Immobilized and aligned closure systems

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6502285
  • Patent Number
    6,502,285
  • Date Filed
    Friday, March 16, 2001
    23 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, January 7, 2003
    21 years ago
Abstract
An immobile and aligned closure system with nine embodiments comprises two elongated coupling elements (62, 62L) and (76, 76I), a self-locking slider (40, 42, 42S, 42D), a socket member (50), and a male interlocking plug member (60, 60D, 61, 84). A locking member on the slider aligns and arrests the movement of the slider, so as to couple the closure system dependably, traditionally or laterally, without movement in the slider. Embodiments include a dead person's locking pull tab (42L, 43L), a locking tab holder (44), a locking pull tab (40T), additional molding (40M, 40E 42M), locking flanges (42R, 42F, 42), and a releasable, interlocking rigid buckle for instantly coupling the closure system. Safety features, separable and non-separable applications, weather resistant zippers, two-way zippers, double zippers, hidden zippers, reversible zippers, coiled and profile zippers, magnetically coupled zippers, disposable zippers, a zipper having a minimum of components, a spring-lock assembly, and a easy method of installing immobile and aligned closure systems are also disclosed.
Description




BACKGROUND—FIELD OF THE INVENTION




This invention relates to zippers, particularly to an immobile and aligned closure system for providing dependably coupled slide fasteners.




BACKGROUND—DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART




My U.S. Pat. No. 6,026,547 (2000) entitled Immobilized Alignment Closure System, uses a plurality of arresting members situated on one of two elongated coupling elements to arrest the movement of the members and align the entrances of the members for instant, snap-lock and easy traditional coupling of the zipper. While efficacious, this system is not as easy to sew onto an object, such as a garment, as would be desirable. An alternative method of providing an immobilized and aligned socket for instant coupling is disclosed, using a single arresting member, a self-locking slider.




U.S. Pat. No. 5,694,667 to Mizuno (1997) shows an automatic locking slider for a slide fastener. Mizuno's locking slider is used only to prevent the slider from moving further down the elongate coupling element than desired. It is not used or anticipated to be used for arresting lateral movement of the slider, or for providing easy, dependable coupling. It is not used to create an aligned and immobilized entrance for instant snap-lock, lateral or immobile, traditional coupling of the zipper.




Most of the present-day zippers are constructed well before they are attached to garments. Zippers are made with two elongated coupling elements that each have a “chain” of interlocking teeth to open and close the zipper, a sliding zipper head, and a socket member or a stationary pin, which is fixed to an initiating end of the two elongated coupling elements.




Sewing these zippers onto garments is generally difficult because the socket box gets in the way of the sewing machine. Even with a special zipper foot attached to a sewing machine, the presser bar (where the foot is attached) has to rise above the socket box, resulting in loss of feeding pressure to the material. Loss of pressure can cause poor feeding of the fabric, misaligned stitches, skipped stitches, and difficulty in guiding the fabric. Lost or skipped stitches result in a loosely attached elongated coupling element to the garment. This causes difficulty in drawing up the sliding zipper head. It can also cause pre-separation of the lower end of the elongated coupling element, rendering the garment useless for cold weather. Sewing over the missed stitches causes more misaligned stitches, a bulge of thread, and snagging of the zipper head.




U.S. Pat. No. 5,412,849 to Fudaki (1995) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,586,370 to Fudaki (1996) show separable bottom stop assemblies which enable the socket box to be attached after the fastener stringers are sewn to a garment, this enables easy and neat sewing without obstruction by the box.




Fudaki's separable bottom stop assemblies, however, do not facilitate the installation of a buckle-started, immobilized alignment closure system. Fudaki's separable bottom stop assemblies also are not releasable. If an error is made in the installation of the zipper, it results in the loss of that particular zipper and a waste of time it has taken for its installation, since the tapes will have already been sewn on and the members must then be removed, to repair the zipper.




U.S. Pat. No. 6,112,376 to Akashi et al. shows a separable bottom stop assembly of a concealed slide fastener. This assembly is not a releasable system, and if an error is made during manufacture, time and materials are wasted.




Being out at night adds an added element of danger to a person, especially when they are exposed to traffic of any kind, including slow moving traffic in a parking lot. Adding reflective material to one's clothing, especially to the clothing and shoes of unwary children, is of utmost importance today. Even a small amount of reflective material, such as a tiny strip or dot on the back of a sneaker, can be seen by a driver and alert them to the presence of a pedestrian, safeguarding their precious life and well being. Reflective material added to a slide fastener, unobtrusive by day, and life saving at night, can save a person's life, especially when seen from the front of a person, where reflective material is infrequently placed on garments.




U.S. Pat. No. 4,922,585 to Suzuki et al. (1990) shows a light-reflective slide fastener, with a light reflective strip bonded to a row of coupling elements. This reflective strip fits inside the moving zipper head and is bulky. The positioning of the reflective strip and the incorporated glass beads needed for reflection, can interfere with the operation of the sliding zipper head, especially if it extensively covers the interlocking teeth. This zipper cannot be instantly coupled.




U.S. Pat. No. 5,956,818 to Tsubata (1999) shows a retro-reflective filament slide fastener formed from wire rods of thermoplastic resin and retroflective layers. This zipper, however, does not couple instantly through an arrested socket and is not releasable for easy sewing.




A safety zipper that opens under a predetermined pressure is advantageous. If a child's jacket (or anyone's) is caught by the door of a school bus, part of a bicycle, or other obtrusive object, the jacket will open, resulting in less injury to the child.




U.S. Pat. No. 5,836,058 to Cullum (1998) shows a safety release zipper. It, however, it does not totally release at the bottom of the zipper to free the user of the garment in an emergency, and it is not instantly coupled with an immobile and aligned zipper, to create a safer, easily coupled zipper.




Hidden zippers are well known in the prior art. Zippers are often covered by extended folds of fabric that cover the zipper. These folds usually come from either just one side of the separable garment, or both sides that meet in the center, to hide the zipper. These folds of fabric, in addition to hiding the zipper, block wind, air and water that can penetrate the zipper, if left uncovered. If a water-repellent fabric is used, the zipper is kept even drier under the fabric.




U.S. Pat. No. 6,105,214 to Press (2000) shows a water-resistant slide fastener and process for preparing the same, where a water-resistant layer is adhered to the stringer tapes. Press, however does not solve the problem of making a buckle-started, immobile and aligned closure system that is water resistant. This zipper does not have releasable components.




Japanese Patent Number 2000-004911 to Toshinobu comprises a sliding zipper head with a locking projection. Toshinobu's locking zipper head only concerns itself with locking the two elongated coupling elements of a slide fastener and the sliding zipper head itself. Toshinobu's zipper head does not influence or expedite initial coupling of the zipper, nor is it addressed. Initial coupling of a slide fastener is a very different process than coupling elongated coupling elements along their length, or arresting movement of a sliding zipper head in portions along their lengths. Toshinobu's zipper head does not arrest and align the members of the female side of the zipper and it does not provide an aligned and arrested coupling socket for easy initial coupling, or a guiding entrance for initial, traditional, or snap-lock lateral coupling of the zipper.




BACKGROUND—OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES




Accordingly, several objects of the present closure system are:




(a) to use a self-locking slider to provide an immobile and aligned socket, which is, or includes a slider, so that a slide fastener can be reliably coupled without movement in the slider and for providing a slide fastener with an instant snap together, buckle, which includes a slider, to instantly couple the slide fastener.




(b) to provide easy and durable installation of my immobilized alignment closure systems, on a garment or article of manufacture, without any of the components of the zipper hindering its installation.




(c) to make the immobile and aligned closure system versatile for use in innumerable applications.




(d) to provide a closure system where the components are releasably attached to the elongated coupling element, so that they can be taken off and returned, when needed.




(e) to provide an economical method of attaching my immobile and aligned closure systems, since if a mistake is made during installation, the components can be easily removed, corrected, and returned to the elongated coupling element, rather than discarded.




(f) to make a safer, easy to close garment, or article of manufacture, by providing glow-in-the-dark and reflective material to immobile and aligned closure systems.




(g) to provide immobile and aligned closure systems with apparatus to create waterproof and wind-resistant zippers.




(h) to make a safer garment by providing immobile and aligned closure systems with a safety zipper that releases under predetermined pressure.




(i) to provide immobile and aligned closure systems with apparatus to create a hidden zipper.




Other Objects Are:




(j) to provide an immobile and aligned closure system that needs only a single member to arrest the movement of the sliding zipper head, which provides an immobile and aligned socket, for easy and dependable coupling.




(k) to provide a buckle initiated, or buckle started slide fastener that uses a single arresting member for instant, lateral snap-lock coupling of a zipper.




(l) to create a slide fastener with a dead person's brake or lock, so the slider doesn't move unintentionally and provides an immobile and aligned socket for instant, lateral, snap-lock coupling, and smooth traditional coupling of a zipper.




(m) to provide dead person's locks and other self-locking sliders for dependable coupling, and to design shapes that are aesthetic and comfortable to the fingers for smooth operation.




(n) to create a self-locking sliding zipper head that squares itself off and properly aligns itself for providing an immobile, and aligned socket for coupling.




(o) to provide a magnetically coupled, immobile, and aligned closure system.




(p) to provide an immobile and aligned closure system for “non-separable” zippers for use on jump suits, slacks, skirts, sweaters, and the like, as well as for use on “separable” zippers.




(q) to create a parallel, dual zipper design, using two immobile and aligned zippers, for instant coupling and a wider single opening, and to provide the use of a connective zipper pull for the operation of these zippers.




(r) to provide zippers that can be sold separately for home seamstresses with easy installation and safety features, which can be installed at home as well as at manufacturing sites.




(s) to provide for placement of additional holders, such as an interlocking clip that will hold an ID, keys, ornamentation, etc., on the zipper.




(t) to equip the self-locking immobile and aligned closure system with a rigid, snap-lock interlocking buckle that instantly couples the zipper, intergarment plates, strap holders, and non-encompassing molding, for easy and dependable operation of the closure system.




(u) to create a two-way zipper that has a plurality of self-locking sliding zipper heads that provide an immobile and aligned socket for the instant, snap-lock and easy traditional coupling of a two-way zipper.




(v) to provide a immobile and arrested zipper that operates dependably, without a socket member or male interlocking member.




(w) to make an self-locking immobile and aligned closure system that couples a spring-lock assembly with a non-resilient male interlocking member.




Further Objects and Advantages are:




(x) to provide a new, easy, yet familiar way to close an article of manufacture, with a rigid, snap-together, familiar buckle which is now placed on zippered clothing, and other zippered articles.




(y) to improve my immobilized alignment closure system.




(z) to provide large, rigid buckles, tabs, and tab pulls, so that a user won't have to remove their gloves to easily couple the zipper.




(aa) to provide immobile and aligned zippers that can be used on very small applications and are strong enough to handle very large applications.




SUMMARY




In accordance with the present closure system, I provide an immobile and aligned closure system that relies upon a single component to arrest the movement of the slider and provide an immobile and aligned socket, for instant and dependable coupling. In a first embodiment, a self-locking, sliding zipper head uses a dead person's lock to align itself and to preventing unintentional movement of the zipper head for dependable, snap-lock lateral, and easy traditional coupling. In a second embodiment, an immobile and aligned closure system is created using only three components, two interlocking elongated coupling elements that directly couple each other, and a self-locking slider that aligns and arrests its own movement to provide an immobile socket for dependable coupling. A third embodiment discloses a self-locking sliding zipper head that locks, using a locking tab holder to arrest its own movement. A fourth embodiment discloses a self-locking sliding zipper head that uses the locking tab holder itself, to arrest movement and to provide proper alignment for dependable coupling. A fifth embodiment discloses improvements to the system of my earlier patent and my other immobile and aligned closure systems, that include easy and economical installation of the zipper, without the hindrance of the zipper's necessary components being in the way of the installation. A sixth embodiment discloses an arrested and aligned closure system that uses a differentiated interlocking male member and operates a “non-separable” zipper, such as that used on slacks and skirts. A seventh embodiment illustrates the arrested and aligned closure system that is wind resistant and waterproof. An eighth embodiment provides a double zipper unified by a connective strap, to make an opening wider, such as that on a computer or sports bag. This embodiment also illustrates how reflective material can make an arrested and aligned closure system seen by a motorist. A ninth embodiment discloses a magnetically coupled zipper. This embodiment also shows how safety zipper teeth, paired with magnetic coupling provide an easily coupled, safety zipper that releases under predetermined pressure to totally free a wearer, to more easily avoid or lessen injury.




Other applications for the immobile and aligned closure systems, such as for operating two-way zippers, reversible zippers, profile rib and groove zippers for plastic and storage bags are disclosed. The immobile and aligned closure systems are used for both separable zippers and non-separable zippers, with both lateral and traditional coupling. Surfaces of the components, such as the buckle halves, dead person's lock, and other pull tabs can be easily coated with (or made with in parts) a smooth rubber or other “soft touch” enhancing material to make the zipper more pleasing to the user.




