Patent Application
20120047693
The present invention relates to a zipper apparatus and more particularly to an apparatus for maintaining a zipper in a closed position when used with a nearby button.
It is not uncommon for a slider of a zipper on, for example, pants to function improperly by failing to remain in an up position to maintain the closure of the zipper when the pants are being worn.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,928,363, 5,008,985, and 5,586,368 disclose zipper attachments that include a first part that attaches to the pull tab on a slider of a zipper and a second part that fits over a front button of pants to prevent the slider from sliding down. The opening of the second part must be large enough to receive the button through the opening. Furthermore, the prior art zipper attachments are rigid and inflexible and therefore cannot be adjusted to accommodate different button sizes.
Embodiments of the zipper apparatus of the present invention attach behind the front button instead of receiving the button through an opening. Accordingly, embodiments of the zipper apparatus of the present invention may be smaller and therefore may be cheaper to manufacturer than the prior art zipper attachments. Embodiments of the zipper apparatus of the present invention also include an extended grip portion that may make attachment of the zipper apparatus to the zipper and button easier. Embodiments of the zipper apparatus of the present invention may be adjusted if necessary.
The hook portion 110 may include an elongated vertical portion 110a, a curved portion 110b, and a pull tab attachment portion 110c. As shown in
In an alternate embodiment, the curved portion 110b may be replaced with a connecting portion that may be any shape that connects the elongated vertical portion 110a to the pull tab attachment portion 110c and extends toward the zipper to permit the pull tab attachment portion 110c to be inserted into the opening 430 of the pull tab 410.
The loop portion 120 may include a first elongated vertical portion 120a, a curved portion 120b, and a second elongated vertical portion 120c. As shown in
The back portion 440 may be any type of attachment mechanism that attaches a button to pants or other clothing. The back portion 440 may be attached to button 450 (for example, in the case of thread that attaches a button to pants) or may be an integral part of button 450 (for example, in the case of a protrusion from the back of a button).
In one embodiment, the surface of the first elongated vertical portion 120a of the loop portion 120 may be perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the surface of the elongated vertical portion 110a of the hook portion 110.
In one embodiment, the first elongated vertical portion 120a of the loop portion 120 and the elongated vertical portion 110a of the hook portion 110 may be connected via curved portions 160, 170 and a flat portion 180.
In one embodiment, curved portion 160 may change the direction of the first elongated vertical portion 120a of the loop portion 120 from a downward direction and may change the orientation of the surface of the first elongated vertical portion 120a. In one embodiment, curved portion 160 may change the direction of the first elongated vertical portion 120a of the loop portion 120 from a downward direction to a sideward direction. In one embodiment, curved portion 160 may change the direction of the first elongated vertical portion 120a of the loop portion 120 from a downward direction to a perpendicular or substantially perpendicular direction to the downward direction in which the first elongated vertical portion 120a of the loop portion 120 extends.
In one embodiment, curved portion 170 may change the direction of the elongated vertical portion 110a of the hook portion 110 from a downward direction and may change the orientation of the surface of the elongated vertical portion 110a. In one embodiment, curved portion 170 may change the direction of the elongated vertical portion 110a of the hook portion 110 from a downward direction to a sideward direction. In one embodiment, curved portion 170 may change the direction of the elongated vertical portion 110a of the hook portion 110 from a downward direction to a perpendicular or substantially perpendicular direction to the downward direction in which the elongated vertical portion 110a of the hook portion 110 extends.
In one embodiment, curved portion 170 may change the direction of the elongated vertical portion 110a of the hook portion 110 from a downward direction to a sideward direction that is perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the sideward direction that the first elongated vertical portion 120a of the loop portion 120 extends due to curved portion 160. As shown in
In an alternate embodiment, curved portions 160, 170 and flat portion 180 may be replaced with a connecting portion that may be any shape that connects the first elongated vertical portion 120a of the loop portion 120 and the elongated vertical portion 110a of the hook portion 110.
In one embodiment, the curved portion 120b of the loop portion 120 may curve over the top of the back portion 440 of the button 450 and connect the first elongated vertical portion 120a to the second elongated vertical portion 120c. The second elongated vertical portion 120c also may extend in a downward direction. In this way, the first elongated vertical portion 120a, the curved portion 120b, and the second elongated vertical portion 120c may partially encircle the back portion 440 of the button 450 so that the loop portion 120 may remain intact with the back portion 440 of the button 450.
In an alternate embodiment, the curved portion 120b may be replaced with a connecting portion that may be any shape that extends over the top of the back portion 440 of the button 450 and connects the first elongated vertical portion 120a to the second elongated vertical portion 120c.
In one embodiment, the second elongated vertical portion 120c may connect to the grip portion 130 via a curved portion 140 to extend the grip portion 130 in a sideward direction. In one embodiment, the grip portion 130 may extend in a perpendicular or substantially perpendicular direction to the downward direction in which the second elongated vertical portion 120c extends. The grip portion 130 may be used to position the curved portion 120b of the loop portion 120 over the top of the back portion 440 of the button 450. In one embodiment, the grip portion 130 may be pulled to adjust the size of the opening 150 formed by the first elongated vertical portion 120a, the curved portion 120b, and the second elongated vertical portion 120c. In one embodiment, once the zipper apparatus 100 is secured to the button, the grip portion 130 may be used to lift curved portion 120b away from the back portion 440 behind the button 450 with ease to remove the zipper apparatus 100 from the button 450.
In an alternate embodiment, the curved portion 140 may be replaced with a connecting portion that may be any shape that connects the second elongated vertical portion 120c to the grip portion 130 such that the second elongated vertical portion 120c extends in a downward direction and the grip portion 130 extends in a sideward direction.
Embodiments of the zipper apparatus of the present invention may be made from any material such as metal or plastics or any other suitable material. Embodiments of the zipper apparatus may be one integral and continuous piece or may comprise separate pieces that are connected together.
Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which this invention pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in the forgoing descriptions and the associated drawings. For example, embodiments of the present invention are not limited to zippers used for pants. As another example, a curved portion of the zipper apparatus may be replaced with another connecting portion of any shape such as square. Therefore, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.
Reference throughout this specification to “an embodiment” or words of similar import means that a particular described feature, structure, or characteristic is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the phrase “in an embodiment” or a phrase of similar import in various places throughout this specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment.
Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the above description, numerous specific details are provided for a thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that embodiments of the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, etc. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations may not be shown or described in detail.
The foregoing detailed description is exemplary and explanatory only and is not restrictive of the invention as claimed.
