Zipper repair tool

Abstract

The present invention describes a tool for fixing a zipper. The present invention resembles a pliers-like device and comprises a pair of pivotally connected handles that terminate in jaws. The jaws include a bifurcated end for the reception of a zipper head and a blade configured for severing a sewing thread. The handle of the tool includes an interior compartment having sunken sections formed therein for supporting sewing needles and threads used for repairing zippers and fabric items. This provides users with a convenient and quick way to fix a loose zipper, enables individuals to easily repair torn or frayed material, and prevents people from damaging the material around a zipper when trying to fix a loose example thereof.

Claims

1. A zipper repair tool, comprising: an upper handle having a recessed proximal region adapted for the reception of a user's thumb; a lower handle having a proximal end compartment therein, said proximal end compartment comprising a first plurality of sunken sections each configured to receive a sewing needle and a second plurality of sunken sections each configured to receive a spool of thread; a lower tapered jaw section including a flat section, whereby said lowered tapered jaw section is disposed at a distal end of said upper handle; an upper jaw having a bifurcated tip portion adapted for the reception of a zipper head, whereby said upper jaw is disposed at a distal end of said lower handle; a pivot point, whereby the upper and lower handles are pivotally attached to each other; an upper blade disposed on the upper jaw; a lower blade disposed on the lower tapered jaw section; and wherein said upper and lower blades form cutting shears configured to cross each other in a scissor action between an open and closed positon where the bifurcated tip portion engages the flat section in the closed position.

2. The zipper repair tool of claim 1, wherein said distal end of said lower tapered jaw section opposing said bifurcated tip portion of said upper jaw comprises a planar surface forward of said lower blade of said lower tapered jaw section.

3. The zipper repair tool of claim 1, further comprising a compartment door, the compartment door being hingedly attached to the proximal end compartment and configured to cover the first plurality of sunken sections and the second plurality of sunken sections of the proximal end compartment.

4. The zipper repair tool of claim 1, wherein the closed position includes the bifurcated tip portion of the upper jaw resting flush against the flat section of the lower tapered jaw section.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood after a review of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout.

(2) FIGS. 1A-1C show side and overhead views of the zipper repair device of the present invention.

(3) FIGS. 2A-2C show side and perspective views of the opened jaws of the zipper repair device of the present invention.

(4) FIGS. 3A-3C show overhead and internal views of the lower handle portion of the zipper repair device of the present invention, and notably the compartment therein.

(5) FIG. 4 shows a view of the present invention while in use repairing a zipper head.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(6) Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similar elements of the zipper repair device. For the purposes of presenting a brief and clear description of the present invention, the preferred embodiment will be discussed as used for providing a means for storing all the necessary components required to repair a zipper within a zipper repair device. The figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect.

(7) Referring now to FIGS. 1A-1C there are shown side and overhead views of the zipper repair device 10 of the present invention; whereby FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate side views and FIG. 1C illustrates an overhead view of the device 10. The device 10 includes a pair of connected handles, comprised of a lower 15 and upper 25 handle that establish a plier-type or scissor type tool. The handles 15, 25 are securely attached at a pivot point 35, while the distal ends of each handle terminate in a pair of jaws 20, 30 that are configured for the reception of a zipper head and for use as a pair of cutting jaws.

(8) The upper handle 25 crosses positions with the lower handle 15 at the pivot point 35, while the upper handle 25 terminates in a lower jaw 30 and the lower handle 15 terminates at an upper jaw 20. The upper jaw includes an upper blade 21 and the lower jaw 30 includes a planar surface thereon and a lower blade 31, wherein the lower blade 31 is adapted for severing a thread when the jaws are compressed together and the upper blade 21 crosses the lower blade 31 in a shearing motion. As shown in FIG. 1C, the upper handle 25 further comprises a sunken section 26 that is adapted to provide clearance for the upper and lower blades 21, 31, which are positioned along one side of each jaw and overlap one another to cut thread or other articles during a zipper repair.

(9) Similar to the upper handle 25, the lower handle 15 crosses paths with the upper handle 25 at the pivot point 35. The lower handle 15 terminates at the upper jaw 20, wherein the upper jaw 20 includes a forked end 23 and the upper blade 21. The forked end 23 is bifurcated and adapted for the reception of a zipper head therein, while the upper blade 21 is configured to mate against or cross over the lower blade 31 in order to form shears or cutting blades. The upper and lower blades 21,31 enable the severing of thread or similar sized items therein, when the handles 15, 25 are pivoted towards each other. Additionally, the lower handle 15 includes a hinge 40, whereby the hinge 40 facilitates the opening of a compartment door within the handle proximal end. Under the compartment door is a storage compartment for storing needles, thread, and other garment and zipper repair items.