With the inclusion of these new features, the easily coupled, immobile, and aligned closure systems will provide the user with more versatile, dependable, economical, and safe zippers to simplify and protect their daily lives and belongings.











DRAWINGS—FIGURES





FIG. 1

is a perspective view of a first embodiment of an immobile and aligned closure system, with an automatic dead person's brake/lock.





FIG. 1A

is a perspective view of the first embodiment showing an automatic dead person's lock pull tab, without encompassing or non-encompassing molding.





FIG. 1B

is an enlarged perspective view of the pull tab of

FIGS. 1 and 1A

, showing the movement arresting mechanism inside.





FIG. 1C

is the enlarged perspective view of the pull tab of

FIG. 3

, showing the placement of the thumb for operation of the sliding zipper head.





FIG. 1D

is an enlarged plan view of the automatic dead person's lock mechanism in its locked position, which operates within the pull tab.





FIG. 1E

is an enlarged plan view showing the movement of the automatic dead person's lock mechanism going from a locked position (solid line) to an unlocked position (dotted line).





FIG. 1F

is an enlarged perspective view of a modification of the automatic dead person's lock pull tab of

FIGS. 1-1E

.





FIG. 1G

is a perspective view of a modification the automatic dead person's lock pull tab that is coupled with a spring-lock and a non-resilient male interlocking member.





FIG. 1H

is a prespective view showing a wide male interlocking member of the Immobilized and Aligned Closure System.





FIG. 2

is a perspective view of a second embodiment showing initial coupling of the two elongated coupling elements, without a socket member or male interlocking member.





FIG. 3

is a perspective view of a third embodiment showing an immobile and aligned closure system using a resilient, locking tab holder.





FIG. 3A

is a perspective enlarged view of the top of the sliding zipper head of

FIG. 3

, with a resilient, locking tab holder.





FIG. 3B

is an enlarged perspective view of the resilient locking tab holder of FIG.


3


A.





FIG. 4

is an enlarged perspective view of a fourth embodiment showing a self-locking zipper pull tab with an engaging claw.





FIG. 4A

is an enlarged perspective view of a first modification of the self-locking zipper pull tab of

FIG. 4

, which has two locking claws.





FIG. 4B

is an enlarged perspective view of a second modification the self-locking zipper pull of

FIG. 4

, having a combined fabric locking claw and a tooth locking claw.





FIG. 4C

is an enlarged perspective view of a third modification of the self-locking zipper pull tab, using a locking claw and a zipper tooth to arrest and align the sliding zipper head.





FIG. 5

is a perspective view of a fifth embodiment showing the stages of the component-free installment method and improvement to an immobilized alignment closure system.





FIG. 6

is perspective view of a first stage of the releasable installment method, showing the installation of the coupling slider.





FIG. 6A

is an enlarged plan view of a terminal lock of the first elongated coupling element.





FIG. 7

is a perspective view of a second stage, showing the installation of the stationary pin and socket box, to be laterally coupled with the opposite side of the zipper.





FIG. 8

is a perspective view of a third and detachment stage of the stationary pin and socket box.





FIG. 8A

is a perspective view of a single detaching tool.





FIG. 8B

is an enlarged perspective view of a releasing lock and a single detachment tool.





FIG. 9

is a perspective view of the stationary pin and socket box partially removed from the first elongated coupling element.





FIG. 10

is a perspective view of a rectangular modification of the locking end of the first elongated coupling element and a full length corresponding socket box.





FIG. 10A

is a perspective view of a twin detaching tool.





FIG. 10B

is an enlarged perspective view of a circular releasing lock and a single detachment tool.





FIG. 11

is a perspective view of a sixth embodiment illustrating an immobile and aligned closure system on a non-separable, hidden zipper.





FIG. 12

is a perspective view of a seventh embodiment illustrating a method of waterproofing the immobile and aligned closure system.





FIG. 13

is a perspective view of an eighth embodiment illustrating a reflective, double zipper with a connective pull strap.





FIG. 14

is a perspective view of a ninth embodiment illustrating a method of magnetic coupling of an immobile and aligned closure system.





FIG. 14A

is a perspective view of a modification of a differentiated male interlocking member.











DRAWINGS—REFERENCE NUMERALS






40


self-locking slider






40


D differentiated self-locking slider






40


E non-encompassing molding






40


L locking pull tab






40


M encompassing molding






40


R reflective material of


40


,


62


, and


76








40


T zipper pull tab






40


V through-hole of


40








40


W uncoupling wedge






40


H zipper pull-tab restraint






41


slider of an immobilized alignment closure system






41


T interlocking tongue






42


dead-person's self-locking slider






42


B locking buttons of


42


L






42


C locking member of


42


L






42


F lifting flanges of


42


C






42


L dead-person's lock/pull tab






42


M encompassing molding of full length socket box






42


R resilient unlocking flanges






42


S slider without molding






42


U spring-lock release






42


V through-hole of


42








43


L oval dead person's lock






43


B locking buttons of


43








43


H strap holder






43


V through-hole of


43








44


resilient locking tab holder






44


H attaching hinge(s)of tab holder






46


locking claw(s) of tab holder


44








48


locking tooth claw(s) of


40


T






48


A locking fabric claw of


40


T






49


stationary pin






50


socket box






50


D disengagement tool






50


G groove






50


L spring-lock mechanism






50


S spring button lock






50


T twin disengagement tool






50


V void of socket box


50








51


spring lock socket box






51


L full length socket box






51


V void of socket box


51


L






52


full length slider body






54


rectangular end of elongated coupling element


62








60


male interlocking member






60


B release button of


60


D






60


D differentiated male (plug) member






60


S interacting slot of coupling element


76








61


male interlocking member for use with spring-lock






61


V interlocking void for


61








61


W wide male interlocking member






62


1


st


elongated coupling element






62


A abutment on elongated coupling element


62








62


E engaging member with


60


S






62


I initial tooth of elongated coupling element


62








62


L locking elongated coupling element






62


S sewing thread






62


V void in member


62








64


zipper teeth of elongated coupling element


62








64


S initiating zipper tooth of coupling element


62








65


safety zipper teeth of elongated coupling element


62








65


B safety zipper teeth of elongated coupling element


76








66


resilient releasing lock






68


terminal end of elongated coupling element


62








70


terminal lock of elongated coupling element


62








72


activating member of terminal lock






74


button-type releasing lock






76


2


nd


elongated coupling element






76


G guiding space bar of


76








76


I interlocking elongated coupling element






76


B release button of


76


I






76


F resilient interlocking flange of


76


S






76


L locking edge of flange


76


F






76


M male interlocking member of


76


I






76


N socket for


76


M






76


S male interlocking flange member






76


R guide rail






78


zipper teeth of elongated coupling element


76








78


S initiating zipper tooth of coupling element


76








80


magnetic coupling force






82


sewing of elongated coupling element


62








84


magnetic male member






85


magnetic female coupling member






86


intergarment plate of elongated coupling element


62








86


A thumb hold of elongated coupling element


62








86


B extended housing for larger male (plug) inside


86








86


E elastic/strap of


62








86


H elastic/strap holder






88


intergarment plate of elongated coupling element


76








88


A thumb hold of elongated coupling element


76








88


E elastic/strap of


76








88


H elastic/strap holder






90


fabric of element


62








90


A extending fabric for hidden zipper






92


fabric of elongated coupling element


76








94


entrance of box


50








96


buckle entrance






96


A slider entrance






96


D differentiated entrance of slider


40








98


fabric fastener






100


connective zipper pull






102


finger






104


female half-buckle






106


male half-buckle






108


soft-touch material




DETAILED DESCRIPTION




Immobile and Aligned Closure System with Dead Person's Self-Locking Sliding Zipper Head—

FIG. 1






The following illustrations are not to scale and are provided for the fundamental understanding of the disclosed closure system along with its description.





FIG. 1

is a first embodiment showing a dead-person's self-locking sliding zipper head, or slider


42


, with a dead-person's-lock zipper tab


42


L. This dead-person's-lock, named after the dead-man's-brake, in the railroad industry, leaves the slider in a locked position on elongated coupling element


62


, until it is purposely unlocked, in order to move slider


42


. The deadperson's-lock arrests all lateral (horizontal or sideways) movement—that is movement perpendicular to elongated coupling elements


62


,


76


, anterior-posterior, and vertical movement of slider


42


, allowing slider


42


to be pushed upon laterally, for instant, audible, dependable, snap-lock lateral coupling.




Lock


42


L further squares off the position of slider


42


, so that its bottom end is parallel to a socket box


50


. This is accomplished by inserting a locking projection, or member


42


C through a through hole on the upper plate of slider


42


. This inserts member


42


C, between two consecutive static teeth


64


on elongated coupling element


62


. Lock


42


L acts both as a zipper pull tab and a lock for the slider.




Slider


42


has an encompassing molding


40


M that extends beyond the edges of slider


42


. Molding, depending upon the embodiment used, is extra material (material made of the sliding zipper head material or other serviceable material) around or part of the female side of the zipper. Molding is extra molded material around or extending from a traditional shaped zipper head or socket member or both, which is placed there to bring the zipper head and socket member together so it lines up the entrances together and forms a single acting non-moving and aligned entrance. This molding makes it easy for the male interlocking member to dependably couple (including lateral coupling) with the unified members of the female side of the zipper. Molding is adapted to be either encompassing molding, where a female member having extended molding outside a traditional shaped female member, may encompass another female member to provide a single acting guiding entrance, or non-encompassing molding, which unites the female members to provide a single acting entrance but the molding does not encompass another member.




Encompassing molding, depending upon the embodiment used, is also used to provide a guiding socket or a snap-lock buckle entrance


96


, for instant snap-together dependable lateral buckled coupling of the two initiating ends of the zipper. Encompassing molding


40


M together with socket box


50


(or other socket member) and slider


42


comprises a female half-buckle that instantly couples with a male interlocking half-buckle


106


to instantly couple the initial ends of the zipper together. The full length of the garment is then closed by slider


42


. Tongues


41


T on the underside of molding


40


M interacts with guiding grooves


50


G in the top of box


50


. Coupling element


62


and teeth


64


interact immediately at the initiating end for dependable coupling. An initiating tooth


78


S on coupling element


76


interengages with an initiating tooth


64


S on elongated coupling element


62


(FIG.


9


), and slot


60


S (or similar arrangement), on coupling element


76


engages with member


62


I on elongated coupling element


62


, to ensure that the teeth and the initial coupling elements engage immediately and do not slip.




Lock


42


L is orientated on the upper surface of slider


42


, above a through hole or void


42


V of slider


42


(FIG.


1


B). Lock


42


L has two (one, or other) activating buttons


42


B (or other means, such as a twisting motion to lock


42


L, which can raise and lower lock


42


C on the front and rear of lock


42


L, not shown). Buttons


42


B when simultaneously compressed, raise locking member


42


C from teeth


64


and release lock


42


L, allowing slider


42


to be pulled by lock


42


L, along elongated coupling element


62


, for opening or closing of the zipper.




Slider


42


has an encompassing molding


40


M. Slider


42


can fully operate and arrest its movement without molding


40


M. Lock


42


L arrests all movement of slider


42


and operates in much the same way in this embodiment, as when located on a slider that does not have encompassing molding (FIG.


1


A). Encompassing molding


40


M adds connecting material for additional immobility and stability, since the components are located on a fabric elongated coupling element and the fabric can move. Molding


40


M also provides a single outside entrance with an aesthetic appearance. A stiff intergarment plate


88


is attached to, or part of, an interlocking resilient male member


60


, and is preferably located within or behind fabric


72


. A corresponding intergarment plate


86


is located on elongated coupling element


62


.




Encompassing molding


40


M, slider


42


and box


50


(or other socket member or arrangement) form a rigid, female, half-buckle


104


, as shown by the bracket, to instantly couple with male interlocking member


60


and intergarment plate


88


, a rigid male, half-buckle of a snap-lock buckle, as shown by the bracket. These two rigid buckle halves, with their corresponding attached elongated coupling elements,


62


and


76


, instantly snap together to initially couple the zipper. A guide


76


G on intergarment plate


88


provides allowance for elongated coupling element


76


to simultaneously slide above entrance


96


, while member


60


is pressed into the immobile and aligned socket or entrance


96


during coupling. This aligns and brings elongated coupling element


76


in close proximity to elongated coupling element


62


so they can be smoothly coupled along their length, by slider


42


/


40


M. Initial zipper tooth


78


S on plate


88


engages a small zipper tooth


64


S on a stationary pin


49


on elongated coupling element


62


to align and mesh elements


76


and


62


. Intergarment plate


86


is an optional part of half-buckle


104


, because it helps provide a stiff dependable coupling, but the closure system can operate without plate


86


. The user can place their fingers on half-buckle


104


instead.




FIG.


