30) has, as lower base, two lunettes (32, 33) in which are placed two identical and specular tracks (34, 35), perpendicular to the longitudinal plane of the cylinder.

10. The Zip according to claim 7, characterized in that each cylinder (30) has at the centre of the upper base a hole (31).

11. The Zip according to claim 7, characterized in that said coupling elements (12) have a pair of legs in the shape of an “L” (13, 14) having, in their inner part, three protrusions (15, 16, 17) apt to slide in the tracks (34, 35) and in the hole (31) of the abovementioned cylinder (30).

12. The Zip according to claim 11, characterized in that it has two of the aforementioned protrusions (15, 16) positioned in the horizontal part of the “L” of the leg (13, 14) of the coupling element (12) while the other protrusion (17) is positioned in front of the latter, under the head of the coupling element (12), exactly in the centre of the horizontal line of its internal groove.

13. The Zip according to claim 7, characterized in that the lower protrusions (15, 16) of the coupling element (12) are inserted in the tracks (34, 35) of the cylinder, while the upper protrusion (17) of the coupling element (12) is inserted in the hole (31) present in the upper base of the cylinder itself (30).

14. A Pivoting coupling element (5; 12) configured to be applied by means of a respective support formed by a pair of half-cylinders (18,19) or by a cylinder (30) to a pair of webbings (29; 38) to form an element of a zip according to claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0056] Further features of the invention will be made clearer by the following detailed description, referring to its purely illustrative, and therefore non-limiting, embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0057] FIG. 1 represents a front view of a tooth of the prior art.

[0058] FIG. 2 represents a front perspective view of a tooth of the prior art.

[0059] FIG. 3 represents a side view of a tooth of the prior art.

[0060] FIG. 4 represents a rear perspective view of a tooth of the prior art.

[0061] FIG. 5 represents a front perspective view of a tooth in accordance with the first embodiment.

[0062] FIG. 6 represents a front perspective view of a tooth in accordance with the first embodiment.

[0063] FIG. 7 represents a side view of a tooth in accordance with the first embodiment.

[0064] FIG. 8 represents a rear perspective view of a tooth in accordance with the first embodiment.

[0065] FIG. 9 represents a front view of a tooth in accordance with the second embodiment.

[0066] FIG. 10 represents a front perspective view of a tooth in accordance with the second embodiment.

[0067] FIG. 11 represents a side view of a tooth in accordance with the second embodiment.

[0068] FIG. 12 represents a rear perspective view of a tooth in accordance with the second embodiment.

[0069] FIG. 13 represents a front view of a tooth in accordance with the first embodiment.

[0070] FIG. 14 represents a perspective view of the support of a tooth in accordance with the first embodiment.

[0071] FIG. 15 represents a complete perspective view of a tooth that is the subject of the present invention in accordance with the first embodiment.

[0072] FIG. 16 represents a view from above of the support of a tooth with the pin in accordance with the first embodiment.

[0073] FIG. 17 represents a view from a below of the support of a tooth with the pin in accordance with the first embodiment.

[0074] FIG. 18 represents an internal perspective view of the first half-cylinder of the support of a tooth in accordance with the first embodiment.

[0075] FIG. 19 represents an internal perspective view of the second half-cylinder of the support of a tooth in accordance with the first embodiment.

[0076] FIG. 20 represents an external perspective view of the first half-cylinder of the support of a tooth in accordance with the first embodiment.

[0077] FIG. 21 represents an external perspective view of the second half-cylinder of the support of a tooth in accordance with the first embodiment.

[0078] FIG. 22 represents a perspective view of the support of a tooth in accordance with the first embodiment.

[0079] FIG. 23 represents an upper perspective view of the support of a tooth in accordance with the first embodiment.

[0080] FIG. 24 represents a perspective view of the webbing with a series of supports of the tooth punched into the fabric in accordance with the first embodiment.

[0081] FIG. 25 represents a longitudinal view of the tape with a series of teeth forming the subject of the present invention in accordance with the first embodiment.

[0082] FIG. 26 represents a longitudinal perspective view of the tape with a series of teeth forming the subject of the present invention in accordance with the first embodiment.

[0083] FIG. 27 represents a perspective view of the zip forming the subject of the present invention in accordance with the first embodiment and of the slider.

[0084] FIG. 28 represents a front view of a tooth in accordance with the second embodiment.

