Waterproof zipper and process of manufacturing same

Abstract

A waterproof zipper is provided with two halves, each including a half tape member and a row of protruding teeth along an inner edge of the half tape member; and a waterproof layer is secured to an inner surface of the halves. A process of manufacturing the waterproof zipper is also provided, including the steps of: (a) guiding the waterproof layer to a position above the two halves on a continuous flow production line, each half having a half tape member and a row of protruding teeth along an inner edge of the half tape member; (b) coating a waterproof layer on a releasing layer; (c) drying both the waterproof layer and the releasing layer in an oven.

Claims

1. A waterproof zipper comprising: two halves, each including a half tape member and a row of protruding teeth along an inner edge of the half tape member; and a waterproof layer is secured to an inner surface of the halves, wherein the waterproof layer comprises 10% to 21% by weight of dimethylacetamide, 30% to 41% of methyl ethyl ketone, 4% to 12% of toluene, 1% to 7% of N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, and 36% to 47% of polyurethane resin.

2. A method for manufacturing a waterproof zipper, comprising the steps of: (a) guiding a waterproof layer to a position above two halves on a continuous flow production line, each half having a half tape member and a row of protruding teeth along an inner edge of the half tape member; (b) coating a waterproof layer on a releasing layer; (c) drying both the waterproof layer and the releasing layer in an oven; (d) pressing the halves on the waterproof layer at a pressure range from 10 kg/cm.sup.2 to 30 kg/cm.sup.2 by means of a pressing device in a temperature range from 40 C. and 140 C. to secure the waterproof layer and the releasing layer together; (e) removing the releasing layer from the waterproof layer; (f) drying both the waterproof layer and the halves in the oven again; (g) cooling both the waterproof layer and the halves for a predetermined period of time; (h) removing both the waterproof layer and the halves from the continuous flow production line; and (i) placing both the waterproof layer and the halves in an environment for five to seven days to produce a finished waterproof zipper, wherein the waterproof layer comprises 10% to 21% by weight of dimethylacetamide, 30% to 41% of methyl ethyl ketone, 4% to 12% of toluene, 1% to 7% of N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, and 36% to 47% of polyurethane resin.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional zipper with a waterproof structure;

(2) FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of the waterproof layer of the conventional zipper shown in FIG. 1;

(3) FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view of the steps of sticking an electroplating membrane to the tape of the conventional zipper;

(4) FIG. 3B is another cross-sectional view of the electroplating membrane to be bonded on the tape of the conventional zipper;

(5) FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a waterproof zipper according to the invention;

(6) FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the waterproof zipper taken along line B-B of FIG. 4; and

(7) FIG. 6 schematically depicts a process of manufacturing the waterproof zipper according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(8) Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, a waterproof zipper 3 in accordance with the invention comprises the following components as discussed in detail below.

(9) Two halves 30, each includes a half tape member 300 and a row of protruding teeth 301 along an inner edge of the half tape member 300. A waterproof layer 31 is secured to an inner surface of the halves 30 for preventing water from passing through the halves 30.

(10) The waterproof layer 31 comprises 10% to 21% by weight of dimethylacetamide, 30% to 41% of methyl ethyl ketone, 4% to 12% of toluene, 1% to 7% of N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, and 36% to 47% of polyurethane resin.

(11) Referring to FIG. 6 in conjunction with FIGS. 4 and 5, a process of manufacturing the waterproof zipper in accordance with the invention is illustrated. The process comprises the following steps:

(12) Guiding the waterproof layer 31 to a position above two halves 30 on a continuous flow production line, each half 30 having a half tape member 300 and a row of protruding teeth 301 along an inner edge of the half tape member 300.

(13) Uniformly coating the waterproof layer 31 on a releasing layer 4.

(14) Drying both the waterproof layer 31 and the releasing layer 4 in an oven.

(15) Pressing the halves 30 on the waterproof layer 31 at a pressure range from 10 kg/cm.sup.2 to 30 kg/cm.sup.2 by means of a pressing device in a temperature range from 40 C. and 140 C. to secure the waterproof layer 31 and the releasing layer 4 together.

(16) Removing the releasing layer 4 from the waterproof layer 31, i.e., only the waterproof layer 31 secured to the halves 30.

(17) Drying both the waterproof layer 31 and the halves 30 in the oven again.

(18) Cooling both the waterproof layer 31 and the halves 30, removing same from the continuous flow production line, and placing same in a room environment for five to seven days. As a result, a complete zipper is finished.

(19) The invention has the following advantages: Electroplating step is eliminated. Manufacturing process is simplified. Thickness of the zipper is relatively low. The zipper is sufficiently flexible.

(20) While the invention has been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be practiced with modifications within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.