1


—Operation of Immobile and Aligned Closure System with Dead Person's Self-Locking Sliding Zipper Head




To operate the closure system, the user pushes buttons


42


B simultaneously toward each other. When the user pushes buttons


42


B together, towards the interior of lock


42


L, buttons


42


B compress resilient flanges


42


R toward each other (FIGS.


1


B-E). As a result, flanges


42


R push flanges


42


F in an upward direction, FIG.


1


E. Locking member


42


C, which is attached to flanges


42


F is pulled upward. This removes locking member


42


C from its locking position, between two consecutive teeth


64


. The user keeps the pressure on buttons


42


B while drawing slider


42


along elongated coupling element


62


. When the user releases the pressure on buttons


42


B, flanges


42


R and


42


F relax and lower member


42


C to a position between two consecutive teeth


64


. This automatically locks, squares and properly aligns slider


42


. It also provides an immobile and aligned socket with entrance


94


for instant coupling. The front and rear edges of member


42


C are slightly tapered to slide between next two teeth


64


or previous two teeth


64


, if member


42


C happens to come to rest directly upon the top of a singular tooth.




For normal operation of a jacket, for example, the user squeezes buttons


42


B and draws slider


42


to the initiating end of elongated coupling element


62


until it can go no farther. Slider


42


is locked into position above box


50


and provides an immobile and aligned entrance


96


. Encompassing molding


40


M is lowered over box


50


and provides a single entrance


96


, for coupling. This also forms the female half-buckle


104


that the user uses to initially close or buckle the zipper. The user releases buttons


42


B and lock


42


L.




To couple the zipper, the user places the thumb of the left hand on thumb hold


86


A and intergarment plate


86


, and likewise places the thumb of the right hand on thumb hold


88


A and intergarment plate


88


, on the two sides of the jacket. The user pushes male interlocking member


60


into entrance


96


. Guiding space bar


76


G allows coupling element


76


to slide over entrance


96


. This couples female half-buckle


104


with male half-buckle


106


and instantly couples the zipper. The user then squeezes buttons


42


B simultaneously and draws slider


42


and encompassing molding


40


M in a closing direction to close the zipper along its length. In this embodiment, the closure system is initially coupled laterally at the hem of the jacket and the full length of the garment is coupled vertically, by drawing slider


42


/


40


M to the terminal end of the zipper. The user can place their fingers on encompassing molding


40


M instead of intergarment plate


86


, if so desired.




To uncouple the zipper, the user draws slider


42


, lock


42


L and molding


40


M, to the initiating end and releases buttons


42


B, locking slider


42


in place. The user lifts elongated coupling element


76


and interlocking member


60


up and out of slider


42


, and box


50


, in a direction perpendicular to coupling, uncoupling the zipper. This embodiment is best uncoupled with two hands.




If a male interlocking member having a zig zag, angled, or other shape is desired, a socket member with a corresponding or suitable aperture is used. In this case the slider may be aligned not along the lines of the socket member, but aligned in a predetermined position that facilitates coupling with this interlocking member and facilitates dependable operation of the closure system.




When the components of the female side of the slide fastener, on elongated coupling element


62


, are non-moving and aligned, it removes the encumbrances the user usually faces when coupling a zipper or slide fastener. The user usually has to thread the male coupling member through a moving slider and then into a fixed socket member. Arresting and aligning the slider provides a simple, single socket and makes coupling almost effortless, for both traditional and instant, snap-lock, lateral coupling. The arrested and aligned closure systems are used for both separable zippers and non-separable zippers, and many other uses.




FIG.


1


A—Dead Person's Self-Locking Slider without Molding





FIG. 1A

shows slider


42


S with lock


42


L however it does not have encompassing molding


40


M, or a non-encompassing molding


40


E (FIG.


3


). Lock


42


L arrests the movement of slider


42


and aligns its position properly for coupling. Slider


42


S does not need encompassing molding


40


M to arrest its movement, align slider


42


S, or provide dependable coupling.




FIG.


1


A—Operation of Dead Person's Self-Locking Slider without Molding




The dead person's self-Locking slider


42


S without molding operates in the same manner as slider


42


, but without the encompassing or non-encompassing molding. The user pushes in buttons


42


B and slides slider


42


S to the initiating end of elongated coupling element


62


, above socket member


50


(or other socket member), releasing buttons


42


B and creating an immobile and aligned socket entrance


94


/


96


A (see FIG.


3


). The user pushes male member


60


(

FIG. 1

) into the aligned and immobile entrances


94


and


96


A, instantly coupling the zipper. Slider


42


S is drawn in closing motion to close the length of the zipper. Member


60


is uncoupled by drawing member


60


in an upward direction out of socket box


50


and slider


42


S.




FIG.


1


B—Dead Person's Self-Locking Operating System





FIG. 1B

shows an enlarged view of lock


42


L. In addition to buttons


42


B, lock


42


L has an operating system comprising resilient material or flanges


42


R, such as metal, plastic, or other material, which is located inside lock


42


L. The lower end of the resilient flanges comprises locking member


42


C. Member


42


C protrudes through void


42


V to reach in-between two consecutive teeth


64


, when it is in its locked position. Void


42


V is adapted to take on various shapes to accommodate the many possible shapes of lock


42


L and member


42


C.




FIG.


1


C—Placement of the Users Fingers for Operation





FIG. 1C

illustrates a finger


102


pushing upon button


42


B in the front of lock


42


L (hidden). The casing of lock


42


L is static and fixed to the surface of slider


42


, unlike a traditional zipper slider tab which is free to move forward and backward on a small crosspiece. The lower portion of the index finger would typically be used to push in button


42


B that is placed in the rear of lock


42


L (not shown for clarity). Having two fingers squeeze buttons


42


B simultaneously (as shown by the direction of the two arrows one in the back of lock


42


L, and one in the front), allows for even pressure upon flanges


42


R to raise member


42


C. Two fingers and two buttons


42


B are used for these illustrations, however lock


42


L is adaptable to operate with a single button


42


B, or alternate design, if desired.




FIGS.


1


D-E—Dead Person's Operating System





FIG. 1D

shows the resilient operating members of locks


42


L, while it is in its locked position. Flanges


42


R and


42


F are designed to pull locking member


42


C in an upward position, when the user simultaneously pushes buttons


42


B toward each other.





FIG. 1E

shows

FIG. 1D

after flanges


42


R and


42


F have been pressed toward one another by buttons


42


B as shown by the dotted lines. Flanges


42


F, when pushed by flanges


42


R, move in an upward direction. This pulls attached member


42


C in an upward direction out of the in-between position of two teeth


64


(or others), which unlocks slider


42


.




FIG.


1


F—Modification of the Dead Person's Lock





FIG. 1F

shows lock


43


L, which is a variation in the shape of lock


42


L. Lock


43


L has an oval shape with oval buttons


43


B to accommodate a more relaxed activation of the zipper pull tab or lock


43


L. Buttons


43


B (and


42


B) can protrude from lock


42


L or


43


L or can be set more inside the depth of locks


42


L and


43


L. Lock


43


L is shaped to comfortably accommodate the fingers of the user. Locks


42


L and


43


L can be much larger than slider


40


itself, for ease of use, or to provide a modern appearance.




A holder


43


H on the top of lock


43


L is available to hold a length of material or novelties. Holder


43


H is adaptable to be a plastic or metal, etc., buckle half which snaps into the top or side of lock


43


L (or other tabs) and then snapped together with a second buckle half sporting a novelty, such as a skier's lift ticket holder, key holder, compass, utility knife, whistle, cord and cord stopper, etc. Multiple holders are adapted to be used in sequence, singularly, or alternately, if desired. Holder


43


H is adapted to be used on any of the disclosed pull tabs or as the pull tabs. Holder


43


H has a hinge(s), swivel hardware or both, if desired. Holder


43


H can be a metal or plastic, loop that is drilled through lock


42


L.




Pull tab or locks


42


L or


43


L are also designed to be used in a handle shape, resembling the upper end of a handle of a mug, that is tipped on its side. This handle is large enough to accommodate the index finger of the user. The thumb is placed on the very top outside of the handle, while the index finger is placed on the inside of the handle. Buttons


42


B or


43


B are situated under this placement of the fingers on the outside and inside of the handle.




FIG.


1


G—Modification of Dead Person's Zipper Head Coupled with Spring-Lock Assembly and Non-Resilient Male Interlocking Member




In this modification, the dead person's lock is used with a spring-lock assembly


50


L that initially locks elongated coupling elements


62


and


76


together with a non-resilient, male interlocking member


61


. Assembly


50


L is housed inside a full length socket box


51


or on elongated coupling element


62


. Assembly


50


L has resilient materials such as a spring(s) or a resilient flange(s) of plastic, metal, a combination of plastic and metal or other working resilient material. Assembly


50


L is illustrated as having a resilient elongated button with tapered edges. Assembly


50


L can resiliently move up and down for operation of the zipper, as shown by the arrow. Member


61


is located on the initiating end of elongated coupling element


76


. Assembly


50


L is located at the initiating end of elongated coupling element


62


. Member


61


has a void


61


V that interengages and locks with resilient assembly


50


L. Slider


52


has a full length encompassing molding


42


M that will encompass a full length socket member


51


.





FIG. 1G

shows a housing


86


B, which is located inside intergarment plate


86


. Housing


86


B is hidden inside plate


86


and is a cavity for housing a large or wide interlocking male member, when coupled, that is larger or wider than a regular male interlocking member, the slider, or other aligning components. Providing a bigger or wider male interlocking member is often easier to couple than a small one, especially if you are a child or are wearing gloves. Housing


86


B can be any size or shape to accommodate any size and shaped male interlocking member. Housing


86


B is not needed in this figure, but is shown as an example. A soft-touch material, such as a soft rubber or plastic


108


, illustrated in a circle for clarity, can softly coat the touchable areas for the comfort of the user.




FIG.


1


G—Operation of Modification of Dead person's Zipper Head Coupled with Spring-Lock Assembly




To operate this modification, the user moves slider


52


and molding


42


M to the initiating edge of elongated coupling element


62


by simultaneously compressing buttons


42


B on lock/tab


42


L. Slider


52


encompasses box


51


and assembly


50


L. When buttons


42


B are released, lock


42


L locks the movement of slider


52


, including lateral movement. This provides a non-moving and aligned entrance for lateral coupling. The user pushes member


61


into entrance


96


. Edge


76


G guides member


61


properly through entrance


94


and box


51


. Member


61


is pushed against a tapered edge of assembly


50


L and moves assembly


50


L down. When member


61


slides over assembly


50


L, void


61


V passes over assembly


50


L. Assembly


50


L pops up into void


61


V, resuming its original shape, and initially locking elongated coupling elements


62


and


76


together. The user closes the length of the zipper by simultaneously compressing buttons


42


B and pulling slider


51


by tab


42


L in a closing direction.




To uncouple assembly


50


L, the user pulls member


61


in an opposite direction of coupling, out of box


51


. This pushes member


61


against a tapered edge in the rear of assembly


50


L, which pushes assembly


50


L down, disengaging member


61


. The user can also press down and release the resilient member itself with their thumb through a window or void


51


V, in the upper surface of the female half of the buckle


104


or a button


42


U, or other releasing mechanism can be provided. The user can press an attached button to unlock a resilient flange, or use a remotely positioned button to release the coupling.




Slider


52


or female half-buckle


104


, if provided with a tapered projection inside (not shown), can automatically uncouple the zipper. When slider


52


is drawn to the initiating end this projection slides over button


42


U and uncouples the zipper, projecting member


61


out of socket


94


with momentum. This embodiment can be uncoupled with one finger, one hand or two hands.





FIG. 1H

Wide Male Interlocking Member





FIG. 1H

illustrates a wide male interlocking member


61


W. Wide male member


61


W is a wide modification of interlocking member


61


. Wide male member


61


W is used with spring-locking assembly


50


L to couple the zipper. It is wider than self-locking slider


52


and when locked, reaches into housing


86


B in intergarment plate


86


, which is hidden within fabric


90


. Wide male interlocking member


61


W has increased surface area and makes the zipper easier to couple, especially if you are a child or are wearing gloves.




FIG.


2


—Description of Second Embodiment—Self-Locking Elongated Coupling Elements and Self-locking Slider





FIG. 2

illustrates a dependable zipper with a minimum number of components. Three main components are used, a self-locking slider


42


D, elongated coupling element


62


, and elongated coupling element


76


. Self-locking slider


42


D is slidably connected to elongated coupling element


62


. An abutment


62


A keeps slider


42


D from leaving elongated coupling element


62


. The initiating end of elongated coupling element


62


, end


62


L directly snaps together with the corresponding end of elongated coupling element


76


, end


76


I. Slider


42


D has a differentiated entrance on its open side, with wide and narrower portions, which allows for lateral coupling with elongated coupling element


76


I. A release button


60


B releases the connection for uncoupling. A void


62


V is located on the top of end


62


L, for the placement of locking member


42


C. (Slider


42


D if placed any where along the elongated coupling elements is arrested from movement and aligned in a horizontal position).




