Patent Application
20140325801
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a pull tab apparatus, and more particularly, to a pull tab apparatus that is easily connected to and disconnected from an external item such as a slide fastener and/or other item/article by a user, and is also easily assembled and disassembled by the user.
2. Background Information
Articles such as slide fasteners often rely on a pull tab apparatus for effective operation. For example, a pull tab apparatus may be manipulated by a user to move a slide fastener such as a zipper in various directions. Pull tab apparatuses and/or slide fasteners may be used for various items/articles such as clothing garments, garment bags, backpacks, purses, luggage, camping equipment, vehicle/boat covers, and/or other items/articles.
With current pull tab apparatuses and slide fasteners, a problem arises when a pull tab apparatus breaks. In particular, when such breakage occurs, a user may be prevented from using the slide fastener. For example, certain slide fasteners such as zippers may include a locking mechanism in the zipper head that must be disengaged before the zipper can be moved in any direction. Accordingly, when a pull tab apparatus breaks with such a zipper, the locking mechanism may remain engaged and thereby prevent the zipper from being used. One solution to the foregoing problem is to replace the entire zipper head. While the cost of replacement parts with this approach may be relatively small, the labor costs can be cost-prohibitive for many users.
A desirable design for a pull tab apparatus capable of addressing the foregoing problems is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,213,306 issued on May 8, 2007 to the inventor of the current application. The pull tab apparatus disclosed herein is deemed to be an inventive variation and/or improvement over the pull tab apparatus disclosed in the '306 patent. The present invention described herein addresses these and/or other issues.
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a pull tab apparatus for an article such as a slide fastener is disclosed. According to exemplary embodiments, the pull tab apparatus comprises: a coil having a first end and a second end and being configured to include a first section exhibiting a first shape and a second section exhibiting a second shape, wherein one of the first and second sections includes a central portion and the other one of the first and second sections includes a plurality of arms coupled to the central portion, wherein at least one of the first and second sections includes a plurality of layers and a path exists between the plurality of layers, wherein a portion of the article is movable along the path from one of the first and second ends where the coil is disconnected from the article to a predetermined position where the coil is connected to the article; and a gripping member coupled to the coil, wherein the gripping member comprises a first element including first coupling means and a second element including second coupling means, wherein the coil is positioned between the first and second elements and the first coupling means is coupled to the second coupling means to secure the coil, the first element and the second element together as a unitary structure.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the pull tab apparatus comprises: a coil including a central portion and a plurality of arms coupled to the central portion, wherein at least a portion of the coil includes a plurality of layers and a path exists between the plurality of layers, wherein a portion of an article is movable along the path from a first end of the coil where the coil is disconnected from the article to a predetermined position where the coil is connected to the article; and a cover coupled to the coil, wherein the cover comprises a first element including first coupling means and a second element including second coupling means, wherein the first and second elements are independent pieces that are placed around the coil and the first and second coupling means are coupled together by a user to secure the coil, the first element and the second element together as a unitary structure.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, a method for assembling and/or enabling the assembly of a pull tab apparatus is disclosed. According to exemplary embodiments, the method comprises providing a coil including a central portion and a plurality of arms coupled to the central portion, wherein at least a portion of the coil includes a plurality of layers and a path exists between the plurality of layers; enabling a user to move a portion of an article along the path from a first end of the coil where the coil is disconnected from the article to a predetermined position where the coil is connected to the article; providing a gripping member including a first element and a second element, wherein the first and second elements are independent pieces and the first element includes first coupling means and the second element includes second coupling means; and enabling the user to couple the gripping member to the coil by placing the first and second elements around the coil and coupling the first and second coupling means to thereby secure the coil, the first element and the second element together as a unitary structure.
The aforementioned brief summary of exemplary embodiments of the present invention is merely illustrative of the inventive concepts presented herein, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention in any manner.
The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
The exemplifications set out herein illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention, and such exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner.
Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to
According to principles of the present invention, pull tab apparatus 100 is easily connected to and disconnected from an external item such as a slide fastener and/or other article by a user, and is also easily assembled and disassembled by the user. According to the exemplary embodiments depicted in
Once coil 20 is secured to the item/article in question, elements 10 and 30 positioned on opposite front and rear faces of coil 20 are fastened (e.g., snap-fit) together in a “sandwiched” manner around coil 20 to thereby form a unitary structure that is fixedly attached to the item in question. As part of this process, coil 20 (as secured to the item/article in question) may first be connected to first element 10. According to exemplary embodiments, a central portion (e.g., circular portion in
Once coil 20 is placed upon and/or secured to first element 10, second element 30 is placed in a predetermined position over first element 10 and the two elements 10 and 30 are coupled (e.g., snap-fit) together in a “sandwiched” manner around coil 20 to thereby form a unitary structure comprised of first element 10, coil 20 and second element 30 that is fixedly attached to the item/article in question. According to exemplary embodiments, second element 30 includes second coupling means (e.g., recesses/apertures, etc.) corresponding to the first coupling means (e.g., projections/tabs/tangs, etc.) of first element 10 that enable the two elements 10 and 30 to be fixedly attached together in a secure manner. The combination of first and second elements 10 and 30 around the central portion of coil 20 forms a basic gripping member of pull tab apparatus 100.
In the aforementioned state in which first element 10, coil 20 and second element 30 are coupled together (and fixedly attached to the item/article in question), third element 40 may then be fastened (e.g., snap-fit) to second element 30 to thereby complete the assembly process and place pull tab apparatus 100 in an assembled state. Further exemplary details regarding each of the aforementioned elements 10 to 40 of pull tab apparatus 100 shown in
Referring to
Hereinafter, further exemplary details regarding each of the aforementioned elements 10 to 40 of pull tab apparatus 100 shown in
Referring to
As indicated in
According to exemplary embodiments, slots 12 of first element 10 accommodate passage of arms extending from coil 20. In some exemplary embodiments, slots 12 may be optional, in which case, slots 32 formed in second element 30 (as described later herein) completely accommodate passage of arms extending from the central portion of coil 20. Also according to exemplary embodiments, at least one of the projections/tabs/tangs 14 of first element 10 may include a notch, slot, aperture and/or recess formed therein (see, for example, dashed line extending from top projection/tab/tang of first element 10 in
Referring to
As indicated in
According to exemplary embodiments, a path 29 exists between the respective layers in first section 25 of coil 20 to facilitate a connection between coil 20 and an external item/article, such as a slide fastener (not shown in FIGS.). Also according to exemplary embodiments, either first end 21 or second end 23 of coil 20 includes one or more indicators for assisting a user in selecting a starting point (i.e., end) for connecting coil 20 to the item/article in question. For example, the indicator may be embodied as one of ends 21 and 23 of coil 20 being colored and/or bent.
When attaching coil 20 and pull tab apparatus 100 to an external item/article such as a slide fastener (not shown in FIGS.), a user may first insert a latch portion of the item/article in question into path 29 at either first end 21 or second end 23 of coil 20 (i.e., according to the indicator(s)). The user may then manipulate the item/article and/or coil 20 to move the inserted latch portion of the item/article in question along path 29 from one end (e.g., first end 21) of coil 20 where pull tab apparatus 100 is disconnected from the item/article to the other end (e.g., second end 23) of coil 20 where pull tab apparatus 100 is connected to the item/article. The reverse operation may be performed to disconnect coil 20 and pull tab apparatus 100 from the item/article.
As the latch portion of the item/article in question is moved along path 29 to connect or disconnect coil 20 and pull tab apparatus 100 to or from the item/article, the respective layers of first section 25 of coil 20 may become separated from each other and thereby displaced from their original orientation (as shown in FIGS.) to accommodate passage of the latch portion along path 29. In the aforementioned manner, coil 20 of pull tab apparatus 100 may be easily connected to and disconnected from an external item/article such as a slide fastener. Further embodiments for coil 20 may be shown in U.S. Pat. No. 7,213,306 issued on May 8, 2007, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
Referring to
Also according to exemplary embodiments, second element 30 is formed to exhibit a circular shape with an opening (e.g., to receive third element 40), although other shapes/configurations may also be used according to principles of the present invention as a matter of design choice. Also according to exemplary embodiments, first and second elements 10 and 30 have matching or substantially similar shapes that facilitate their (e.g., snap-fit) connection.
