1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to luggage technology and more particularly, to the fabrication of a double open end zipper for both end positioning-based luggage, which has a seam allowance constraint block provided at an outer rear side of the box of each of the first and second zipper tapes for abutting against or attaching onto the associating N-shaped plastic strip at the first or second housing member before stitching, ensuring accurate control of stitching alignment and stacked stitching quality, preventing friction between the zipper sliders and the respective N-shaped plastic strips, facilitating sliding of the zipper sliders and avoiding stretching of the fabric tape bodies of the first and second zipper tapes.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the fabrication of a conventional hard shell luggage, the left and right zipper tapes 71,72 of a double open end zipper 7 are respectively stitched to the rims of the first housing member 81 and the second housing member 82 in an asymmetric manner (see reference 7′ in
Further, when stitching the left and right zipper tapes 71,72 of the double open end zipper 7 to the rims of the first and second housing members 81, 82, a proper seam allowance must be well controlled. Improper control of the seam allowance will affect the sliding smoothness of the zipper sliders 9.
Further, according to the aforesaid conventional design, the first housing member 81 and the second housing member 82 are fixedly connected together by a flexible plastic sheet member that is directly stitched to the first housing member 81 and the second housing member 82. Thus, the first housing member 81 and the second housing member 82 are neither detachable, nor adjustable to expand the total storage capacity.
The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is the main object of the present invention to provide a double open end zipper for both end positioning-based luggage and its method of fabrication, which achieves accurate stitching of the first and second zipper tapes of the double open end zipper by marking a mark line as a stitching start point for stitching alignment, ensuring accurate engagement between the longitudinal series of teeth at the first zipper tape and the longitudinal series of teeth at the second zipper tape.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a double open end zipper for both end positioning-based luggage and its method of fabrication, which has a seam allowance constraint block provided at an outer rear side of the box of each of the first and second zipper tapes for abutting against or attaching onto the associating N-shaped plastic strip at the first housing member (lower housing member) or second housing member (upper housing member) before stitching, ensuring accurate control of stitching alignment and stacked stitching quality, preventing friction between the zipper sliders and the respective N-shaped plastic strips, facilitating sliding of the zipper sliders and avoiding stretching of the fabric tape bodies of the first and second zipper tapes.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a double open end zipper for both end positioning-based luggage and its method of fabrication, which provides a T-shaped protector detachably mountable in between the first and second housing members to shield the boxes of the first and second zipper tapes, allowing expansion of the combined storage capacity of the first and second housing members and maintaining thee first and second housing members in a balanced manner.
To achieve these and other objects of the present invention, a double open end zipper for both end positioning-based luggage fabrication method comprises a step of fastening a first zipper tape and a second zipper tape to a first housing member (lower housing member) and a second housing member (upper housing member). This step is achieved by: attaching an N-shaped plastic strip to the rim of the first housing member (lower housing member), and then using a L-type gauge or like length measurement tool means to mark a mark line on the N-shaped plastic strip at the first housing member (lower housing member) as a stitching start point corresponding to the box of the first zipper tape, and then stitching the first zipper tape to the rim of the first housing member (lower housing member) in direction from the box toward the pin to the extent about 1-2 centimeters from the pin, and then coupling one zipper slider to the pin of the first zipper tape and moving the zipper slider to the box of the first zipper tape, and then attaching another N-shaped plastic strip to the rim of the second housing member (upper housing member), and then using the same L-type gauge or like length measurement tool means to mark a mark line on the N-shaped plastic strip at the second housing member upper housing member) as a stitching start point corresponding to the box of the second zipper tape, and then stitching the second zipper tape to the rim of the second housing member (upper housing member) in direction from the box toward the pin to the extent about 1-2 centimeters from the pin, and then coupling the other zipper slider to the pin of the second zipper tape and moving the zipper slider along to the box, and then coupling the zipper slider at the first zipper tape onto the pin of the second zipper tape and the zipper slider at the second zipper tape onto the pin of the first zipper tape. The double open end zipper for both end positioning-based luggage thus made further comprises a T-shaped protector detachably mountable in between the first housing member (lower housing member) and the second housing member (upper housing member) to shield the boxes of the first and second zipper tapes.
The invention provides a double open end zipper for both end positioning-based luggage and a method for the fabrication of the double open end zipper for both end positioning-based luggage. The method for the fabrication of the double open end zipper for both end positioning-based luggage is characterized as follows:
I: Zipper preparation: As illustrated in
II: Zipper stitching: Attach an N-shaped plastic strip 13 to the rim of a first housing member (lower housing member) 10 that is selectively made from PC (polycarbonate) or ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene) (see
III: The invention adopts the technical measures: Draw a mark line as a stitching start point for enabling the first and second zipper tapes 11,12 to be respectively and accurately stitched to the first and second housing members 10,20 so that the zipper sliders 2 can be moved to force the longitudinal series of teeth at the first zipper tape 11 into engagement with the longitudinal series of teeth at the second zipper tape 12 accurately, preventing misengagement and enhancing the quality and fabrication efficiency. This is a luggage fabrication operation of two-way corresponding positioning configuration arrangement.