FIG.


2


—Operation of Self-Locking Elongated Coupling Elements with Self-locking Slider




To operate this arrested and aligned closure system, the user squeezes buttons


42


B simultaneously and draws slider


40


D to the initiating end of the zipper. Slider


42


D goes over end


62


L and is stopped by abutment


62


A. Locking member


42


C (

FIGS. 1D

,


1


E) projects into void


62


V in the top of elongated coupling element


62


L. This arrests movement of slider


42


D, including lateral movement. It also provides an immobile entrance for coupling with elongated coupling element


76


I. Elongated coupling element


76


I has a male interlocking portion


76


M that engages and locks with a socket


76


N in elongated coupling element


62


L. The user places end


76


I with male member


76


M into entrance


96


D and snaps ends


62


L and


76


I together, initially coupling the zipper. The user then squeezes buttons


42


B and draws slider


40


D along elongated coupling elements


62


and


76


to close the length of the zipper.




Slider


42


D, if placed on a shorter elongated coupling element


62


L, will lock between two consecutive teeth


64


and


78


. Having a self-locking slider is beneficial, as slider


42


D locks its own movement and provides an immobile and aligned socket by itself. This closure system does not depend upon another member of the zipper to provide an immobile and aligned socket for dependable coupling, and can do so without other members present.




To uncouple the zipper, the user squeezes buttons


42


B and draws slider


42


D to the initiating end of the zipper and releases buttons


42


B. The user presses button


76


B, uncoupling the zipper.




FIGS.


3


-


3


B—Description of Third Embodiment Using Slider with Tab Holder Locking Device





FIG. 3

shows a third embodiment using a self-locking zipper head or slider


40


, a non-encompassing molding


40


E and a socket box


50


. Non-encompassing molding


40


E extends beyond the edges of slider


40


to provide a dependable socket for coupling but does not encompass socket box


50


or other members. Slider


40


has a pull tab holder


40


T, and a resilient locking bridge or tab holder


44


, with a locking projection(s) which can solely arrest the movement of slider


40


and align slider


40


for reliable, immobile coupling. The movement of tab


40


T locks and unlocks, aligns and immobilizes slider


40


so the zipper can be coupled effortlessly, even laterally, without movement in the slider. Molding


40


E surrounds a large portion of slider


40


and provides a guiding entrance


96


A/


94


for coupling. Plate


88


is stiff and has resilient male interlocking member


60


, which forms the male half


106


of the two-piece interlocking lateral buckle. Elongated coupling element


76


and its interlocking teeth


78


extend from the upper side of plate


88


for instant and smooth initial coupling of the elongated coupling elements. Plate


88


has a guiding edge


76


G, which brings coupling element


76


through entrance


94


for coupling.




Molding


40


M can also encompass box


50


(as in

FIG. 1

) to join slider


40


and box


50


together. This provides a unified, guiding entrance for coupling (

FIGS. 3A

,


4


-


13


A). Even though slider


40


is already immobilized, encompassing molding


40


M further immobilizes slider


40


by unifying or bridging slider


40


and box


50


together. This is because the components are located on a fabric elongated coupling element, which can move. Immobilized and guiding entrance


94


of slider


40


, combines with the guiding entrance


96


of box


50


to provide a unified and aligned entrance for coupling with member


60


. Molding


40


E widens slider


40


so it matches the dimensions of box


50


and provides a streamlined aligned entrance


96


A/


94


.




This immobile and aligned closure system provides dependable, immobile, instant coupling using only a single arresting member, slider


40


. Slider


40


is able to arrest its own movement and align itself with box


50


, or another socket member, for a simply operated, dependable closure system. Molding


40


can reach up and extend from box


50


(or other member) to bridge slider


40


and box


50


together to provide a unified and guiding entrance for coupling.




A two-way immobilized and aligned zipper has two independent, self-locking sliders


40


(


40


D,


42


,


42


S) which are placed back-to-back (or front to front) and provide an aligned, and immobile entrance for coupling. This back-to-back position is familiar in the prior art and is therefore not shown. The self-locking features of the slider(s) are seen in

FIGS. 1-3E

. An aligned and immobilized two-way zipper couples quickly and enables the user to gain access to an inner garment or compartment of luggage, (or other article). Having a two-way zipper also provides comfortable seating, such as in a car, train, etc., since the bottom of the garment can be opened without removing the outer garment.




A reversible, immobilized and aligned zipper is provided by placing self-locking tab holders, locking tabs, on both the front and back sides of the slider. An immobilized and aligned interlocking buckle is reversible for initially coupling the closure system and has inset (or other) pull tabs on both sides of the buckle and is operable from both sides. It can also accommodate a single slide over pull tab that moves from a front plate of the slider/buckle to the back and vice versa, for easy operation of a reversible garment, etc.





FIG. 3A

shows tab holder


44


locking slider


40


. The top of tab holder


44


moves up and down slightly as tab


40


is lifted and lowered (shown by the arrows).

FIG. 3B

shows an enlarged perspective view of tab holder


44


where claw


46


can be clearly seen. Hinges


44


H, extended metal or other material hold tab holder


44


to slider


40


and allow tab holder


44


to be raised and lowered for operation of claw


46


.




Tab holder


44


is resilient and arches upward when tab


40


T is lifted. When tab


40


T is lowered, tab holder


44


pushes down upon tab


40


T and forces it down into a locking position. Tab holder


44


has a locking projection or claw


46


, which is located on the bottom of one or more edges of tab holder


44


. Claw


46


projects through an opening or void in the top plate of slider


40


, (or elsewhere) when tab


40


T is placed in a down or resting position (forward or backward), into a space between two consecutive interlocking teeth


64


(FIG.


3


). This prevents any further lateral, anterior/posterior, and vertical movement of slider


40


, which allows movement-free, dependable lateral and traditional coupling of the slider.




FIG.


3


—Operation of Self-Locking Slider with Tab holder




Slider


40


is pulled along an elongated coupling element


62


by tab


40


T until it is flush against box


50


. When tab


40


T is lowered, tab holder


44


is lowered, and prong


46


, located underneath tab holder


44


, grabs into elongated coupling element


62


and movement is arrested. Resilient member


60


, with an attached elongated coupling element


76


, interlocking teeth


78


, and intergarment plate


88


is then inserted laterally by the user into immobile and aligned entrance


94


/


96


A, immediately locking slider


40


and box


50


, with member


60


, locking the initiating ends of the zipper. Member


60


depresses while going through entrance


94


/


96


A, and then springs up inside socket member


50


, along side a complementary shaped stationary pin (or complementary designed interior of box


50


, or elongated coupling element


62


), locking the ends together. The initially locked ends of elongated coupling elements


62


and


76


can then be closed all along its length by drawing slider


40


, in a closing direction, by lifted and unlocked tab


40


T.




Traditional coupling (from the top) is also easier since box


50


is immobile and slider


40


is arrested from movement. The cavities of slider


40


and box


50


are arrested and aligned, leaving a single, smooth, immobile and aligned interior entrance for coupling from the top.




FIG.


4


—Description and Operation of Fourth Embodiment with Locking Pull Tab Claws





FIG. 4

is a fourth embodiment, showing an alternative method of arresting the movement of slider


40


as seen in

FIGS. 3

,


3


A, and


3


B. In this method, a locking projection or claw


48


, is directly attached to pull tab


40


L. When tab


40


L is placed in a resting position, claw


48


is automatically lowered and protrudes through a through-hole or void


40


V in the upper plate of slider


40


and comes to rest within a position between two consecutive teeth


64


, locking slider


40


in place.




The open sides of slider


40


, entrance


94


, and the open side of box


50


, entrance


96


, are designed to form a unified, guiding immobile entrance


94


/


96


, when slider


40


is lowered flush against box


50


. Claw


48


arrests all movement of slider


40


, including lateral movement, so the zipper can be reliably coupled laterally, through unified entrance


94


/


96


, without any movement in slider


40


.




FIG.


4


A—Description and Operation of Dual Locking Pull Tab Claws





FIG. 4A

shows a first modification of tab


40


L which has dual locking projections or two claws


48


and


48


A. Claws


48


and


48


A are locking projections that arrest movement of slider


40


. Claw


48


lowers into a space between two teeth


64


on elongated coupling element


62


, as in FIG.


4


. Claw


48


locks along the entire width of teeth


64


. This squares off the position of slider


40


with box


50


and ensures that the entrance of slider


40


is arrested in an aligned proper position with the entrance of box


50


. This creates a unified immobile entrance


94


/


96


for dependable, initial coupling of the zipper.




Claw


48


A protrudes into the fabric of elongated coupling element


62


outside of teeth


64


. Claw


48


A is provided with a sharper or pincer tip in order to sufficiently grab elongated coupling element


62


to arrest the movement of slider


40


. Claw


48


is designed, however, not to damage or tear the fabric of elongated coupling element


62


.




FIG.


4


B—Description and Operation of Combined Locking Projections





FIG. 4B

shows a second modification of tab


40


L with combined locking projections or claw


48


/


48


A. Claw


48


/


48


A is a wide claw that reaches both through teeth


64


and out onto the fabric tape of elongate coupling element


62


. Claw


48


/


48


A incorporates both a flattened tapered projection to fit between two consecutive teeth


64


and a sharp pincer


48


A to grab onto tape


62


. It simultaneously arrests the movement of slider


40


between teeth


64


and elongated coupling element


62


, when tab


40


L is lowered, and more substantially arrests lateral movement of slider


40


.




FIG.


4


C—Description and Operation of Locking Claw with Zipper Tooth





FIG. 4C

shows a third modification of the locking tab


40


L. The locking surface of claw


48


is the shape of a complementary zipper tooth


78


of the opposite side of the zipper on elongated coupling element


76


. When claw


48


is lowered in between two teeth


64


, claw


48


with tooth


78


takes up the negative space between two consecutive teeth


64


. As a result, engaging claw


48


squares off the position of slider


40


, aligns slider


40


with socket member


50


, and arrests lateral, vertical and anterior/posterior movement of slider


40


. Tab holder


44


leaves room underneath for the swinging movement of prong


48


/


78


. When slider


40


is drawn to the initiating edge of elongated coupling element


62


and is flush against box


50


and locked, an arrested and aligned entrance


94


/


96


is provided for snap-lock lateral coupling or movement free traditional coupling of the zipper.




FIG.


5


—Description of Fifth Embodiment, Easy-to-Sew Installation Method and Improvement to Immobilized Alignment Closure System





FIG. 5

is a fifth embodiment, and the first of six illustrations (

FIGS. 5-10

) showing an easy-to-sew installation method of immobilized and aligned closure systems. This easy-to-sew installation method is also an improvement to the invention in my U.S. Pat. No. 6,026,547 (2000). This method of installation benefits both these closure systems. However, for the facility of understanding, slider


41


, the slider labeled as the slider of the Immobilized Alignment Closure System in this disclosure, will be discussed. According to this closure system, molding


40


M and


40


E, including encompassing molding, is used for both closure systems, if desired. Guiding and retaining devices, such as tongue and groove members, snug bumps and the like, can also used for both.




Elongated coupling element


62


is sewn with thread


62


S (or attached in other manner) onto fabric


90


before coupling slider


41


, stationary pin


49


, and socket box


50


are installed on elongated coupling element


62


. Slider


41


is shown with molding


40


M which encompasses box


50


to further arrest the movement of slider


41


and provide a unified, guiding entrance for coupling. Slider


41


has interlocking tongues


41


T that align with interlocking grooves


50


G in box


50


, for alignment.




Elongated coupling elements


62


and


76


are sewn onto fabric


90


and


92


(FIG.


1


), respectively, before the zipper components are put on elongated coupling elements


62


and


76


. Since slider


41


, stationary pin


49


and socket box


50


are not on elongated coupling element


62


at the time of sewing, the sewing machine can easily sew elongated coupling element


62


onto fabric


92


from end to end without having to go around or above the other components. This allows for consistent, cleaner and uninterrupted stitches for a more secure and easier attachment of the elongated coupling elements to the fabric. Sewing freely while installing a zipper also increases productivity, especially during mass production. Elongated coupling element


76


, on the opposite side of the zipper, usually does not have bulky components and is easily sewn onto fabric


92


. If elongated coupling element


76


does have bulky components in other embodiments, elongated coupling element


76


is sewn on prior to installing the components in the same manner.




FIG.