As indicated in
Also according to exemplary embodiments, second element 30 may include a slot 36 on a front face thereof (shown in
During the assembly process of pull tab apparatus 100, once coil 20 is placed upon and/or secured to first element 10, second element 30 is placed in a predetermined position over first element 10 (e.g., aligning slots 12 and 32 around the arms of second section 27 of coil 20) and the two elements 10 and 30 are coupled (e.g., snap-fit via elements 14 and 34) together in a “sandwiched” manner around coil 20 to thereby form a unitary structure comprised of first element 10, coil 20 and second element 30 that is fixedly attached to the item/article in question. The combination of first and second elements 10 and 30 around a central portion of coil 20 forms a basic gripping member and/or cover of pull tab apparatus 100.
Also according to exemplary embodiments, the aforementioned combination of first and second elements 10 and 30 around a central portion of coil 20 may be advantageously and easily disassembled by the user pressing into the opening formed in second element 30 (i.e., which is functional to receive third element 40 in certain exemplary embodiments) with sufficient force to physically separate the (e.g., snap-fit) connection between first element 10 and second element 30.
Referring now to
According to principles of the present invention, third element 40 may be embodied in accordance with a variety of different designs, and may thus be implemented in a plurality of different configurations. The exemplary embodiments presented herein specifically show third element 40 in two different configurations, namely with a circular shape and relatively flat top in
Referring to
As indicated in
According to exemplary embodiments, knob 42 of third element 40A is received (e.g., in a snap-fit manner, etc.) by slot 36 on the front face of second element 30 (shown in
For example, slot 36 of second element 30 may be positioned on the front face of second element 30 at approximately the 12:00 clock location (relative to the arms of second section 27 of coil 20 generally pointing in the 12:00 direction). As indicated above herein, first element 10 may include a notch, slot, aperture and/or recess formed therein at approximately the 12:00 clock location (see, for example, dashed line extending from top projection/tab/tang of first element 10 in
According to exemplary embodiments, notch 44 advantageously enables the user to remove third element 40A from the opening of second element 30 when, for example, disassembling pull tab apparatus 100. For example, notch 44 may be accessed by any suitable object such as a user's fingernail, the tip of a screwdriver and/or other means for purposes of separating and removing third element 40A from the opening formed in second element 30. According to exemplary embodiments, notch 44 is not visible to a user in a front view of pull tab apparatus 100 in the assembled state (see
Referring to
According to exemplary embodiments, knob 52 of third element 40B is received (e.g., in a snap-fit manner, etc.) by slot 36 on the front face of second element 30 (shown in
For example, slot 36 of second element 30 may be positioned on the front face of second element 30 at approximately the 12:00 clock location (relative to the arms of second section 27 of coil 20 generally pointing in the 12:00 direction). As indicated above herein, first element 10 may include a notch, slot, aperture and/or recess formed therein at approximately the 12:00 clock location (see, for example, dashed line extending from top projection/tab/tang of first element 10 in
According to exemplary embodiments, notch 54 advantageously enables the user to remove third element 40B from the opening of second element 30 when, for example, disassembling pull tab apparatus 100. For example, notch 54 may be accessed by any suitable object such as a user's fingernail, the tip of a screwdriver and/or other means for purposes of separating and removing third element 40B from the opening formed in second element 30. According to exemplary embodiments, notch 54 is not visible to a user in a front view of pull tab apparatus 100 in the assembled state (see
As described herein, the present invention provides a pull tab apparatus that is, among other things, easily connected to and disconnected from an external item such as a slide fastener and/or other item/article by a user, and is also easily assembled and disassembled by the user.
While this invention has been described as having a preferred design, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.