[0085] FIG. 29 represents a perspective view of the support of a tooth in accordance with the second embodiment.

[0086] FIG. 30 represents a complete perspective view of a tooth forming the subject of the present invention in accordance with the second embodiment.

[0087] FIG. 31 represents a view from above of the support of a tooth in accordance with the second embodiment.

[0088] FIG. 32 represents a view from below of the support of a tooth in accordance with the second embodiment.

[0089] FIG. 33 represents a side view of the support of a tooth in accordance with the second embodiment.

[0090] FIG. 34 represents a longitudinal perspective view of the support of a tooth in accordance with the second embodiment.

[0091] FIG. 35 represents a lower perspective view of the support of a tooth in accordance with the second embodiment.

[0092] FIG. 36 represents a longitudinal perspective view of a tooth fixed to the webbing in accordance with the second embodiment.

[0093] FIG. 37 represents a perspective view of the webbing with a series of supports of the tooth attached to the fabric in accordance with the second embodiment.

[0094] FIG. 38 represents a longitudinal view of the tape with a series of teeth forming the subject of the present invention in accordance with the second embodiment.

[0095] FIG. 39 represents a longitudinal perspective view of the tape with a series of teeth forming the subject of the present invention in accordance with the second embodiment.

[0096] FIG. 40 represents a perspective view of the zip forming the subject of the present invention in accordance with the second embodiment and of the slider.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0097] The present invention is described according to two possible modes of implementation, in any case not limiting of its embodiments.

[0098] The present invention can in fact undergo variations in execution/implementation within the scope of the invention described above. As clearly indicated above, the core of the present invention concerns the ability of the tooth to pivot around its central vertical axis. This movement is permitted by a particular support, placed between the tooth and the webbing, whose conformation is such as to allow the rotation of the tooth.

First Embodiment

[0099] According to the first embodiment of the present invention, represented in FIGS. 5 to 8 and 13 to 27, a coupling element or tooth 5 goes to insert in a particular support, constituted by two half-cylinders 18 and 19 provided with a respective hole 27 and 28 which traverses them from side to side.

[0100] Each half-cylinder 18, 19 is positioned on the opposite faces of a webbing 29 in such a way as to have their vertical section 25 and 26 adjacent to the strip of fabric.

[0101] The two half-cylinders 18 and 19 are then joined one to the other and to the webbing 29 by means of a pin 24 which traverses them by passing through their holes 27 and 28 and perforating, in the middle, the webbing itself 29. In this way, the half-cylinders 18 and 19 are firmly anchored to the fabric and bound one to the other creating a “small cylinder”.

[0102] These cylinders form the fixed point on the webbing of the zip forming the subject of the present invention and can be mounted equidistant, or not, from each other on the webbing 29 (FIG. 24).

[0103] The two half-cylinders are finally provided with two pairs of identical tracks 20, 21 and 22, 23 positioned on their horizontal planes, or upper and lower faces, perpendicular to the longitudinal plane of the half-cylinders.

[0104] The tooth 5 shown in the various drawings, is characterised in that it has two legs 6 and 7 in the shape of an “L”.

[0105] In its inner central part there are four protrusions 8, 9, 10, 11 depicted, by way of a non-limiting example, in an ovoid shape.

[0106] More particularly, two of these protrusions 8 and 9 are positioned in the horizontal part of the “L” of the legs of the tooth. The other two protrusions 10 and 11 are positioned in a specular manner in front of these, under the head of the tooth.

[0107] Each of the aforementioned protrusions is mainly designed to fit into the respective track of the abovementioned half-cylinder.

[0108] More particularly, the lower protrusions 8 and 9 are inserted in the lower tracks 22 and 23, while the upper protrusions 10 and 11 are inserted in the upper tracks 20 and 21.

[0109] The final complete configuration of the tooth 5 coupled to the relative support forming the subject of the present invention is shown in FIG. 15.

[0110] The rotation mechanism of the tooth 5 is intuitive: its protrusions slide, in one direction or in the other, along the tracks of the two half-cylinders 18 and 19 and the rotation is therefore axial around the vertical central axis of the tooth. FIG. 25 is a schematic representation of a series of teeth 5 applied to a fabric webbing 29 by means of the supports formed by the half-cylinders 18 and 19.

