One-piece zipper puller

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9743723-B2
Application number	US-201213984797-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 10, 2012
Priority date	Feb 11, 2011
Publication date	Aug 29, 2017
Grant date	Aug 29, 2017

Abstract

A zipper puller ( 110 ) has a one piece structure including a molded plastic body ( 112 ) and an integral molded looped tether ( 114 ). The looped tether is molded in a first size and shape, and after molding the looped tether is permanently deformed to a second size and second shape by aligning the crystalline structure of the looped tether material.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A one-piece zipper puller to suspend from a hole in a zipper handle, comprising:
a single, integrally-formed elastomeric puller body having a puller body crystalline structure;
an elastomeric tether integral with said puller body, said tether formed and molded as an endless loop having a length extending from said puller body;
said endless loop having flexibility along said length sufficient for said puller body to pass through a distal end portion of said endless loop with said endless loop received in the hole of the zipper handle;
said tether having a crystalline structure aligned in the direction of said length; and
said crystalline structure of said tether being more aligned than the crystalline structure of said puller body.

2. The one-piece zipper puller of claim 1 , said tether and said body being of the same elastomeric material.

3. The one-piece zipper puller of claim 1 , said tether and said body being a monolithic structure of different materials.

4. The one-piece zipper puller of claim 1 , said body including a hole for receiving an insert.

5. The one-piece zipper puller of claim 1 , said body provided with a grip enhancing surface configuration.

6. The one-piece zipper puller of claim 1 , said tether including a proximal solid rib portion and a distal loop portion.

7. A method for manufacturing a zipper puller to suspend from a hole in a zipper handle, including steps of:
molding a zipper puller body and an endless looped tether integral with the zipper puller body as a one-piece molding, said endless looped tether having molded thickness, length, flexibility and strength, wherein said step of molding comprises integrally forming and molding the zipper puller body as a single unitary piece; and
processing the endless looped tether to align the crystalline structure thereof by permanently deforming the endless looped tether from its as molded thickness, length and flexibility to a decreased thickness, increased length and increased flexibility;
said step of processing performed to achieve a desired strength along the length of the endless looped tether different from the strength of the endless looped tether as molded; and
said step of processing performed to increase the length, strength and flexibility sufficiently for said zipper puller body to pass through a distal end of said endless looped tether with said endless looped tether received in the hole of the zipper handle.

8. The method of claim 7 , said step of processing including stretching.

9. The method of claim 7 , said step of processing including pressing.

10. The method of claim 7 , said step of processing performed to achieve a desired flexibility in the looped tether different than the flexibility in the looped tether as molded.

11. A one-piece zipper puller, comprising:
a single, integrally-formed elastomeric puller body having a first elastomeric crystalline structure;
an elastomeric tether integral with said puller body;
said tether defining an endless loop having a length extending from said puller body, said endless loop being of sufficient size and flexibility to be doubled back on itself and receive said puller body passed through said loop; and
said tether having a second elastomeric crystalline structure different from said first elastomeric crystalline structure.

12. The one-piece zipper puller of claim 11 , said tether having a crystalline structure aligned in the direction of said length.

Assignees

• Chang Chwan Huey Lim
• Shereyk David A
• Pontaoe John S
• Chu Tun-Jen
• Coffield Timothy P
• Illinois Tool Works

Inventors

• Chang Chwan Huey Lim
• Shereyk David A
• Pontaoe John S
• Chu Tun-Jen
• Coffield Timothy P

Classifications

• Y10T24/2586

  including pull tab attaching means · CPC title

• A44B19/42

  Making by processes not fully provided for in one other class, e.g. B21D53/50, B21F45/18, B22D17/16, B29D5/00 {(attaching closure devices, e.g. slide fasteners, to bags B31B70/813; making package opening by applying or incorporating profile strips, e.g. for reclosable bags B65B61/188)} · CPC title

• A44B19/262 Primary

  Pull members; Ornamental attachments for sliders · CPC title