5


—Operation of Easy-to-Sew Installation Method




After elongated coupling element


62


is sewn completely onto fabric


90


, slider


41


is placed onto elongated coupling element


62


. After slider


41


is placed on elongated coupling element


62


, stationary pin


49


and socket box


50


are placed on elongated coupling element


62


. Elongated coupling element


62


has a set of resilient releasing locks


66


that are used to lock stationary pin


49


and socket box


50


, as they are drawn onto elongated coupling element


62


. The solid arrow of slider


41


shows that slider


41


is to be installed in that direction. The dotted arrow shows that slider


41


can be removed from elongated coupling element


62


, once installed on elongated coupling element


62


. The arrow of stationary pin


49


and socket box


50


also shows that once stationary pin


49


and socket box


50


are placed and locked onto elongated coupling element


62


, they can then be released from locks


66


and removed in the opposite direction. Stationary pin


49


and socket box


50


have voids


50


V that penetrate stationary pin


49


and give access to release locks


66


, when needed. After installation of the zipper, slider


41


encompasses stationary pin


49


and socket box


50


to provide a single entrance for instant and rapid coupling of the zipper, similar to that shown in FIG.


1


.




FIG.


6


—Description of Installation of Zipper Components





FIG. 6

is the second of six illustrations in the installation of the zipper. After elongated coupling element


62


is sewn onto fabric


90


, slider


41


is placed onto elongated coupling element


62


. Slider


41


is higher and slides freely over locks


66


. Slider


41


is free to slide in either direction to close or open the zipper, as shown by the arrow. After slider


41


is placed onto elongated coupling element


62


, stationary pin


49


and box


50


will then be placed and releasably locked onto elongated coupling element


62


. Stationary pin


49


and box


50


are illustrated as a one piece unit but can be separate components, and be placed on separately in other embodiments or designed differently (or eliminated).




FIG.


6


A—Description of Terminal Lock





FIG. 6A

shows a terminal lock


70


of elongated coupling element


62


. Terminal lock


70


is an extra lock that can be screwed in or affixed in another way to the terminal end


62


T of elongated coupling element


62


, to secure stationary pin


49


and socket box


50


to elongated coupling element


62


. An activating member


72


is rotated to lock


70


onto end


62


T. Lock


70


can be used in conjunction with locks


66


or in place of them, or be any design.




FIG.


7


—Description and Operation of Zipper with Releasably Locked Zipper Components





FIG. 7

illustrates a third of six installation illustrations where stationary pin


49


and box


50


are shown as having been placed onto elongated coupling element


62


, after slider


41


, and either temporarily or permanently locked (as desired) into place by locks


66


. Locks


66


are resilient and can be released. Slider


41


, with encompassing molding


40


M, is ready to be lowered over stationary pin


49


and box


50


, aligning entrance


94


over the entrance of socket box


50


. A lowering motion of tab


40


T locks slider


41


and molding


40


M in place and prevents movement of slider


41


for immobile snap-lock coupling with male member


60


. Locks


42


L and


43


are adapted to be used as well, if desired.




FIG.


8


—Description of Removal of Zipper Components When Desired





FIG. 8

illustrates a fourth of six installation illustrations, showing the removal of socket box


50


and stationary pin


49


, with a disengagement tool


50


D (FIG.


8


A). If an installer, by accident, happens to place stationary pin


49


and box


50


on elongated coupling element


62


before sliding slider


41


on first, or places slider


41


on upside-down, or inverted, the installer can release locks


66


by pushing down on lock


66


with tool


50


D through voids


50


V, on stationary pin


49


and box


50


. The installer can remove stationary pin


49


and box


50


from elongated coupling element


62


. Then the installer can correct the mistake and place slider


41


and then stationary pin


49


and box


50


back onto elongated coupling element


62


(or correct the direction of slider


41


) for proper installation. Releasable locks


66


can save zippers, zipper tape, and worker's time that would have been needed to correct inaccuracies, during manufacturing and installation. Locks


66


are sturdy enough to permanently install the components, without further heat sealing or other sealing methods.




FIG.


8


A—Description and Operation of Single Disengagement Tool





FIG. 8A

shows a single releasing or disengaging tool


50


D used to separate the components from the elongated coupling element. Tool


50


D is fitted through void


50


V (or other void) and depresses lock


66


. When lock


66


is pressed, void


50


V has a small slotted area extending from void


50


V that allows the installer to start moving the component to be removed, a short distance while tool


50


D is still pushing down on lock


66


. This allows the component to hold lock


66


down while the component is being removed, otherwise simultaneous holding of the lock and removal of the component cannot be done without a full length releasing slot through the component.




For the readers understanding, the operation of the slot is similar to the operation of a slot found in a sleeve of a compact disc binder, or holder, that has multiple pages. An elongated, slotted opening through the clear plastic over a single housed CD is provided for the removal of the CD. This slotted opening stems from the center of where the CD is located and extends outward in one direction, so the user can slide the CD out of the sleeve, from the outside of the plastic sleeve, long enough to provide sufficient surface area of the CD for the fingers to grasp. A full length releasing slot is not necessary and can divide or weaken the components. Releasing tool


50


D can be any shape or design, depending upon the design, shape, or size of the zipper and the type of resilient, releasable lock used.




FIG.


8


B—Description and Operation of Resilient Releasing Lock





FIG. 8B

shows a releasing lock


66


. The upper flange has a depression for the fitting of tool


50


D. During installation, the component to be installed is slid onto elongated coupling element


62


and over locks


66


. Locks


66


are resilient and are constantly reaching up to resume their original shape, when depressed. When the void of the component reaches the lock, the lock snaps up (down or out) into the void and prevents the component from moving any further. Releasable locks


66


can be of any design, including resilient shaped materials, button-type resilient locks, locks that resiliently turn sideways (would use a turning releasing tool) or any other releasing lock.




FIG.


9


—Description of Removal of Stationary Pin and Socket Box





FIG. 9

illustrates a fifth of six installation illustrations, showing the removal of stationary pin


49


and box


50


from elongated coupling element


62


, as shown by the broken arrow. Slider


41


, stationary pin


49


and box


50


or other components (such as a second slider) can be taken off if some part of the installation of the zipper is incorrect, or some portion is broken. The components can also be taken off to correct slider


41


, if slider


40


inadvertently slips off teeth


64


, during wear of the garment, elongated coupling element


62


, or if elongated coupling elements


62


and


76


improperly separate during operation of the zipper.




FIG.


10


—Description and Operation of Modification of Elongated Coupling Element





FIG. 10

illustrates the last of six installation illustrations. It shows the removal of a full length socket box


51


L. Box


51


L is released by the pushing down of two disengaging tools


50


D, (tools


50


D are shown in dotted lines). The interior of box


50


D is rectangular which corresponds to a modification in the shape of the lower tip of elongated coupling element


62


. The outside of box


51


L has groove


50


G to interact and align with tongue


41


T on the underside of slider


41


. Tip


54


on elongated coupling element


62


is shown with a more rectangular shape rather than cylindrical. Any shape tip can be used, such as triangular, octagonal, wide and flat, etc. A socket member can be releasably installed laterally on a coupling element that has long resilient flanges along the length of the tip. The design of tip


54


is to accommodate the room needed for the placement of releasable locks


66


. Box


51


L is taken off elongated coupling element


62


in the direction of the dotted arrow. When the correction on coupling elongated coupling element


62


has been made, box


51


L can be returned to elongated coupling element


62


as shown by the solid arrow.





FIG. 10A

shows a twin releasing tool


50


T, which can be inserted into predetermined, spaced voids


50


V to press locks


66


and simultaneously release two locks


66


and unlock box


51


L or other components.





FIG. 10B

shows a resilient, button-type, spring lock


50


S, that can be used to releasably lock zipper components onto elongated coupling element


62


. Releasing tool


50


D presses down (broken arrow) upon locks


66


to unlock the components, demonstrated by the solid arrow.




FIG.


11


—Description and Operation of Fifth Embodiment, Immobilized and Aligned Non-Separable Zipper





FIG. 11

is a sixth embodiment illustrating an immobile and aligned non-separable zipper, such as those found on the fly of trousers, the front of a jumpsuit, or the waistband of a skirt. Self-locking slider


40


is at the terminal end of the zipper and its movement is arrested. Slider


40


, with molding


40


M has encompassed box


50


, and provided a single arrested differentiated socket


96


D, for snap-lock, lateral coupling with a differentiated male interlocking member


60


D.




Male member


60


D is a modification of member


60


of FIG.


1


. The interlocking portion of male member


60


D is differentiated. A slender, non-resilient portion on its lower end slides laterally into entrance


94


of slider


40


. The upper portion is resilient and slides laterally into a complimentary designed entrance


96


D, rebounding and snapping up inside box


50


to lock the ends of elongated coupling elements


62


and


76


together. Intergarment plates


86


and


88


are positioned on elongated coupling elements


62


and


76


, respectively, to give the user a rigid, snap-lock buckle to instantly couple the upper end of elongated coupling elements


62


and


76


together.




Male member


60


D is inserted laterally into entrance


96


D and snap-locks or buckles together the two opposing sides of the garment, shown by the pair of large, horizontal arrows, located above FIG.


11


. Slider


40


and molding


40


M is then pulled in a downward position, by the user, to close teeth


64


,


78


and the remainder of the zipper, shown by the large, vertical arrow. Tab


40


T is lifted, along with claw(s)


48


and


48


A, and unlocks slider


40


. The user then pulls slider


40


by tab


40


T downward or in a closing direction, to close the remainder of the zipper. Placing tab


40


T in a resting position at the terminal end of the zipper, locks slider


40


in place.




For easy installation, the zipper components for the non-separable zipper are releasably installed on the elongated coupling elements after the elongated coupling elements are sewn on to the garment or article of manufacture. Extra room in the sewing of the zipper, or the concealing fabric, can be allotted for the hiding of slider


40


(and elongated coupling elements) at the terminal end of the zipper. Slider


40


/


40


M can be very small or tapered at the terminal end to promote a neat appearance, as seen from outside of the zipper. The zipper can be installed below the waistband, partially in the waistband, in the waistband, or elsewhere where needed.




To open the garment, the steps are reversed. The zipper is unlocked by lifting and unlocking tab


40


T. The user pulls up slider


40


with tab


40


T until it encompasses box


50


. The user presses a release button


60


B on elongated coupling element


62


, to unlock the zipper at the initiating end. Pressing button


60


B, with a single finger, depresses the resilient portion of member


60


D down and away from the locking restraint. Member


60


D is released out through entrance


96


D in a direction opposite to coupling. Male member


60


D can then be removed or is pushed out of entrance


96


D with momentum in a lateral direction from slider


40


and box


50


, to unlock the zipper.




FIG.


12


—Description of Seventh Embodiment, Hidden, Waterproof and Wind Resistant Immobile and Aligned Closure Systems





FIG. 12

is a seventh embodiment illustrating the immobilized and aligned closure system with apparatus to hide and keep the zipper dry and wind resistant. Fabric


90


has been extended and a flap created to cover and hide the zipper. A hook and loop fastener


98


, snaps, or other closure, keeps fabric


90


closed over the zipper to keep it dry. This is a simple process which keeps the zipper dry and away from penetrating wind, as well as hiding it.




To further waterproof the closure system, elongated coupling elements


62


and


76


are sprayed, dipped in a waterproof solution or bath, before or after teeth


64


and


78


are affixed. The waterproof solution will cause water to roll off the zipper instead of the elongated coupling elements absorbing the water. The immobile and aligned closure system, when sufficiently treated, is adapted for use in wet suits and in space. The components of this closure system are adaptable for lamination, for waterproofing and wind proofing the zipper. This can done at normal atmospheric pressure or under additional pressure for under water, and space applications. Other water and wind proofing methods can be used.




FIG.


13


—Description and Operation of Eighth Embodiment, Immobilized and Aligned Double Zipper





FIG. 13

is an eighth embodiment showing two immobile and aligned sliders used together to provide a reliable double zipper. A double zipper can be found in articles, such as sports bags that hold large equipment, or computer bags that benefit from having a large, wide opening. A connective zipper pull


100


attached to tab


40


T connects slider


40


of one zipper to slider


40


of second zipper. Connective pull


100


is grasped with one hand and pulled in an opening or closing direction. This lifts locking tabs


40


T and opens or closes two zippers simultaneously with the effort of opening a single zipper. The center flap of material, between the two zippers can be totally removed and replaced easily, by the operation of the zipper. Slider


40


is adapted to provide a double zipper for fasteners with or without molding


40


M.




Reflective material


40


R is added to molding


40


M and elongated coupling elements


62


and


76


. Reflective material


40


R is sprayed on, painted on, sewn on or into, adhered temporarily with hook and loop tape, glued on or installed by other means. It reflects light from a car or other source, allowing a motorist to see the user far in advance of when they would notice them, if they did not have the reflective material. Other kinds of material, such as glow-in-the-dark material or added safety features, are easily used as well. Reflective material placed on a separate item that hangs from tab


40


T also adds safety protection. Intergarment plates


86


can be removed if desired.




FIG.