[0111] The subject of the present invention has, therefore, a fixed part stably punched to the webbing, i.e. the two half-cylinders 18 and 19, and a movable and pivoting part, i.e. the tooth 5 proper, which oscillates thanks to the sliding of the protrusions 8, 9, 10, 11 along the tracks 20, 21, 22, 23 of the half-cylinders 18 and 19.

[0112] The chain of the zip forming the subject of the present invention is therefore constituted by a series of teeth with relative supports as above described (FIG. 26).

[0113] The practical utility of the present invention manifests itself precisely in the case of curvature of the slot of the article on which the zip is inserted (FIG. 27). The internal protrusions of the tooth, stressed by the action of the slider, automatically slide in the tracks of the half-cylinders, allowing a natural and optimal, resistant and aesthetically pleasing closure of the article.

Second Embodiment

[0114] With regard to the second embodiment of the present invention, shown in FIGS. 9 to 12 and 28 to 40, a tooth 12 goes to interlock with a particular support, constituted in this case by a cylinder 30.

[0115] Said cylinder 30 has a vertical slot 37 along the central axis, of different height and width according to needs, which traverses it from one end to the other and therefore for the entire length of the diameter of the lower base.

[0116] The vertical slot 37 of the cylinder 30 divides the lower base of the support into two identical and specular lunettes 32 and 33, seen more clearly in FIG. 32 and in FIG. 35).

[0117] The edge of a webbing of fabric 38 is inserted into the aforementioned slot (FIG. 36), the walls of which have knurls 36 designed to inhibit the movement of the cylinder 30 on the fabric. Each cylinder is then firmly fixed to the fabric by means of compression.

[0118] Similarly to the first embodiment of the present invention already described, these cylinders constitute the fixed point of the zip on the webbing and are mounted therein, generally but not necessarily, equidistant one from the other (FIG. 37).

[0119] Each cylinder is characterised in that it has, as lower base, the aforementioned lunettes 32 and 33 in which two identical tracks 34 and 35 are placed, perpendicular to the longitudinal plane of the cylinder.

[0120] At the centre of the upper base of the aforementioned cylinder 30, a hole 31 is instead positioned, of any type of size and shape, and represented, merely by way of a non-limiting example, in ovoid form (FIG. 31).

[0121] Said hole has the main task of going to interlock in an upper internal protrusion 17 of the tooth 12, as will be explained here below.

[0122] The tooth 12 according to this embodiment, (FIG. 28), is characterised in that it has two L-shaped legs 13 and 14.

[0123] Three protrusions 15, 16 and 17 stand out in its inner central part, shown, by way of a non-limiting example, in ovoid form.

[0124] More particularly, two protrusions 15 and 16 are positioned in the horizontal part of the “L” of the legs of the tooth. The third protrusion 17 is instead positioned in front of these, under the head of the tooth 12, exactly at the centre of the horizontal line of the internal groove of the tooth itself.

[0125] As described above, the upper protrusion 17 goes to insert in the hole 31 of the upper base of the cylinder 30. The lower protrusions 15 and 16 instead go to insert in the respective tracks 34, 35 located on the lunettes of the lower base of the cylinder.

[0126] The final complete configuration of the tooth coupled to the relative support forming the subject of the present invention is shown in FIG. 30.

[0127] The mechanism of rotation of the tooth is intuitive: its lower protrusions slide, in one direction or in the other, along the tracks of the lower base of the cylinder and the rotation is therefore axial around the central vertical axis of the tooth.

[0128] Along this axis is the upper protrusion of the tooth which, inserting in the hole of the upper base of the support, holds the tooth in the pre-established position, preventing it from sliding to one side or to the other.

[0129] The subject of the present invention has, therefore, a part stably fixed to the webbing 38, i.e. the cylinder 30, and a movable and pivoting part, i.e. the tooth 12, which oscillates thanks to the sliding of the protrusions along the tracks of the support.

[0130] The chain of the zip forming the subject of the present invention is therefore constituted by a series of teeth with relative supports as described above (FIGS. 39 and 40).

[0131] The practical utility of the present invention is the same already described with reference to the first embodiment.

[0132] Naturally, the invention is not limited to the particular embodiments previously described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, but numerous detailed changes may be made thereto, within the reach of the person skilled in the art, without thereby departing from the scope of the invention itself, defined by the appended claims.