(10) Referring now to FIGS. 2A-2C there are shown side and perspective views of the opened jaws of the zipper repair device of the present invention, whereby FIGS. 2A and 2B display the side views and FIG. 2C illustrates the perspective view of the present invention. The upper and lower jaws 20, 30 are opened by actuation of the lower 15 and upper 25 handles away from each other, which results in the handles rotating about the pivot point 35. The upper jaw 20 is located at the end of the lower handle 15 and includes the forked end 23 configured for receiving a zipper head, and the upper blade 21 adapted for cutting a thread. The lower jaw 30 is located at a distal end of the upper handle 25 and includes a tapered jaw section and the lower blade 31 adapted to mate or overlap with the upper blade 21 of the lower handle 15, whereby the meeting of the upper and lower blades 21, 31 is used for cutting or severing zipper threads. As shown in the perspective view of FIG. 2C, the upper jaw 20 comprises the forked end 23 adapted for the reception of a zipper head therebetween.

(11) Referring to FIGS. 3A-3C there are shown overhead and internal views of the lower handle 15, wherein FIG. 3A shows the overhead view, FIG. 3B shows the sunken compartments within the handle 15, and FIG. 3C illustrates the internal components within the lower handle 15.

(12) Referring now to FIG. 3A, there is shown an overhead view of the lower handle 15 of the zipper repair tool 10 of the present invention. The lower handle 15 includes a removable top portion 16 that is hingedly attached to the lower handle 15, whereby the top portion 16 comprises a cutout 17 that can be lifted to facilitate the opening of the top portion 16 away from the lower handle 15.

(13) FIG. 3B illustrates an overhead view of the lower handle 15, wherein the top portion 16 is remove to better illustrate the internal views of the lower handle 15. Within the lower handle 15, there are shown a plurality of sunken internal sections 45 and 50, whereby sunken sections 45 are configured for reception of needles and sunken sections 50 are configured for the reception of a plurality of threads.

(14) Referring now to FIG. 3C, there is shown a view of the components within the sunken sections 45 and 50 of FIG. 3B. As shown the sunken sections 45 and 50 are sized and configured for the reception of 46 and thread 51 within sections 45 and 50 as shown in FIG. 3B, respectively.

(15) Referring now to FIG. 4, there is shown a view of the zipper repair tool of the present invention while in use. In use, the zipper repair tool 10 is adapted to replace a loosened or damaged zipper head 55. The device resembles a pair of pliers, wherein the device 10 is capable of retaining a zipper head 55 within the bifurcated portion 23 of the upper jaw 20. In order to replace the zipper head 55, a user may clamp the bifurcated portion 23 of the upper jaw 20 down onto the surface of the zipper head. The user may then either tighten down on the zipper head 55 to further secure the zipper head 55, or apply the use of the needle and thread to secure or replace the zipper head 55.

(16) As shown in this preferred embodiment, the zipper repair tool 10 of the present invention includes a pair of lower 15 and upper handles 25 that extend and terminate at upper 20 and lower jaws 30 respectively, whereby the upper 25 and lower 15 handles cross each other at a pivot point 35 on the device 10. The upper handle 25 includes a recessed area 26 adapted for the reception of a user's thumb and terminates in a lower tapered jaw 30. The lower handle 15, includes a top portion 16 that is hingedly attached 40 to the lower handle 15, whereby the top portion 16 can be lifted by the pulling up on the cutout 17 of the top portion 16. When removed, the top portion 16 reveals a compartment within the lower handle 15 that includes sunken sections 45 and 50 that are configured for the reception of a pair of needles 46 and a set of three threads 51. It is contemplated that the sewing kit 46, 51, can be utilized for repairing torn or frayed material. Additionally, the zipper repair tool 10 of the present invention includes a pair of blades 21, 31 that mate and form scissors adapted for the use of cutting the threads.

(17) The present invention is designed for those who wish to preserve their clothing. The zipper repair device 10 includes a pair of lower 15 and upper handles 25; wherein the interior compartment of the lower handle includes sunken areas 45, 50 configured for the reception of needles 46 and thread 51. The storage compartments 45, 50, can comprise different sizes of needles and differing sizes and colors of thread. Moreover, there may be differing amounts of sections capable of retaining the needle and thread. Furthermore, there may be different sized jaw members and bifurcated 23 portions to accommodate different sized zipper heads 55. In this way, the present invention provides a tool that can be used to fix a loose zipper, as well as repair torn or frayed clothing.

(18) It is therefore submitted that the instant invention has been shown and described in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

(19) Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.