1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to zip fasteners and more particularly, to a waterproof zipper, which has good tensile strength and waterproof characteristics. Embodiments provide a constraint space between a bottom edge of a pressure plate and the topmost edges of two second stop walls of a slider of a zipper slider thereof for enabling the zipper slider to be positively locked to the zipper tapes.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional zipper generally comprises two zipper tapes, each having an interlocking series of teeth, and a zipper slider slidable to force the two series of teeth into engagement with each other or to cause separation of the two series of teeth. However, if the zipper is accidentally vibrated, the zipper slider can be forced to displace, causing separation of the two series of teeth. Therefore, when a zipper is used in an article that needs to protect against wind and water (such as a raincoat), a shielding strip and a fastener must be provided at an outer side of the zipper so that the shielding strip can be locked to shield the zipper.
The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. An object of embodiments of the present invention is to provide a waterproof zipper, which has good tensile strength and waterproof characteristics, and which provides a constraint space between a bottom edge of a pressure plate and the topmost edges of two second stop walls of a slider of a zipper slider thereof for enabling the zipper slider to be positively locked to the zipper tapes.
To achieve this and other objectives of the invention, an embodiment waterproof zipper comprises a first zipper tape, a second zipper tape, and a zipper slider including a slider, a pressure plate and a pull tab. The first zipper tape provides a first rim strip portion, a second rim strip portion suspended above the first rim strip portion, a first series of teeth located at the first rim strip portion, and a lateral coupling strip portion located at the second rim strip portion. The second zipper tape provides a third rim strip portion, a fourth rim strip portion suspended above the third rim strip portion, a second series of teeth located at the third rim strip portion, and a lateral retaining strip portion located at the fourth rim strip portion. The slider is coupled to the first zipper tape and the second zipper tape. When moving the slider, the first series of teeth and the second series of teeth are forced into engagement with each other or separated from each other, and at the same time, the lateral coupling strip portion and the lateral retaining strip portion are abuted against each other or moved apart. The pull tab is operable to control the pressure plate toward or away from the two second stop walls of the slider, enabling the slider to be locked to or unlocked from the first and second zipper tapes.
Referring to
The first zipper tape 1 comprises a first base portion 11, a first rim strip portion 12 extended from one lateral side of the first base portion 11, a second rim strip portion 13 extended from the same lateral side of the first base portion 11 and suspending above the first rim strip portion 12, a first series of teeth 14 arranged along one lateral side of the first rim strip portion 12 remote from the first base portion 11, a lateral coupling strip portion 15 extended along one lateral side of the second rim strip portion 13 remote from the first base portion 11, a coupling flange 151 located at a bottom side of the lateral coupling strip portion 15 remote from the second rim strip portion 13 and extended along the length of the lateral coupling strip portion 15, and a first bearing edge 152 located at the bottom side of the lateral coupling strip portion 15 and abutted against the second rim strip portion 13.
The second zipper tape 2 comprises a second base portion 21, a third rim strip portion 22 extended from one lateral side of the second base portion 21, a fourth rim strip portion 23 extended from the same lateral side of the second base portion 21 and suspending above the third rim strip portion 22, a second series of teeth 24 arranged along one lateral side of the third rim strip portion 22 remote from the second base portion 21, a lateral retaining strip portion 25 extended along one lateral side of the fourth rim strip portion 23 remote from the second base portion 21, a retaining groove 251 located at a bottom side of the lateral retaining strip portion 25 remote from the fourth rim strip portion 23 and extended along the length of the lateral retaining strip portion 25, and a second bearing edge 252 located at the bottom side of the lateral retaining strip portion 25 and abutted against the fourth rim strip portion 23.
The slider 3 comprises a first slider frame 31 and a second slider frame 32. The first slider frame 31 comprises a first base wall 311, two first stop walls 312 respectively upwardly extended from two opposite lateral sides of the first base wall 311, a first spacer wall 313 upwardly extended from the first base wall 311 and equally spaced between the two first stop walls 312, two first diverging guide channels 314 defined between the first stop walls 312 and separated by the first spacer wall 313, and a first converging open chamber 315 defined between the first stop walls 312 at a rear side of the first spacer wall 313 and disposed in communication with the first diverging guide channels 314. The second slider frame 32 comprises a second base wall 321 integrally connected with the first spacer wall 313 and spaced above the first base wall 311, two second stop walls 322 respectively upwardly extended from two opposite lateral sides of the second base wall 321, a second spacer wall 323 upwardly extended from the second base wall 321 and equally spaced between the two second stop walls 322, two second diverging guide channels 326 defined between the second stop walls 322 and separated by the second spacer wall 323, a second converging open chamber 327 defined between the second stop walls 322 at a rear side of the second spacer wall 323 and disposed in communication with the second diverging guide channels 326, a pivot hole 324 transversely cu through the second spacer wall 323 near a top end thereof, and a bearing step 325 located on a middle part of the second spacer wall 323. When the waterproof zipper is assembled, the first series of teeth 14 and the first series of teeth 24 are respectively received in the two first diverging guide channels 314 and the first converging open chamber 315; the lateral coupling strip portion 15 and the lateral retaining strip portion 25 are respectively received in the two second diverging guide channels 326 and the second converging open chamber 327.
The pressure plate 4 is supported on the bearing step 325 of the second spacer wall 323, comprising a center slot 41 coupled to the second spacer wall 323, two locating blocks 42 raised from a top wall thereof and disposed at two opposite lateral sides relative to the center slot 41, and a concave surface portion 421 located on each locating block 42. Further, the pressure plate 4 has a bottom surface thereof inwardly curved, defining with the topmost edges of the two second stop walls 322 of the slider 3 a constraint space 6.
The pull tab 5 comprises a finger plate 52, two coupling blocks 51 extended from one end of the finger plate 52 in a parallel manner and pivoally coupled to the pivot hole 324 at the second spacer wall 323 of the slider 3 by a pivot pin 513. Each coupling block 51 comprises a pivot hole 512 coupled to the pivot pin 513, two protruding ribs 511 symmetrically located at two opposite lateral sides thereof, and an arc convex portion 514 located at a bottom side thereof and equally spaced from the two protruding ribs 511. The distance between the outer peripheral edge of each protruding rib 511 and the center of the pivot hole 512 is larger than the distance between the outer peripheral edge of the arc convex portion 514 and the center of the pivot hole 512.
Referring to
Referring to
Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.
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