ANTI-JAMMING ZIPPER APPARATUS

Abstract

An anti-jamming zipper apparatus, and systems and methods for using the same, are provided. The apparatus can include a first portion having a first front and back wall and is adjacent to a second portion having a second front and back wall. The front and back walls can be concave and angled away from a central axis of the first and second portion and can facilitate a more effective means of restoring the zipper when debris and clothing material obstructs its range of motion. The apparatus can include a tape separator connected to the first and second portions, a track, and two track branches. A front point can extend from the front walls and a back point can extend from the back walls. The apparatus can include a divider connected to the first portion and a ramp connected between the divider and front point. The apparatus can also include at least one protrusion on at least one wall.

Claims

1. A zipper apparatus, comprising: a first portion having a first front wall and a first back wall; and a second portion adjacent to the first portion, the second portion having a second front wall and a second back wall, each of the first and second front walls and the first and second back walls being angled relative to a central axis common to each the first and second portions.

2. The zipper apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first portion is connected to the second portion by a tape separator, and further comprising a track positioned between the first portion and second portion, the track split by the tape separator to form a first track branch and a second track branch.

3. The zipper apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second front walls and the first and second back walls are at least partially concaved in shape.

4. The zipper apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a front point extending from the first front wall, the second front wall, and the tape separator.

5. The zipper apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a back point extending from the first and second back walls.

6. The zipper apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a first opening formed on each of the first and second front walls and extending to the first track branch; a second opening formed on each of the first and second front walls and extending to the second track branch; and a third opening formed on the back point and extending to the track.

7. The zipper apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a divider located on the first portion and connected to the front point by a ramp.

8. The zipper apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a first protrusion extending from the first front wall and a second protrusion extending from the second front wall.

9. The zipper apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a third protrusion extending from the first back wall and a fourth protrusion extending from the second back wall.

10. The zipper apparatus of claim 4, wherein an angle defining the angle of the front point is between 45 degrees and 70 degrees.

11. The zipper apparatus of claim 4, wherein an angle defining the angle of the front point is between 45 degrees and 65 degrees.

12. The zipper apparatus of claim 4, wherein an angle defining the angle of the front point is between 55 degrees and 65 degrees.

13. The zipper apparatus of claim 6, wherein the first and second openings are at least partially concave in shape.

14. The zipper apparatus of claim 5, further comprising: a first back opening wall located on the first opening and angled away from the back point; and a second back opening wall located on the second opening and angled away from the back point.

15. A zipper apparatus, comprising: a first portion having a first front wall and a first back wall; a second portion adjacent to the first portion and having a second front wall and a second back wall; a first opening located on the front walls and a second opening located on the front walls; a back point extending from the back walls; and a third opening on the back point, the first front wall and second front wall being configured to push material away from the first and second openings, and the back point, the first back wall, and the second back wall being configured to push material away from the third opening.

16. The zipper apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a tape separator connected to and between the first portion and the second portion and configured to separate a first tape and a second tape.

17. The zipper apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a front point integrated with a ramp; and the front point and the ramp are configured to push material away from the first and second openings.

18. The zipper apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a back point configured to push material away from the third opening.

19. The zipper apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a first opening configured to transfer a tape between an external environment and a track; a second opening configured to transfer a tape between an external environment and the track; and a third opening configured to transfer a tape between an external environment and the track.

20. The zipper apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a first protrusion on the first front wall and a second protrusion on the second front wall configured to push material away from the first and second openings.

21. The zipper apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a third protrusion on the first back wall and a fourth protrusion on the second back wall and configured to push material away from the third opening.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0015] These and other features will be more readily understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0016] FIG. 1A is a perspective view of one embodiment of a zipper apparatus;

[0017] FIG. 1B is a side perspective view of the zipper apparatus of FIG. 1A highlighting openings of the zipper apparatus;

[0018] FIG. 1C is a top perspective view of the zipper apparatus of FIG. 1A illustrating front and back walls of the zipper apparatus;

[0019] FIG. 1D is a front perspective view of the zipper apparatus of FIG. 1A illustrating a third opening of the zipper apparatus;

[0020] FIG. 1E is a cross-sectional view of the zipper apparatus of FIG. 1A illustrating an interior concave surface of the zipper apparatus;

[0021] FIG. 2A is a side perspective view of another embodiment of a zipper apparatus;

[0022] FIG. 2B is a perspective view of the zipper apparatus of FIG. 2A;

[0023] FIG. 3A is a perspective view of one embodiment of a zipper apparatus; and

[0024] FIG. 3B is a top perspective view of the zipper apparatus of FIG. 3A.

