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. The waterproof layer coated on the inner surfaces of the halves may prevent the liquid from penetrating into the interior of the waterproof zipper, and simplify the structure of the waterproof zipper. A process of manufacturing the waterproof zipper is also provided.

Claims

1. A waterproof zipper comprising: two halves, each including a half tape member and a row of protruding teeth disposed along a side of the half tape member; and a waterproof layer is secured to an inner surface of the halves.

2. The waterproof zipper of claim 1, wherein the sides of the half tape members face each other.

3. The waterproof zipper of claim 1, wherein the waterproof layer is disposed on the half tape members of the two halves without contacting the sides of the half tape members.

4. The waterproof zipper of claim 1, wherein the row of protruding teeth is disposed along an inner side of the half tape member.

5. The waterproof zipper of claim 1, 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.

6. The waterproof zipper of claim 1, wherein the waterproof zipper is formed by 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; (d) pressing the halves on the waterproof layer at a pressure range from 10 kg/cm2 to 30 kg/cm2 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.

7. A process for manufacturing a waterproof zipper, comprising the steps of: (a) guiding the 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 a side 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 by a pressing device 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 to produce a finished waterproof zipper.

8. The process of claim 7, wherein the halves is pressed on the waterproof layer by the pressing device at a pressure range from 10 kg/cm.sup.2 to 30 kg/cm.sup.2 and in a temperature range from 40 C. and 140 C. to secure the waterproof layer and the releasing layer together.

9. The process of claim 7, wherein both the waterproof layer and the halves are placed in the environment for five to seven days to produce a finished waterproof zipper.

10. The process of claim 7, wherein the waterproof layer comprises dimethylacetamide, methyl ethyl ketone, toluene, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, and polyurethane resin.

11. The process of claim 7, wherein the waterproof layer comprises 10% to 21% by weight of dimethylacetamide.

12. The process of claim 7, wherein the waterproof layer comprises 30% to 41% by weight of methyl ethyl ketone.

13. The process of claim 7, wherein the waterproof layer comprises 4% to 12% by weight of toluene.

14. The process of claim 7, wherein the waterproof layer comprises 1% to 7% by weight of N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone.

15. The process of claim 7, wherein the sides of the half tape members face each other.

16. The process of claim 7, wherein the waterproof layer is disposed on the half tape members of the two halves without contacting the sides of the half tape members.

17. The process of claim 7, wherein the row of protruding teeth is disposed along an inner side of the half tape member.

18. A process for manufacturing a waterproof zipper, comprising the steps of: (a) guiding the waterproof layer to a position above two half tape members on a continuous flow production line; (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 two half tape members on the waterproof layer by a pressing device 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 half tape members in the oven again; (g) cooling both the waterproof layer and the half tape members for a predetermined period of time; (h) removing both the waterproof layer and the half tape members from the continuous flow production line; (i) placing both the waterproof layer and the half tape members in an environment; and (j) connecting the two half tape members to two rows of protruding teeth to produce a finished waterproof zipper.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional zipper with a waterproof structure;

[0034] FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of the waterproof layer of the conventional zipper shown in FIG. 1;

[0035] FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view of the steps of sticking an electroplating membrane to the tape of the conventional zipper;

[0036] FIG. 3B is another cross-sectional view of the electroplating membrane to be bonded on the tape of the conventional zipper;

[0037] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a waterproof zipper according to the invention;

[0038] FIG. 5 is a first exemplary sectional view of the waterproof zipper taken along line B-B of FIG. 4;

[0039] FIG. 6 is a second exemplary sectional view of the waterproof zipper taken along line B-B of FIG. 4;

[0040] FIG. 7 is a third exemplary sectional view of the waterproof zipper taken along line B-B of FIG. 4;

[0041] FIG. 8 is a fourth exemplary sectional view of the waterproof zipper taken along line B-B of FIG. 4; and

[0042] FIG. 9 schematically depicts a process of manufacturing the waterproof zipper according to the invention.

[0043] FIG. 10 is a flow chart of the process of manufacturing the waterproof zipper according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0044] Referring to FIGS. 4 to 8, a waterproof zipper 3 in accordance with the invention comprises the following components as discussed in detail below.

[0045] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a waterproof zipper according to the invention, FIG. 5 is a first exemplary sectional view of the waterproof zipper taken along line B-B of FIG. 4, FIG. 6 is a second exemplary sectional view of the waterproof zipper taken along line B-B of FIG. 4, FIG. 7 is a third exemplary sectional view of the waterproof zipper taken along line B-B of FIG. 4, and FIG. 8 is a fourth exemplary sectional view of the waterproof zipper taken along line B-B of FIG. 4.

[0046] The waterproof zipper 3 includes two halves 30, each including a half tape member 300 and a row of protruding teeth 301 along a side 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.