14


—Description of Ninth Embodiment, Magnetically Coupled Slide Fastener with Safety Features





FIG. 14

is a ninth embodiment showing an aligned and arrested slider having reliable magnetic coupling. An immobile and aligned entrance


96


D is provided for instant movement-free coupling with magnetic male member


84


. Intergarment plates


86


and


88


, used for stiff and accurate coupling, has strap holders


86


H and


88


E respectively, to hold elastic, a strap or the like, that goes around a garment in the waistband, etc., to make the jacket fitting at the waist. Pull tab


40


T has an uncoupling or dividing wedge


40


W, which can be used to uncouple the zipper, for non-emergency everyday use. Magnetic male member


84


is a strong magnet, which is strongly attracted to a corresponding attracted portion, such as metal in, or as stationary pin


85


, on elongated coupling element


62


. Safety interlocking teeth


65


and


65


B close and open elongated coupling elements


62


and


76


along their length.




Teeth


65


and


65


B are only shallowly designed and separate under predetermined pressure to open the garment in the event that the garment gets caught in the door of a car, bus, or is caught in other dangerous circumstances. Using safety teeth paired with a magnetically coupled zipper would ideally allow the garment to totally separate, even at the bottom to free a child from injury, possibly from serious injury. This magnetically coupled zipper serves to protect a child in the same manner if applied to fasten the bottom end of the straps of the child's back pack to the pack itself (or other applications). If the straps or the pack becomes entangled or caught in a bus door, the pressure would free the child of the back pack.




FIG.


14


—Operation of Magnetically Coupled Slide Fastener




After slider


40


D is immobilized and aligned, the user places male magnetic member


84


parallel to and in close proximity to socket


96


D. The attractive magnetic force


80


pulls male magnetic member


84


laterally into the guiding socket entrance


96


D which initially couples the zipper. Slider


40


is pulled in a closing direction to couple the full length of the zipper. Socket


96


D is designed to guide and accept magnetic male member


84


. If encompassing molding


40


M is not used, member


84


is magnetically pulled into the combined and immobile entrance


94


/


96


A of slider


40


and box


50


(FIG.


3


).




To uncouple the zipper, in non-emergency use, the user lowers tab


40


T to the initiating end of the zipper. Tab


40


T has an uncoupling or dividing wedge


40


W. Wedge


40


W is located on the under side of tab


40


T, corresponding to the portion where male members


84


and female coupling member


85


meet. Tab


40


T can lie flat within the surface of slider


40


. However, if tab


40


T is pressed in further, wedge


40


W comes between the two magnetic members


84


and


85


, from above (or elsewhere) and separates members


84


and


85


and uncouples the zipper.




The adjoining edges of members


84


and


85


are beveled in a valley shape to guide wedge


40


W into position to uncouple members


84


and


85


. Wedge


40


W also can be used to further immobilize the slider of the immobilized alignment closure system if not pressed all the way down. Depending upon the attractive magnetic force, magnetic male member


84


can also be pulled laterally out of entrance


96


D, without wedge


40


W, such as in a child's garment. A resilient button or divider that protrudes into housing, or molding, on slider


40


can also be used to uncouple member


84


and


85


. Predetermined pressure in an emergency should uncouple the zipper by tearing elongated coupling elements


62


and


76


apart.




FIG.


14


A—Differentiated Shoulder-Type Male Flange Interlocking Member





FIG. 14A

shows a modification of an releasably interlocking male half-buckle or male interlocking shoulder-type flange member


76


S, that has an interlocking flange


76


F. Male interlocking flange member


76


S couples through a differentiated entrance (not shown), in female half-buckle


104


, that is designed to accept male member


76


S. Male interlocking flange member


76


S releasably couples with the bottom surface of a socket member or a portion of elongated coupling element


76


, within female half-buckle


104


, as an interlocking rigid buckle, to instantly initially couple the zipper (not shown).




Male interlocking flange member


76


S has a guiding rail


76


R that guides male member


76


S into a corresponding track in female half-buckle


104


for proper alignment for coupling. Resilient locking flange


76


F releasably couples with a socket member, such as a socket box, (or coupling element


76


), having a corresponding, releasably connectable shoulder type slot, depression, or void (not shown). Male interlocking flange member


76


S can be quickly released with a single hand or finger, to uncouple the zipper. Flange


76


F can take on any shape such as a sideways “U,” “N,” or other shape and material that gives it resilience, and have an attached or remotely placed releasing lever or mechanism.




To couple the zipper, the user molding


40


M to the initiating end of the zipper, encompassing socket box


50


. The user then pushes interlocking male flange member


76


S laterally into the opening of differentiated entrance


96


D (

FIG. 14

) in the socket of female half-buckle


104


. While guiding rail


76


R is automatically guided into a corresponding track inside socket


104


, resilient flange


76


F simultaneously compresses inward, or upward, and pushes over the front edge of the retaining edge in the shoulder slot in the bottom of the socket box, or other place.




When it reaches the void of the retaining shoulder slot, interlocking flange


76


F drops into the slot and resumes its pre-deformed shape, audibly snap-locking coupling edge


76


L with the rim, or retaining surface of the shoulder slot, initially coupling the zipper together. The lower surface of flange


76


F, partially protrudes through the shoulder slot in the bottom of the socket box, or below female half-buckle


104


, when it is coupled, for uncoupling, and can be felt as a bulge. Elongated coupling element


76


with teeth


78


slide over the socket, aided by guiding edge


76


G. Female half-buckle


104


is drawn to close the zipper along its length, leaving socket box


50


and male interlocking flange member


76


S at the initial end of the zipper.




Locking edge


76


L of flange


76


F can be an indented retaining surface to lock with the retaining surface, or thickness of the shoulder slot opening, such as


76


L, shown, or it can be a softer more curved edge, locked by the pressure of flange


76


F, on the shoulder slot opening, or void. These are akin to traditional quick release, two piece, laterally coupled buckles, usually having two male interlocking flanges.




To uncouple the zipper, encompassing molding


40


M is drawn to its initial position, again encompassing socket box


50


. The user then pushes the bulge or protruding lower surface of flange


76


F back inside the socket box, upwards, inside the body of female half-buckle


104


with a single finger. This quickly releases the buckle and opens the garment. Pressing releasing flange


76


F inward can project male coupling member


76


S laterally, clearly out of female half-buckle


104


with some momentum, immediately uncoupling the zipper. An attached or remote release button or lever can also be used to release the locking edge or coupling of this buckle-started closure system, especially if the male interlocking member is shaped like a sideways U or N, above.




Conclusions, Ramifications and Scope




The reader will see that I have provided a slider for a slide fastener, or zipper, which arrests is own movement in order to provide an immobile, aligned, and easily coupled socket. A rigid snap-together buckle placed on the initiating ends of the zipper instantly couple the zipper, and the female buckle-half, with its slider within, closes the zipper along its length. This is a new and beneficial arrangement. It is a simple and economical way to provide dependable coupling, especially for those in a hurry, the very young, or those who may have a disability. This method and apparatus uses less effort than a traditional zipper, yet it readily provides more convenience and reliability than the traditional zipper.




In a traditional zipper, the user already uses the zipper pull to move the slider along the elongated coupling element, and lets it go when they have moved the slider to where they want it to be. Using the same amount of effort and a self-locking slider, the user can easily arrest the movement of the slider and instantaneously couple the zipper with a quick snap of the two sides of the zipper. The zipper can quickly be coupled laterally, just like a rigid, quick-release, plastic buckle, which is much easier to couple than trying to thread a male pin through a moving slider and into a small socket box (or two sliders) whose entrance one can not see.




While the above description contains many specificities these should not be considered limiting since many variations and ramifications will be apparent.




This versatile zipper can be installed in a factory setting using an extra heat sealing process to seal on the socket box and stationary pin, after the zipper has been inspected and cleared for permanent installation, if desired. A socket member can be permanently attached afterwards with pressure or heating sealing or melting the components together. A socket member can also be released using a resilient release button that is easily accessible to the owner of the garment, rather than using a more inaccessible release mechanism, as illustrated. Any suitable materials can be used including rubber, plastic, metal, and the like.




The features illustrated in the drawings may be combined for different and new applications or embodiments, according to this closure system, or other methods can be used.




A resilient mechanism in the socket member can be used to snap-lock on the components for installation of the components after sewing of the elongated coupling elements. The stationary pin and socket box can be snap-locked laterally, or horizontally, onto an elongated coupling element. A stationary pin or terminal end of an elongated coupling element can be used as a socket member to streamline the design of the closure system. A self-locking slider that does not have encompassing or non-encompassing molding, can encompass a socket member (

FIG. 2

) to streamline the design and provide a more compact coupling entrance.




This zipper can also be sold separately at sewing stores, with all its components, for easy, at home installation, without hindrance of the components being in the way. Often hobbyists, dress makers, plush toy makers, and the like, need to install zippers at home. This will enable the home sewer to easily sew on the elongated coupling elements, without the zipper head and socket box in the way, resulting in a neater, more solid installation, less frustration and a lesser number of machinery parts.




Combining the safety of a releasing zipper, such as that found in Cullum, above, to an easy to install, magnetically coupled (or other), reflective, immobile and aligned closure system would provide a safer, more easily coupled zipper, especially for children. Combining releasing zipper teeth with magnetic lateral coupling, ensures that the zipper totally separates under pressure, for a completely releasing, safer zipper for children.




Zipper teeth designed with a thin extension of their upper plastic surface, that reaches slightly over (or under—or both) the gap between interengaging teeth and into a depression in the complimentary teeth, covers the gap between the interlocking teeth to keep moisture out. The immobilized and aligned zipper systems can operate with any interlocking configuration or contours of teeth, coiled zippers, profile rib closures, and the like.




Arrested and aligned sliders and closure systems can be used anywhere zippers are used, including metal and plastic zippers, coiled zippers, two-way zippers, reversible zippers for reversible garments that can be worn on either side, and in profile and groove plastic zippers, such as those used in storage bags and the like. Immobilized, snap-lock buckled sliders can be placed back to back so the sliders can be locked together with a separate key or combination lock, to lock luggage. Immobilized closure systems can be used for zipping off the lower end of pants to make the long pants into shorts and for zipping off sleeves to make a vest. They can attach liners into coats, hoods onto jackets, zip pages or pencil cases into a binder, attach filters onto furnaces, connect one IDE computer connector cable to another cable along its length, used on packaging, and have innumerable other uses.




A series of small, or short buckle initiated, snap-lock zippers can be placed one above the other, such as a series of buttons on a coat, to create a new style of zipper. All members of the closure system can have different colors, or decorated in a manner that shows how it should be used, especially for children. They can be used in combination with hook and loop tape, and other fasteners to make a multifaceted closure device. Additional buckles and zippers can be placed on a garment or article to close pockets, flaps of material, add items, or the like.




Two independent arrested and aligned slide fasteners, or double zippers, with slider


40


can be used to insert more material to a surface, such as adding an additional segment of artificial turf to a stadium playing surface or arena. Double zippers with the connective pull tab


100


can be used to interchange different colors of material where desired, and make articles larger or smaller, wider or narrower, such as for a gusset or making draperies wider, adding different patterns, adding restraining material to hold groceries in the trunk of a car, etc., as well as openings of luggage and containers.




Arrested and aligned sliders and closure systems can be used to instantly snap alternate ends of material together, such as opening two sleeping bags and snapping them together to make one larger sleeping bag.




Having a large buckle to initially attach the ends of a garment together and attaching large tabs and grasping members that hang from the pull tabs, enables skiers and working users to couple and uncouple the arrested and aligned, buckle-started zipper easily, without removing their gloves. Self-locking sliders that provide immobile and aligned sockets for coupling can encompass a socket member, stationary pin or elongated coupling element. Stationary pins, socket members, or other components can be made thicker in the back, or other places to accommodate interlocking members, etc., in order to keep the slide fastener narrower and streamlined for operation.




Significantly wider elongated coupling elements can be used to allow a wider two-piece interlocking buckle to be used, permitting a slider with oversized molding to slide without encumbrance, along the elongated coupling elements. Also the fabric along the edge of the elongated coupling elements can be sewn down in place so it will not impede the movement of the slider. Encompassing or non-encompassing molding can provide tapering and a guiding entrance, and an entrance with the equivalent of a single thickness. Molding can provide guiding interlocking tongue and groove members, buttons, snaps, or the like, for positioning and retention. Molding and/or male interlocking members can provide a plurality of strap holders to accommodate other straps to be used with additional harnessing, closure systems, or the like. The socket member can be totally eliminated and the two elongated coupling elements can resiliently snap together, with the lengths being closed by the slider (FIG.


2


).




The zipper can also be uncoupled by moving the slider all the way down to the initiating end, where the dividing triangle of the slider, inside the slider, is designed to (or other element) push down on a resilient flange or activating button and instantly and automatically uncouple the zipper. The slider is kept on the elongated coupling element by shaping the elongated coupling element wider at the terminal tip, creating an abutment, or other method, or kept above the position of the locking terminal ends by shaping of an interlocking tooth.