[0025] It is noted that the drawings are not necessarily to scale. The drawings are intended to depict only typical aspects of the subject matter disclosed herein, and therefore should not be considered as limiting the scope of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] Certain exemplary embodiments will not be described to provide an overall understand of the principles of the structure, function, manufacture, and use of the devices and methods disclosed herein. One of more examples of these embodiments are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Those skilled in the art will understand that the devices and methods specifically described herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings are non-limiting exemplary embodiments and that the scope of the present invention is defined solely by the claims. The features illustrated or described in connection with one exemplary embodiment may be combined with features of other embodiments. Such modifications and variations are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention.

[0027] Further, in the present disclosure, like-named components of the embodiments generally have similar features, and thus within a particular embodiment each feature of each like-named component is not necessarily fully elaborated upon. Additionally, to the extent that linear or circular dimensions are used in the description of the disclosed systems, devices, and methods, such dimensions are not intended to limit the types of shapes that can be used in conjunction with such systems, devices, and methods. A person skilled in the art will recognize that an equivalent to such linear and circular dimensions can easily be determined for any geometric shape. Sizes and shapes of the systems and devices, and the components thereof, can depend at least on the dimensions of the subject in which the systems and devices will be used, the size and shape of the components with which the systems and devices will be used, and the methods with which the systems and devices will be used.

[0028] Various zipper apparatuses and methods of using them are provided. For example, such a zipper apparatus can include a first portion adjacent to a second portion and connected to the second portion by a tape separator. The first portion and the second portion can both have front and back walls. The zipper apparatus can also include a front point extending from the front walls and the tape separator and a back point extending from the back walls. The zipper apparatus can further include at least three openings, two of which can be located on the front walls and the third opening can be located on the back point. A divider can be connected to the face of the first portion and extending to connect to the front point to form a ramp. A pull tab can be connected to the divider. A track is located between the first and second portions and is split by the tape separator to form two track branches. One of each of the three openings can lead to one of either the track branches or the track and can allow for a zipper tape or tapes to enter and exit the track branches or the track. The track branches and the track can guide zipper tapes to come in contact in the track allowing for the zipper tapes to be connected as the zipper apparatus is pulled along the zipper tapes using the pull tab. The track branches and the track can also guide zipper tapes to come in contact with the tape separator thereby separating connected zipper tapes as the zipper apparatus is pulled along the zipper tapes by the pull tab.

[0029] FIGS. 1A-1E illustrate one exemplary embodiment of a zipper apparatus. As shown, a zipper apparatus 100 has a first portion 105 that has side members 109A, 109B including a front wall 110 and a back wall 115. The first portion 105 is adjacent to a second portion 107 and is connected to the second portion 106 by a tape separator 112. The second portion 107 can have side members 111A, 111B including a front wall 114 and a back wall 116. A front point 118 extends from the front walls 110, 114 and the tape separator 112. Two openings 122 and 124 are located on the front walls 110, 114 adjacent to and on opposite sides of the front point 118. As shown in FIG. 1D, a back point 126 is located on the back walls 115, 116 and a third opening 128 is located on the back point 126. In one aspect, the back point 126 can include a wiper 129 to aid in removing any extraneous material in close proximity to the third opening 128. A track 150 is located between the first portion 105 and second 106 portion and is split by the track separator 132 to form a first track branch 142 and a second track branch 144. The openings 122 and 124 are configured to allow zipper tapes 106 to enter and exit the track 150 and track branches 142 and 144. As shown in FIGS. 1C-1D, a divider 146 is connected to a face of the first portion 105 and connects to the front point 118 to form a ramp 134.