Referring to
If the stitching line on each zipper tape is not well controlled, it will affect the smoothness of the sliding of the zipper slider 2. The transverse distance of the stitching line from the outer edge of each zipper tape 11 or 12 of the double open end zipper 1 is determined subject to: ½ of the difference between the largest width at one end of the zipper slider 2 and the smallest width at an opposite end of the zipper slider 2. The difference between the largest width of the zipper slider 2 (at one end of the zipper slider 2) and the smallest width of the zipper slider 2 (at the other end of the zipper slider 2) is approximately equal to the difference between the width of the box 111,122 and the largest width of the zipper slider 2 just because the width of the box 111,122 is approximately equal to the smallest width of the zipper slider 2. The difference between the largest width and the smallest width is divided by 2, and the quotient thus obtained is the minimum value required for single side stitching, and a tolerance about 1-2 mm can be added thereto for allowing free twisting of the zipper slider 2, i.e., in actual practice, a width allowance corresponding to a protruding part (seam allowance constraint block 1111,1221) at the end of the box 111,112 must be provided for the seam allowance in correcting stitching. This innovative measure prevents friction between the zipper sliders 2 and the N-shaped plastic strips 13, facilitating sliding of the zipper sliders 2 and avoiding stretching of the fabric tape bodies 110,120 of the first and second zipper tapes 11,12 (see
A double open end zipper for both end positioning-based luggage comprises a first housing member (lower housing member) 10 and a second housing member (upper housing member) 20 respectively and selectively made from PC (polycarbonate) or ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene), an N-shaped plastic strip 13 attached to a rim of each of the first housing member (lower housing member) 10 and the second housing member (upper housing member) 20, a double open end zipper 1 that comprises a first zipper tape 11 stitched to and extended around the N-shaped plastic strip 13 at the rim of the first housing member (lower housing member) 10, the first zipper tape 11 having a box 111 located at one end thereof and a pin 112 located at an opposite end thereof, a second zipper tape 12 stitched to and extended around the N-shaped plastic strip 13 at the rim of the second housing member (upper housing member) 20, the second zipper tape 12 having a pin 121 located at one end thereof corresponding to the box 111 of the first zipper tape 11 and a box 122 at an opposite end thereof corresponding to the pin 112 of the first zipper tape 11, two zipper sliders 2 respectively coupled to the first zipper tape 11 and the second zipper tape 12 and movable to open and close the first zipper tape 11 and the second zipper tape 12, the first zipper tape 11 being stitched to the N-shaped plastic strip 13 at the rim of the first housing member (lower housing member) 10 from the box 111 toward the pin 112 with an area about 1-2 cm from the pin 112 remained unstitched, the second zipper tape 12 being stitched to the N-shaped plastic strip 13 at the rim of the second housing member (upper housing member) 20 from the box 122 toward the pin 121 with an area about 1-2 cm from the pin 121 remained unstitched, a first seam allowance constraint block 1111 of a predetermined shape protruded from an outer rear side of the box 111 of the first zipper tape 11, and a second seam allowance constraint block 1221 of a predetermined shape protruded from an outer rear side of the box 122 of the second zipper tape 12.
Further, after installation of the double open end zipper 1 to join the first housing member (lower housing member) 10 and the second housing member (upper housing member) 20, the luggage thus made can be conveniently opened and closed, and can also be well enclosed after closed the double open end zipper 1. After stitching of the double open end zipper 1 to the first housing member (lower housing member) 10 and the second housing member (upper housing member) 20, the area around the gap W is left between the two boxes 111,122 (see
Further, as stated above, the flat shank 32 of the T-shaped protector 3 is inserted in between the two boxes 111,122 from the outside of the luggage toward the inside thereof with the transversely extended and grooved shielding head 31 disposed outside the luggage to shield the boxes 111,122 of the first and second zipper tapes 11, 12, and a the spring clip 6 is mounted in the transverse slot 321 to secure the T-shaped protector 3 to the first and second housing members 10,20 in a balanced and detachable manner, keeping the first and second housing members 10,20 well enclosed. This T-shaped protector 3 can be conveniently fastened to the luggage in a dismountable manner, enhancing connection stability between the first and second housing members 10,20 and holding the first and second housing members 10,20 in a well enclosed condition. Further, in the embodiment shown in
The double open end zipper for both end positioning-based luggage further comprises two reinforcing structures, as illustrated in