A resilient wire (or other method) will also force tab


40


T down into a flush position, if applied to tab holder


44


and tab


40


T. A smooth upper plate, or visible plate, on the female half-buckle provides an aesthetic appearance. Claw


46


is adapted to penetrate elongated coupling element


62


, a void


50


V or depression in box


50


, stationary pin


52


, a space in between two teeth


64


,


78


, the fabric of elongated coupling element


62


or elsewhere. When


40


T is lifted to pull slider


40


, the lower end of


40


T lifts tab holder


44


and its attached claw


46


. This releases the lock on slider


40


, so the elongated coupling elements can be closed or opened. More than one claw


46


can be used to penetrate single or multiple sites simultaneously, to solely arrest all movement of slider


40


.




Coupling and releasing mechanisms can be placed in any location and on either elongated coupling element, including the bottom (such as male interlocking member


76


F—

FIG. 14A

) or on the edges, such as the quick-release plastic snap-lock buckles on a backpack, car seat, or seat belt on a stroller. A lock can be placed on the terminal end of a zipper, such as if the closure system is used to restrain a toddler or infant, as those used in a car seats, strollers, or high chair harnesses.




The aligned and arrested closure system can also be coupled by pressing the interlocking male half-buckle into the top or bottom surface of the female half-buckle and snapping it shut.




A resilient interlocking male member can have many modes of operation as well. It can be totally resilient, have resilient parts combined with non-resilient parts, have manually operated parts, or be totally non-resilient, for use with a spring-lock assembly, etc. The spring-lock assembly can have other locking edges and be made in different ways with different engaging and releasing mechanisms. Spring-lock assembly


50


L can be located on either elongated coupling element


62


,


76


.




A releasing button can be placed under resilient material, such as a pliant rubber or a pliant plastic covering on the slider's upper plate, or other location, so the releasing button would seem to be invisible (except for a designated marking if desired). When the pliant covering is pushed down, over the position of the releasing button, the zipper is uncoupled. This is akin to the touch pads of many appliances of today, including a television remote control device or microwave activating touch panel. A release button can also be activated by pushing the slider tab down firmly in the upper plate of the slider, or pulling the slider down if it has a specially designed unlocking projection inside, to activate a release button at the terminal end.




The dead person's lock can be designed differently than as illustrated. The locking member of the dead person's lock can be mounted perpendicularly to the resilient mechanism. The dead person's locking member can be activated with a resilient button on the top of lock


42


L where the top of lock


42


L has a lip for the under placement of two fingers, so that the activating finger has other fingers to push against. The dead person's lock can be operated by other means, such as by a corkscrew mechanism that lifts and lowers the locking mechanism or by the use of coiled springs, resilient plastic, metals or the like. Dead person's locking tabs can be combined with a plurality of other self-locking tabs or sliders in a single closure system.




The dead person's locking member can be located off-center, so it will be located above the teeth of elongated coupling element


62


, rather than being located directly in the center. The locking device inside the dead person's locking tab can be off-center inside, instead, so that the locking tab can be located in the center of the slider. Locking devices can lock non-consecutive interlocking teeth. The locking mechanism can be activated by pushing in resilient flanges on the sides of the molding to unlock and slide the slider and molding.




The immobile and aligned closure systems can be used for separable zippers, weather resistant zippers, safety zippers, non-separable zippers, two-way zippers for reaching an inner garment, reversible zippers for operation on both sides of a garment, etc., double and multiple zippers. They can be laterally and vertically coupled. The aligned and arrested system can be designed to be at an angle for the comfort of the user's wrists or the like. They can be used on, garments, accessories, CD binders, footwear, toys, housewares, bedding, carpeting, camping and sports equipment and surfaces, harnesses that have a plurality of closure systems and male interlocking members, transportation, space travel or preparation thereof, and medical applications. They can be used in an inverted position, such as the non-separable zipper in

FIG. 10

, or used in a conventional position on a non-separable zipper, with the socket member at the bottom. They can be of any material or color, including prism, glitter, transparent, holographic, or lit from the inside with a small light bulb, etc. This closure system can be used intentionally as a disposable fastener that is used to pair items together with a temporary or non-durable adhesive for display or packaging and then peeled off and discarded at home.




The immobile and aligned closure system can be used for profile and groove closures on plastic storage bags, plastic sheeting, and the like. They can have releasable connectable additions, such as snap-lock key holders, whistle holders, small flashlights, swivel and/or hinged holders, luggage identification tags, trinkets, novelties, and the like, that snap onto the zipper pull tab or socket member. Attachments can be additional two piece rigid plastic buckles, or combined with a male interlocking member situated on the closure system, or vise-versa. Interlocking zipper teeth can be of any height, shape, or dimension or a combination thereof, to allow for a sufficient lateral opening to the slider and for proper operation of the closure system.




The immobile and aligned closure systems can be used for tiny applications, such as on pieces of jewelry. The immobile and aligned closure systems can be used for very large uses, such as on industrial machinery belts that hold an extensive amount of weight. They can be used in specialized industries, such as for stadium use and astronauts, as above, divers, airlines, and construction use.




Molding can extend from the base of the slider and be inserted in the upper end of the socket box to house or bridge the members together, or molding can extend from other coupling members, for this purpose, such as extending upward from a socket member to bridge or encompass the slider. Molding can provide suitable entrances of any shape to enhance dependable coupling of the zipper. Molding, sliders, and other components can provide guiding surfaces for smooth bridging, alignment and for operation of the zipper. A plurality of zippers can be placed back to back or in any position to provide dependable coupling for new uses.




Differentiated male interlocking members can always be used to couple through differentiated sockets, designed to accommodate their design. A significantly wider portion of the differentiated male interlocking member can be provided for locking with a socket member, or the like, while a narrower portion of the male interlocking member is provided for slipping through the open side of the sliding zipper head and locking within the sliding zipper head. A socket member can be considerably wider, thicker, etc. to accommodate a much wider male interlocking portion or member. This wider socket member or portion of the socket member and the interlocked male member (when coupled) can be partially or wholly incorporated into the fabric of a garment, or housed in the intergarment plate, or other suitable area, while coupled, so the socket member and the slider can magically seem to have the same size, (and the male member sees to disappear into a socket that is too small for it) when viewed from the outside of the garment (FIG.


1


G). This housing can be used for any of the coupling methods, or on either coupling element, as needed. A much wider or bigger male interlocking member and socket member gives the user more surface area for holding and easier guiding of the male member into the socket for coupling.




The interlocking snap-lock buckle preferably has a smooth or plane surface,(but is not essential) to resemble a regular, two-piece, snap-lock buckle. The buckle can have any shape including triangular, etc., or having concave, or convex upper and lower plates, sides, etc, thumb recesses or twisted and shaped pull tabs to suit the fingers. The buckle, pull tabs or operating surfaces can have a rubber surface or a “soft-touch” for the comfort of the user.




The pull tab, tab holder, locking projections, etc. are preferably inset in the molding to provide this aesthetic appearance. The male side of the zipper can have encompassing molding, or non-encompassing molding for aesthetic appearance or for dependable operation of the zipper, or the stiff intergarment plate and male interlocking member can be considered molding. The zipper can be snap-locked from the side and released through the top or can be locked from the top and released through the side of the slider. Components can be incorporated near the coupling site to efficiently and quickly initiate the engagement of the zipper teeth, such as space bar


76


G, tooth


78


S and slot


60


S.




Male and female interlocking members and releasing mechanisms can be resilient flanges, etc., non-resilient members combined with resilient members, non-resilient members, or situated on resilient flanges, resilient in different or opposite directions or otherwise, or located elsewhere.




Resilient flanges also includes flanges that operate by being pushed into a wider position or angle by an interlocking member, which locks by falling back down into a restricting hollow or void in the interlocking member. An example of this is when a male interlocking member is pushed against a resilient hinged panel in a female socket member, during coupling, and the panel then drops down into a recess in the male interlocking member behind a locking front edge, when it is pushed all the way into the socket. This buckle is unlocked by a releasing member (button, etc.) pushing the flange, or hinged panel in the female socket, in a wider angle again and out of the restricting recess or locking edge in the male interlocking member, uncoupling the buckle. Non-resilient interlocking male members can have depressions, voids, tapered, cut or shaped edges or designs to interlock with resilient female members to couple and uncouple the zipper.




A safety zipper can be rounded, tapered or designed to release more easily, such as curving or tapering the entrance of the magnetic immobilized and aligned zipper socket so the male interlocking member can be pulled out at an angle without catching on something, such as fireman's corners.




Interlocking sites can be placed anywhere on the male or female members. Releasing members can also be placed anywhere that promotes a dependable, easily operated, and aesthetic zipper, including inside the sliding zipper head, the sides of the buckle or remote areas, such as by pressing a zipper tab, a portion of the intergarment plate, etc., or by tugging on a zipper pull tab that can release the zipper. A user can operate the zipper from either side of a reversible garment, with a reversible buckle that couples and uncouples the garment on either side. A female socket or buckle-half can couple with a plurality of male interlocking members. These male interlocking members can each have strap holder(s) for creating dependable harnesses, as above. All strap holders can have gripping members to immobilize and adjust the straps.




The molding, or pull tabs on the female half-buckle (or other area), can house additional features, such as a garage door opener, a light switch, car/trunk entry, a working miniature sized computer or digital game piece for a child or a regular timepiece. This timepiece, etc., can be analog, or digital, etc., and can be orientated so that the wearer can clearly read the time (or play the game). These additional features can also be hung from the slider pull tab. The molding can be illustrated with decorations or instructions on how to operate the zipper. Parts can have recessed and/or overlapping portions to fit together to provide planar surfaces. Overlapping material can provide hidden zippers. All parts, shown and not shown, are designed and shaped to enhance dependable performance, convenience for the user, and an aesthetic appearance of the aligned and immobile closure systems, according to this invention.




Locking devices includes portions, components or members that utilize gravity, pressure, or friction to immobilize and align the closure system for coupling. An example of friction is using rubber projections or coatings that are pushed against other designated areas or other rubber portions to immobilize the zipper head, or rubber tongues and grooves, or the like. The zipper head can also be immobilized by allowing gravity to drop the sliding zipper head, situated on an elongated coupling element and equipped with a cogwheel or cog formation that juts in between zipper teeth when dropped on specially formed teeth on the initiating end of the coupling element to arrest movement and align the slider. Springs and resilience that work in connection with clamps to grab zipper teeth, such as from the front and the back of the teeth, or other components or portions can be used. Other methods can also be used. Features not in conflict can be used to improve my previous patent, above.




Accordingly, the full scope of the invention should be determined not by the embodiments illustrated, but by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.