[0030] Various features of the zipper apparatus 100 can provide for an improved ability of the zipper apparatus 100 to unjam and clear any snags of material. For example, the zipper apparatus 100 can feature a diamond-shape profile as shown in FIGS. 1A and IC, which can enhance zipper apparatus unjamming and snag clearance. For example, the front point 118 and the ramp 134 are configured to push material away from the openings 122 and 124 to allow zipper tapes 106 to enter and exit the openings 122, 124 uninhibited, therefore allowing the teeth 102 of the zipper tapes 106 to interconnect without jamming. And, the back point 126 is configured to push material away from the opening 128 to allow zipper tapes 106 to enter and exit the opening 128 uninhibited and to prevent the zipper apparatus 100 from jamming. Additionally, the openings 122 and 124 can further include interior concave surfaces to more effectively unjam the zipper apparatus 100 when clothing material obstructs its movement along zipper tapes 106.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 1E, the openings 122 and 124 can provide substantial space for zipper tapes 106 to enter and exit through the openings. The abundant space present within openings 122, 124 can also include interior concave surfaces to help facilitate the movement of the zipper tapes 106 and any material or debris that may get jammed inside the zipper apparatus 100. For instance, the interior concave surfaces 172 and 174 can be recessed in a direction generally away from the tape separator 112 and can guide clogged debris and clothing towards the gaps 182 and 184. The gaps 182 and 184 can provide an open space that is generally half the size of openings 122 and 124 and can reinforce the shape of clogged clothing as the zipper apparatus moves along the zipper tapes 106. For instance, clothing fabric can get clogged inside the zipper apparatus during operation and can form a cluster that occupies some or all of the openings 122, 124. In this aspect, a user of the zipper apparatus 100 can simply pull the divider 146 in the opposite direction, thereby allowing the clothing fabric to be streamlined down the interior concave surfaces 172, 174 and through the gaps 182, 184 to retake its planar shape. This combination of concave surfaces 172, 174 and gaps 182, 184 can prevent a user from having to apply significant force or to fidget with the zipper apparatus 100 to restore it to its normal operation.

[0032] Also shown in FIGS. 1A-1D, the zipper apparatus 100 can also have protrusions 136 and 138 that extend from each of the front wall 110 and back wall 115 of the first portion. These protrusions can also be shown by the front wall 114 and the back wall 116 of the second portion 106. The protrusions 136 and 138 formed by the front and back walls 110, 115 of the first and second portions 105, 106, the ramp 134, the front point 118 and the back point 126 are configured to push material away from the openings 122, 124 to allow zipper tapes 106 to enter and exit the openings 122, 124 uninhibited and to prevent the zipper apparatus 100 from jamming.

[0033] FIGS. 2A-2B illustrate another exemplary embodiment of a zipper apparatus. As shown in FIGS. 2A-2B, a zipper apparatus 200 can have openings 222 and 224 and can also have walls 210 and 215 which can be concave in shape and configured to push material away from openings 222, 224. The concave nature of the walls 210, 215 can enable the zipper apparatus 200 to remove dust and debris embedded in zipper tapes 206, 207 more efficiently. Additionally, a concave surface provides increased surface area in comparison to a flat surface and requires less work, or pulling force, to drag the zipper when material is blocking the path of the zipper. Similarly, the concave surface above the two openings 222 and 224 located on the front walls 210 and 215 can allow the zipper tapes 206, 207 to enter and exit the openings 222 and 224 uninhibited by removing material in closer proximity to the openings 222 and 224. The concave surface above the two openings 222 and 224 can extend the front walls 210 and 215 to be in closer proximity to each other, therefore creating a narrow gap 242. The narrow gap 242 can allow clogged debris and clothing to be streamlined through the gap and enhance the ability of the zipper apparatus 200 to resolve itself when being pulled. Furthermore, the zipper apparatus 200 can include back walls 226, 228 which can be located near an opening 230 located on the back walls 226, 228 and can be configured to be angled away from the front point 218 to allow the zipper tapes 206, 207 to enter and exit the openings uninhibited.

[0034] FIGS. 3A-3B illustrate another exemplary embodiment of a zipper apparatus. In one exemplary use, as shown in FIG. 3A, a zipper apparatus 300 can be configured so that zipper tapes 306 are guided through openings 322, 324 on front walls 310, 315, the track branches (not shown), the track (not shown), and through the opening 330 on the back point (not shown), thereby effectively connecting the zipper apparatus 300 to the zipper tapes 306, 307. In one aspect, zipper tapes 306, 307 can be attached to items, such as garments or bags and the zipper apparatus 300 can be pulled by a pull tab 302 to guide the zipper tapes 306, 307 through the zipper apparatus 300, either to connect or disconnect the zipper tapes 306, 307, such that an access point is opened or closed on the item. In some embodiments, a pull tab 302 can be connected to the divider 346, as shown in FIG. 3A. The pull tab 302 can be configured to pull the zipper apparatus 100 at an angle relatively parallel to the zipper tapes 306, 307 therefore allowing the zipper tapes 306, 307 to be smoothly guided through the zipper apparatus 300 in a linear fashion.