[0047] The waterproof zipper 3 of the present invention may be implemented in various ways to provide water proof abilities for various zipper structures. As shown in FIG. 5, two halves 30, each including a half tape member 300 and a row of protruding teeth 301 along the side of the half tape member 300. The sides of the half tape members face each other. In the present embodiment, the half tape members 300 are embedded into the interior of the rows of protruding teeth 301, and a waterproof layer 31 is secured to an inner surface of the halves 30, that is, secured to the surfaces of both the rows of protruding teeth 301 and the half tape members 300, for preventing water from passing through the halves 30.

[0048] Referring to FIG. 6, a waterproof is secured to the surface of the half tape member 300 firstly, and the half tape members 300 are embedded into the interior of the rows of protruding teeth 301 together with the waterproof layer 31. In this embodiment, the water proof layer 31 provides excellent waterproof effects at a portion where the half tape member 300 connecting to the row of protruding teeth 301.

[0049] Further referring to FIG. 7, two halves 30, each including a half tape member 300 and a row of protruding teeth 301 along the side of the half tape member 300. In the present embodiment, the sides still face each other, but most of the surfaces of the half tape members are connected to the rows of protruding teeth 301. The waterproof layer 31 is secured to the surfaces of the row of protruding teeth 301 and the half tape member 300, for preventing water from passing through the halves 30.

[0050] FIG. 8 of the present invention provides two halves 30, each including a half tape member 300 and a row of protruding teeth 301 along the side of the half tape member 300. In the present embodiment, the sides do not face each other, but another side without connecting the row of protruding teeth 301 are provided. The another sides of the two halves are connected with each other while the two rows of protruding teeth 301 are embedded with each other. Moreover, the waterproof layer 31 is merely secured to the surfaces of the half tape member 300 without contacting the rows of protruding teeth 301, for preventing water from passing through the halves 30.

[0051] The waterproof layer 31 may comprise comprises dimethylacetamide, methyl ethyl ketone, toluene, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, and polyurethane resin. Preferably, the waterproof layer 31 may comprise 10% to 21% by weight of dimethylacetamide, 30% to 41% by weight of methyl ethyl ketone, 4% to 12% by weight of toluene, 1% to 7% by weight of N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, and 36% to 47% by weight of polyurethane resin.

[0052] Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10 in conjunction with FIGS. 4, 5, 7 and 8, a process of manufacturing the waterproof zipper and a flow chart thereof in accordance with the invention is illustrated. The process comprises the following steps:

[0053] S901: 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.

[0054] S902: Uniformly coating the waterproof layer 31 on a releasing layer 4.

[0055] S903: Drying both the waterproof layer 31 and the releasing layer 4 in an oven.

[0056] S904: 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 a pressing device to secure the waterproof layer 31 and the releasing layer 4 together. Preferably, the halves may be pressed on the waterproof layer by the pressing device at a pressure range from 10 kg/cm.sup.2 to 30 kg/cm.sup.2 and in a temperature range from 40 C. and 140 C. to secure the waterproof layer and the releasing layer together

[0057] S905: Removing the releasing layer 4 from the waterproof layer 31, i.e., only the waterproof layer 31 secured to the halves 30.

[0058] S906: Drying both the waterproof layer 31 and the halves 30 in the oven again.

[0059] S907: Cooling both the waterproof layer 31 and the halves 30, removing same from the continuous flow production line, and placing same in an environment to provide a finished waterproof zipper. Preferably, the environment may be a room environment with room temperature, or may be a predetermined temperature lower than the room temperature. Both the waterproof layer and the halves are placed in the room environment for five to seven days to produce a finished waterproof zipper. As a result, a complete zipper is finished.

[0060] 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.

[0061] In another process of manufacturing the waterproof zipper of the present invention, such as the waterproof zipper depicted in FIG. 6, including the following steps:

[0062] Guiding the waterproof layer to a position above two half tape members on a continuous flow production line;

[0063] Coating a waterproof layer on a releasing layer;

[0064] Drying both the waterproof layer and the releasing layer in an oven;

[0065] Pressing the two half tape members on the waterproof layer by a pressing device to secure the waterproof layer and the releasing layer together;

[0066] Removing the releasing layer from the waterproof layer;

[0067] Drying both the waterproof layer and the half tape members in the oven again;

[0068] Cooling both the waterproof layer and the half tape members for a predetermined period of time;

[0069] Removing both the waterproof layer and the half tape members from the continuous flow production line;

[0070] Placing both the waterproof layer and the half tape members in an environment; and

[0071] Connecting the two half tape members to two rows of protruding teeth to produce a finished waterproof zipper. In this embodiment, the water proof layer 31 provides excellent waterproof effects at a portion where the half tape member 300 connecting to the row of protruding teeth 301.

[0072] 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.