Claims
  • 1. An immobile and aligned closure system, comprising:(a) two elongated coupling elements, each having an inner edge and an opposite outer edge, said two elongated coupling elements being affixable to respective lengths of material, said two elongated coupling elements each having a row or chain of interengaging and locking members mounted on and along said inner edge, said two elongated coupling elements being lockable to each other for coupling and closing and alternately uncoupling and opening said two elongated coupling elements, (b) a self-locking sliding zipper head, situated on one of said two elongated coupling elements and said two rows or chains for locking and closing and alternately unlocking and opening said two elongated coupling elements and said two rows or chains along their length, said self-locking sliding zipper head comprises means for arresting a) lateral movement of said self-locking sliding zipper head perpendicular to said rows or chains, b) anterior-posterior movement of said self-locking sliding zipper head on said rows or chains, and c) vertical movement of said self-locking sliding zipper head along said rows or chains, said self-locking sliding zipper head comprises a locking projection and means for solely providing an immobile and aligned coupling socket for instant, initial coupling of said closure system, said initial coupling being the first attachment of said two elongated coupling elements and said two rows or chains to each other at an initiating end of said two rows or chains for operation of said closure system, said self-locking sliding zipper head being a sole arresting member and comprising means for solely providing said immobile and aligned coupling socket for initial coupling and operation of said closure system, wherein said immobile and aligned closure system comprises a minimum number of components and means for providing a safety, laterally coupled, immobile and aligned closure system adapted for releasing a garment or article of manufacture under a predetermined pressure resulting in less injury to a wearer, and (c) a male interlocking member, situated on the other of said two rows or chains for initially coupling and uncoupling with said self-locking sliding zipper head and said closure system, whereby a self-locking sliding zipper head can solely provide an initial coupling socket for instant snap-lock lateral and traditional coupling of a slide fastener.
  • 2. The immobile and aligned closure system of claim 1 wherein said closure system is adapted for operating with three main components comprising a) two interlocking elongated coupling elements adapted to directly couple each other, and b) a self-locking sliding zipper head being adapted to align and arrest said lateral, anterior-posterior and vertical movement of said self-locking sliding zipper for providing an immobile aligned socket for dependable initial coupling.
  • 3. The immobile and aligned closure system of claim 1 wherein said safety laterally coupled immobile and aligned closure system comprises a predetermined pressure release for releasing a garment or article of manufacture when a wearer is caught in a dangerous circumstance for freeing said wearer from said garment or article resulting in less injury to said wearer, wherein said safety laterally coupled immobile and aligned closure system is a magnetically coupled closure system.
  • 4. The immobile and aligned closure system of claim 1 wherein said self-locking sliding zipper head comprises a dead person's lock having a locking projection and means for providing an aligned and immobile socket for dependable lateral and traditional initial coupling of said closure system, said dead person's lock maintains said self-locking sliding zipper head in a locked position until it is purposely unlocked, wherein an interlocking site is adapted to be placed anywhere on a male or female member.
  • 5. The immobile and aligned closure system of claim 1, further including a socket member on one of said two rows or chains for coupling and uncoupling said closure system and for operation of said closure system.
  • 6. The immobile and aligned closure system of claim 1, further including a wide male interlocking member, said wide male interlocking member being wider than said self-locking sliding zipper head, said wide male interlocking member is adapted for initially coupling and uncoupling said closure system, said wide male interlocking member being situated within a housing in an intergarment plate at the initiating end of said closure system when coupled, said housing comprises means for using a plurality of coupling methods for initially coupling said closure system, said wide male interlocking member comprises more surface area for holding and easier guiding of said wide male interlocking member into a socket for coupling, said wide male interlocking member being easier to couple than a more narrow interlocking member.
  • 7. The immobile and aligned closure system of claim 1, further including means for releasably installing said closure system, without any of the components of said closure system hindering its installation.
  • 8. The immobile and aligned closure system of claim 1, further including encompassing molding on said self-locking sliding zipper head and a socket member, said encompassing molding is adapted to encompass another member of said closure system, said encompassing molding is adapted for providing a) a unified and aligned entrance for instant coupling, b) means for providing an aesthetic appearance, c) a guiding entrance for coupling, d) a differentiated entrance having wide and narrower portions allowing for lateral coupling with a differentiated male interlocking member having wide and narrow portions, e) means for softly coating touchable areas for the comfort of the user, f) means for eliminating movement in a fabric elongated coupling element during initial coupling, since components are located on a fabric elongated coupling element, which can move.
  • 9. The immobile and aligned closure system of claim 1, further including a plurality of intergarment plates, situated on respective ends of said two elongated coupling elements and said rows or chains, wherein said plurality of intergarment plates are adapted to comprise a housing for coupling and uncoupling with a wide male interlocking member for operation of said closure system, said housing comprising means for use of a plurality of coupling methods for initially coupling said closure system.
  • 10. The immobile and aligned closure system of claim 1, further including a non-encompassing molding on said self-locking sliding zipper head and a socket member for providing a unified socket entrance through said members for initial coupling of said closure system, said non-encompassing molding extends beyond said self-locking sliding zipper head and said socket member for providing a streamlined and unified aligned guiding socket entrance for coupling.
  • 11. The immobile and aligned closure system of claim 1, further including a shoulder-type flange male interlocking member for releasably coupling with a female half-buckle on said respective edges of said two elongated elements and said rows or chains of interlocking elements, said coupling being an interlocking rigid male and female snap-lock buckle for initial coupling of said elongated coupling elements and said closure system and for operation of said closure system, wherein said shoulder-type male interlocking member is adapted to be uncoupled with momentum.
  • 12. The immobile and aligned closure system of claim 1, further including a rigid, male and female snap-lock interlocking buckle, situated on the respective ends of said two elongated coupling elements and said rows or chains of interengaging and locking members for instant initial coupling and uncoupling of said two elongated coupling elements for operation of said closure system, wherein said rigid, snap-lock buckle comprises softly coated touchable areas for the comfort of the user.
  • 13. The closure system of claim 1, further including means for providing a water resistant closure system.
  • 14. The closure system of claim 1, further including a plurality of safety features on said closure system comprising a) interlocking zipper teeth being releasable from each other under predetermined pressure, b) reflective, lit, and glow-in-the-dark material for the user's safety, c) releasable initial coupling members, d) fireman's corners, said fireman's corners on members of said closure system angle corners of components and are adapted to give way under predetermined pressure for freeing a user from a garment or article of manufacture.
  • 15. An immobile and aligned closure system comprising:(a) two elongated coupling elements, each having an inner edge and an opposite outer edge, said two elongated coupling elements being affixable to respective lengths of material, said two elongated coupling elements each having a row or chain of interengaging and locking members mounted on and along said inner edge, said two elongated coupling elements being lockable to each other for coupling and closing and alternately uncoupling and opening said two elongated coupling elements, (b) a self-locking sliding zipper head, slidably connected to one of said two elongated coupling elements for coupling and uncoupling said two elongated coupling elements along their lengths, said self-locking sliding zipper head has a locking projection and is adapted to solely arrest a) lateral movement of said self-locking sliding zipper head perpendicular to said rows or chains, b) anterior-posterior movement of said self-locking sliding zipper head on said rows or chains, and c) vertical movement of said self-locking sliding zipper head along said rows or chains, said self-locking sliding zipper head being a sole arresting member adapted for solely providing said immobile and aligned coupling socket for initial coupling and operation of said closure system, and (c) a wide interlocking male member, situated on the other of said two elongated coupling elements, said wide interlocking male member being wider than said self-locking sliding zipper head, said wide interlocking male member is adapted for coupling and uncoupling said closure system, said wide interlocking male member being partially situated in a housing in an intergarment plate while coupled, said housing comprising means for use of a plurality of coupling methods for initially coupling said closure system, said intergarment plate being situated at the initiating end of said one of said two elongated coupling elements for operation of said closure system, said wide interlocking male member provides the user more surface area for holding and easier guiding of said wide interlocking male member into said socket for coupling, and (d) a socket member on one of said two rows or chains for locking with said wide interlocking male member and for operation of said closure system.
  • 16. The immobile and aligned closure system of claim 15, further including a rigid, intergarment plate on one of said two elongated coupling elements for dependable initial coupling of said closure system, said intergarment plate being situated at the initiating end of said one of said two elongated coupling elements for operation of said closure system, said intergarment plate comprising a) a holder for holding a length of material, b) means for gripping said length of material for immobilizing and adjusting said material, c) means for releasing said closure system, d) housing for members comprising 1) a wide interlocking male member being wider than said self-locking sliding zipper head, said wide interlocking male member provides the user more surface area for holding and easier guiding of said wide interlocking male member into a socket for initial coupling, and 2) a spring-lock assembly for operation of said closure system, said housing comprising means for use of a plurality of coupling methods for initially coupling said closure system.
  • 17. The immobile and aligned closure system of claim 13, further including means for releasably installing said closure system comprising a) releasably locking components for installing, uninstalling and reinstalling said closure system without hindrance of having to sew around bulky components and to correct inaccurate installation and mishap, b) means for providing permanent installation after said closure system has been inspected, c) means for installing said closure system in a factory, d) means for installing said closure system in the home including plurality of tools, and instructions, and e) means for temporary use and for display and packaging.
  • 18. The immobile and aligned closure system of claim 15, further including a rigid, male and female snap-lock interlocking buckle, situated on the respective ends of said two elongated coupling elements and said rows or chains of interengaging and locking members for instant initial coupling and uncoupling of said two elongated coupling elements for operation of said closure system, wherein said rigid, snap-lock interlocking buckle comprises means for softly coating touchable areas for the comfort of the user, wherein an interlocking site is adapted for placement anywhere on the male or female members.
  • 19. An immobile and aligned closure system comprising:(a) two elongated coupling elements, each having an inner edge and an opposite outer edge, said two elongated coupling elements being affixable to respective lengths of material, said two elongated coupling elements each having a row or chain of interengaging and locking members mounted on and along said inner edge, said two elongated coupling elements being lockable to each other for coupling and closing and alternately uncoupling and opening said two elongated coupling elements, (b) a self-locking sliding zipper head, slidably connected to one of said two elongated coupling elements for coupling and uncoupling said two elongated coupling elements along their lengths, said self-locking sliding zipper head has a locking projection and is adapted to solely arrest a) lateral movement of said self-locking sliding zipper head perpendicular to said rows or chains, b) anterior-posterior movement of said self-locking sliding zipper head on said rows or chains, and c) vertical movement of said self-locking sliding zipper head along said rows or chains, said self-locking sliding zipper head being a sole arresting member adapted for solely providing said immobile and aligned coupling socket for initial coupling and operation of said closure system, and (c) means for releasably installing said closure system comprising a) releasably locking components for installing, uninstalling and reinstalling said closure system without hindrance of having to sew around bulky components and to correct inaccurate installation and mishap, b) means for providing permanent installation after said closure system has been inspected, c) means for installing said closure system in a factory, d) means for installing said closure system in the home including plurality of tools, and instructions, and e) means for temporary use and for display and packaging. (d) a male interlocking member, situated on the other of said two rows or chains for coupling and uncoupling with said self-locking sliding zipper head and said closure system for operation of said closure system.
  • 20. A method of providing an immobile and aligned closure system comprising:(a) providing two elongated coupling elements, each having an inner edge and an opposite outer edge, said two elongated coupling elements being affixable to respective lengths of material, said two elongated coupling elements each having a row or chains of interengaging and locking members mounted on and along said inner edge, said two elongated coupling elements being lockable to each other for coupling and closing and alternately uncoupling and opening said two elongated coupling elements along said lengths, (b) providing a self-locking sliding zipper head, slidably connected to one of said two elongated coupling elements for coupling and uncoupling said two elongated coupling elements along their lengths, said self-locking sliding zipper head has a locking projection and means for solely arresting a) lateral movement of said self-locking sliding zipper head perpendicular to said rows or chains, b) anterior-posterior movement of said self-locking sliding zipper head on said rows or chains, and c) vertical movement of said self-locking sliding zipper head along said rows or chains, said self-locking sliding zipper head being a sole arresting member adapted for solely providing said immobile and aligned coupling socket for initial coupling and operation of said closure system, (c) a wide interlocking male member, situated on the other of said two elongated coupling elements, said wide interlocking male member being wider than said self-locking sliding zipper head, said wide male interlocking member is adapted for coupling and uncoupling said closure system, said wide male interlocking member being partially situated in a housing in an intergarment plate while coupled, said housing comprising means for use of a plurality of coupling methods for initially coupling said closure system, said wide male interlocking member provides the user more surface area for holding and easier guiding of said wide male interlocking member into a socket for initial coupling, and (d) said socket member (e) unlocking said self-locking sliding zipper head and drawing said self-locking sliding zipper head in a first direction along said one of said two elongated coupling elements to one end thereof, (f) providing an immobile and arrested initial coupling socket, (g) initially coupling said two elongated coupling elements, (h) unlocking and drawing said self-locking sliding zipper head in a second direction along said two elongated coupling elements closing said two elongated coupling elements along their length, (i) unlocking and drawing said self-locking sliding zipper head in said first direction along said two elongated coupling elements to said one end thereof, and (j) unlocking said closure system.
  • 21. A method of providing an immobile and aligned closure system of claim 20, further including means for releasably installing said closure system.
  • 22. A method of providing an immobile and aligned closure system of claim 20, further including a rigid, male and female snap-lock interlocking buckle, situated on the respective initiating ends of said two elongated coupling elements and said rows or chains of interengaging and locking members for instant initial coupling and uncoupling of said two elongated coupling elements for operation of said closure system, wherein said rigid, snap-lock buckle comprises softly coated touchable areas for the comfort of the user, wherein an interlocking site is adapted for placement anywhere on the male or female members.
  • 23. A method of providing an immobile and aligned closure system of claim 20, further including a rigid, intergarment plate on one of said two elongated coupling elements for dependable initial coupling of said closure system, said intergarment plate being situated at the initiating end of said one of said two elongated coupling elements for operation of said closure system, said intergarment plate comprising a) a holder for holding a length of material, b) means for gripping said length of material for immobilizing and adjusting said material, c) means for releasing said closure system, d) housing for members comprising 1) a wide male interlocking member being wider than said self-locking sliding zipper head, and 2) a spring-lock assembly for operation of said closure system, said housing comprising means for use of a plurality of coupling methods for initially coupling said closure system.
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Number Name Date Kind
4662036 Frohlich May 1987 A
4780938 Ishii Nov 1988 A
4922585 Suzuki May 1990 A
4976120 Terada et al. Dec 1990 A
5152036 Oda et al. Oct 1992 A
5412849 Fudaki May 1995 A
5535492 Lai et al. Jul 1996 A
5586370 Fudaki Dec 1996 A
5625928 Terada et al. May 1997 A
5632070 Wakabayashi May 1997 A
5694667 Mizuno Dec 1997 A
5836058 Cullum Nov 1998 A
5898979 Hamada May 1999 A
5901420 Oda May 1999 A
5956818 Tsubata Sep 1999 A
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6105214 Press Aug 2000 A
6112376 Akashi Sep 2000 A
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number Date Country
2000-4911 Nov 2000 JP
Non-Patent Literature Citations (2)
Entry
DD—Method of Attaching a New Zipper # 467367 Jan. 4, 2000.
DD—Improvements to the Immobilized Alignment Closure System # 481791 Oct. 27, 2000.