[0035] In another exemplary use, the zipper apparatus 300 can be configured to be permanently fitted to zipper tape 306 using a zipper tape box 308, as shown in FIG. 3A. The second zipper tape 307 can be freely guided in and out of the zipper apparatus 300 via the openings 322 to allow the zipper tapes 306, 307 to be guided through the zipper apparatus 300 via the track and track branches, as described above, to connect or disconnect the zipper tapes 306, 307 to or from each other. In this embodiment, the zipper apparatus can be operated along a central axis that includes the zipper apparatus 300 and the zipper tapes 306, 307. For instance, as shown in FIG. 3B, the zipper apparatus 300 includes the front point 318 and back point 330 which lie along a central axis A. The first front wall 310 the second front wall, extending from the front point 318, can project from the central axis A and form and angle .sub.1 with axis B. In some aspects, .sub.1 can be between 45 and 70 degrees in order to enhance the zipper pulling action with zipper apparatus 300. With front walls 310, 315 projecting outward from the front point 318, an extra degree of protection is added to the zipper pulling action. For instance, if the zipper apparatus 300 is stuck along the zipper tapes 306, the projected front walls 310, 315 can push debris and clogged clothing material out of the path of the zipper apparatus 300, thus making the zipping and unzipping routine more convenient for a user.

[0036] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 3B, the zipper apparatus 300 can include back walls 326, 328 which can be angled relative the central axis A. For instance, back walls 326, 328 can extend from a back point 330 and project from central axis A to form an angle .sub.2 with axis C. Similar to as described above, .sub.2 can be within the range of 45 to 70 degrees. In some aspects, .sub.1 and .sub.2 can be congruent alternate interior angles within the range of 45 to 70 degrees. Alternatively, .sub.1 can be greater than .sub.2 or .sub.1 can be less than .sub.2 within the range of 45 to 70 degrees. In some implementations, projecting the front walls 310, 315 and the back walls 326, 328 from the central axis A, and within the range of 45 to 70 degrees, can provide improved sliding performance depending on the fabric a zipper tape is made from. For instance, if the zipper mechanism 300 is attached to a body of thin fabric, projecting the front walls at an angle within the range of 45 to 50 degrees can allow the fabric to maintain its structural integrity in the event the fabric gets caught between the zipper tape 307 and the front wall 310. In addition, projecting the walls within the above-mentioned range can allow for a more convenient un-jamming routine since the fabric is not compressed against the zipper apparatus, rather it is slid between the projected front wall, back wall and the zipper tapes. For instance, clothing fabric jammed within the zipper apparatus 300 can be guided underneath front wall 310, and along the surface projected at .sub.1 to ensure the clothing fabric returns to its normal shape. Similarly, the jammed clothing fabric can be guided underneath the back wall 328, and along the surface projected at .sub.2 to ensure the clothing fabric returns to its normal shape on the back end of the zipper apparatus 300. Additionally, in some implementations, projecting the front walls 310, 315 and the back walls 326, 328 at an angle between 55 to 65 degrees can provide improved zipper apparatus sliding performance for a body of clothing with thicker fabric or a more complex design. For example, in some implementations, increasing the angle to 65 degrees can provide an improved surface area for zipper apparatus when pushing fabric, debris, material, or debris from the zipper tapes. As described above, the surfaces projected at angles .sub.1 and .sub.2 can aid in restoring clogged clothing material to its normal shape and, with a larger projected angle, thicker clothing material can more easily be restored with a larger projection range to receive the thicker material.

[0037] One skilled in the art will appreciate further features and advantages of the invention based on the above-described embodiments. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited by what has been particularly shown and described, accept as indicated by the appended claims. All publications and references cited herein are expressly incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

[0038] Certain illustrative implementations have been described to provide an overall understanding of the principles of the structure, function, manufacture, and use of the systems, devices, and methods disclosed herein. One or more examples of these implementations have been illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Those skilled in the art will understand that the systems, devices, and methods specifically described herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings are non-limiting illustrative implementations and that the scope of the present invention is defined solely by the claims. The features illustrated or described in connection with one illustrative implementation may be combined with the features of other implementations. Such modifications and variations are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention. Further, in the present disclosure, like-named components of the implementations generally have similar features, and thus within a particular implementation each feature of each like-named component is not necessarily fully elaborated upon.

[0039] Approximating language, as used herein throughout the specification and claims, may be applied to modify any quantitative representation that could permissibly vary without resulting in a change in the basic function to which it is related. Accordingly, a value modified by a term or terms, such as about, approximately, and substantially, are not to be limited to the precise value specified. In at least some instances, the approximating language may correspond to the precision of an instrument for measuring the value. Here and throughout the specification and claims, range limitations may be combined and/or interchanged, such ranges are identified and include all the sub-ranges contained therein unless context or language indicates otherwise.

[0040] One skilled in the art will appreciate further features and advantages of the invention based on the above-described implementations. Accordingly, the present application is not to be limited by what has been particularly shown and described, except as indicated by the appended claims. All publications and references cited herein are expressly incorporated by reference in their entirety.