Snag resistant slide fastener

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9565904-B2
Application number	US-201514709442-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 11, 2015
Priority date	Jan 30, 2009
Publication date	Feb 14, 2017
Grant date	Feb 14, 2017

Abstract

A conventional zipper is the preferred means for closure of many jackets and other outerwear. Conventional zippers are prone to jamming and snagging due to the introduction of the liner into the slider body as the zipper is opened and closed. Embodiments herein provide modified slider bodies with one or more features such as an elongated spring cap, a protrusion on the bottom plate and/or plate coupler of the slider body, and/or vertically offset side rails. These features may minimize introduction of loose fabric, such as the lining of a lined garment, into the tape slot of the slider body, thereby help reduce jamming of the slider body during operation of the slide fastener.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A slider body comprising:
a top plate comprising top side rails;
a bottom plate comprising bottom side rails disposed parallel to the top side rails;
a tape slot disposed between the bottom side rails and the top side rails, wherein a length of the tape slot is defined by a horizontal distance over which the bottom side rails and top side rails overlap;
a first flanking region adjacent a first end of said tape slot, the first flanking region defining a horizontal region of the slider body with a bottom side rail and no top side rail;
a second flanking region adjacent a second end of said tape slot, the second flanking region defining a horizontal region of the slider body with a top side rail and no bottom side rail; and
a plate coupler coupled to the top plate and the bottom plate.

2. The slider body of claim 1 , wherein the length of the tape slot is no more than one half a length of the slider body.

3. The slider body of claim 1 , wherein the length of the tape slot is no more than a length of the plate coupler.

4. The slider body of claim 1 , further comprising a joining section disposed between the top plate and the bottom plate and having a length, wherein the length of the joining section is greater than the length of the tape slot.

5. The slider body of claim 1 , further comprising a slider cap coupled to the top plate.

6. The slider body of claim 1 , wherein the plate coupler includes a forward-projecting protrusion.

7. The slider body of claim 1 , wherein the bottom plate includes a downward-projecting protrusion along at least a portion of a bottom surface of the bottom plate.

8. The slider body of claim 1 , further comprising a forward-projecting and downward-projecting protrusion coupled to the plate coupler and the bottom plate, wherein the protrusion extends outwardly from an anterior portion of the slider body and further extends below the bottom plate.

9. A slider body comprising:
a top plate coupled to a slider cap and including top side rails;
a bottom plate including bottom side rails disposed below and horizontally parallel to the top side rails, wherein the top side rails and bottom side rails are offset from one another with the top side rails extending further than the bottom side rails in a first horizontal direction, and the bottom side rails extending further than the top side rails in a second horizontal direction, the first horizontal direction opposite the second horizontal direction; and
a plate coupler coupled to the top plate and the bottom plate.

10. The slider body of claim 9 , further comprising a joining section disposed between the top plate and the bottom plate and having a length from a rear of the plate coupler to a rear of the slider body, the slider cap having a length equal to or greater than 150% of the length of the joining section.

11. The slider body of claim 9 , wherein the plate coupler includes a forward-projecting protrusion.

12. The slider body of claim 9 , wherein the bottom plate includes a downward-projecting protrusion along at least a portion of a bottom surface of the bottom plate.

13. The slider body of claim 9 , wherein the offset top and bottom side rails define:
a tape slot disposed between the bottom side rails and the top side rails, wherein a length of the tape slot is a horizontal distance over which the bottom side rails and the top side rails overlap; and
a first and a second flanking region proximal to the tape slot, wherein the first flanking region is disposed adjacent a first end of the tape slot and defines a horizontal region of the slider body with a bottom side rail and no top side rail, and wherein the second flanking region is disposed adjacent a second end of the tape slot and defines a horizontal region of the slider body with a top side rail and no bottom side rail.

14. The slider body of claim 13 , wherein the first flanking region is disposed between the tape slot and a front of the slider body, and wherein the second flanking region is disposed between the tape slot and a rear of the slider body.

15. The slider body of claim 13 , further comprising a forward-projecting and downward-projecting protrusion coupled to the plate coupler and the bottom plate, wherein the protrusion extends outwardly from an anterior portion of the slider body and further extends below the bottom plate.

16. The slider body of claim 13 , wherein the length of the tape slot is no more than one half a length of the slider body.

17. The slider body of claim 13 , wherein the length of the tape slot is no more than a length of the plate coupler.

Assignees

• Columbia Sportswear Na Inc

Inventors

• Blackford Michael “Woody”
• Davis Gary
• Blalock Paul

Classifications

• Y10T24/2588

  including means for attaching components of slider together · CPC title

• A44B19/265 Primary

  with means for preventing the accidental intrusion of material into the slider body, e.g. with shield or guard · CPC title

• A44B19/26

  Sliders · CPC title

• Y10T24/2586

  including pull tab attaching means · CPC title

• Y10T24/2584

  Spaced segments of each wall of channel supported by different wings · CPC title