Zipper
A zipper comprising two opposed rows of discrete interlocking elements wherein each of the interlocking elements carries a design or a fragment thereof and in particular wherein the design is a trademark, a trade name, a brand name, a logo, an emblem and the like.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to slide fasteners and more particularly to a zipper comprising two opposed rows of discrete interlocking elements wherein each of the interlocking elements carries a design or a fragment thereof and in particular wherein the design is a trademark, a trade name, a brand name, a logo, an emblem and the like.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Slide fasteners for joining two sections of an article by means of interlocking elements are used extensively in a wide range of applications including garments, luggage, bags, footwear, tents and many more. A slide fastener, also known as a zipper, typically comprises two sets of interlocking elements anchored to opposed edges of the material to be fastened and a reciprocating slider provided with a puller configured to be pulled along the sets for engaging or disengaging opposite elements. Generally, zippers are either of the type consisting of discrete interlocking elements or of the type consisting of two opposed continuous helical coils. The present invention relates to the first type having two opposed rows of discrete interlocking elements, typically made of plastic resin or light metal.
Although zippers appear in various colors, sizes and strengths, not much attention has been paid to the appearance of the individual interlocking elements. While other elements of a zipper and in particular the pull-tab and the tapes may be provided with various ornaments and designs to enhance the aesthetic look of a zipper, most of the efforts put into the design of the individual interlocking element concentrate on its functionality and not on its appearance, with the exception of ornamental zippers of the type having rhinestones mounted on the outer surface of the elements. With the increasing emphasis in the market on designed and/or brand articles and the general efforts made by manufacturers in order to differentiate their products from competitive products there is an ongoing quest for new ways to establish an inseparable link between a product and a provider. A zipper, being a widespread element that is incorporated into articles in numerous fields, is a good candidate for establishing these goals.
Accordingly, it is the object of the present invention to provide a zipper comprising separate interlocking elements wherein each of the interlocking elements carries a design or a fragment thereof and in particular wherein the design is a logo, a trademark or the like. Thus, a zipper of the invention serves not only for conventional fastening but also provides for identifying the article into which it is incorporated and for distinguishing it from other articles in the market as well as adding aesthetic and advertising value.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTIONThe present invention provides a fastening device comprising a first row of interlocking elements spaced along one longitudinal edge of a material and a second opposed set of interlocking elements spaced along a second opposed longitudinal edge of a material, each of the interlocking elements is having a stem portion anchored to the material and a coupling portion projecting inwardly from the edge of the material toward the opposed edge, the coupling portions are configured to engage adjacent opposed elements, wherein at least one of the interlocking elements carries a design or a fragment thereof. Preferably, each of the interlocking elements carries the design or a fragment thereof. Preferably the design is an advertising element such as an identifying mark which represents a product, a line of products, a company or a manufacturer. The identifying mark may be a trademark, a trade name, a logo or a brand name.
In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, the interlocking elements are shaped to have contours representing at least a portion of the design. Yet in accordance with another embodiment, the design or a fragment thereof is displayed on at least one of the front or rear faces of the elements, wherein the design may be imprinted, engraved or otherwise marked on the face. The design may be formed by a combination of two or more adjacent interlocking elements wherein the two or more adjacent interlocking elements may comprise at least two interlocking elements disposed on the same longitudinal edge or at least one interlocking element disposed on one longitudinal edge and at least one interlocking element disposed on the opposed longitudinal edge. In accordance with the invention, opposed interlocking elements may relate to each other as mirror images with respect to an imaginary plane that runs parallel to and between said the two longitudinal edges or with respect to a point centered therebetween.
The fastening device of the invention may further comprise at least one slider configured to be reciprocally pulled along the two rows of interlocking elements for engaging or disengaging opposite elements. The slider may have a shape related to the design carried by the interlocking elements. The width of the slider may be narrower than the full width of the interlocking elements when engaged. In order to enable the slide to slide along the interlocking elements, the stem portion of each of the interlocking elements may comprise a notch which extends across the element from one lateral side to the second lateral side, parallel to the longitudinal axis of the zipper and the slider is configured to slide along said notch. Alternatively, the stem portion may comprise two sections of different heights, a proximal section continuous with the coupling portion and having the same height thereof and a thinner distal section directed away from the coupling portion. The slider is configured to slide against the step formed between the two sections. The free end of the coupling portion may comprise a groove located substantially in mid height for receiving an opposite edge of material.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThe present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:
The present invention provides a zipper comprising two rows of discrete interlocking elements secured to the edges of opposite longitudinal tapes wherein each of the interlocking elements is shaped to carry a design or a fragment thereof such that when the zipper is closed there is formed a decorative pattern of repetitive design blocks. The interlocking elements may be shaped to have the contours of the desired design and/or may serve as a surface on which the desired design is displayed. Preferably, the design is an identifying mark such as a logo, an emblem, a brand name, a trademark and the like, representing a specific product, line of products or a specific provider, such that the zipper serves not only as a fastener device but also as an identifying element that differentiates the article into which it is incorporated from other articles in the market. Thus, the zipper enhances the competitive fitness of the article as well as its aesthetic look. For example, the interlocking elements of a zipper in accordance with the invention may be designed to carry the logo of a company distributing sport articles and be incorporated into various items such as jumpsuits, bagpacks, sleeping bags and the like, serving both as a, conventional fastener and as a company identifying element as well as a decorative element. Alternatively, a zipper carrying a company identifying mark may be incorporated into articles not directly related to the articles provided by that company but distributed as advertising and sale promoters. For example, a soft drink company may distribute handbags provided with a zipper carrying the company's logo. It will be realized that although in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention, the design displayed by the interlocking elements is of an advertising value, the design may be of decorative value only, for enhancing the appearance of the article.
Preferably, the interlocking elements are plastic elements made by injection-molding of synthetic plastic resin as known in the art. However, the elements may be made from other material and by other methods known in the art such as for example by die-casting of light metal. The interlocking elements may be attached to two opposite tapes and distributed as a separate zipper unit to be later incorporated into articles by conventional methods such as sewing, or may be directly secured to opposite edges of an article opening. When provided as a separate zipper unit, the zipper may be of the open-end type to allow complete separation of the two article's sections or of the closed-end type where the two tapes are permanently connected at one end. Similarly, the zipper may be of the one-way type or the two-way type provided with one or two sliders, respectively, in accordance with known principles in the art and the slider/s may be provided with a single or double puller as also known in the art.
The interlocking elements may be substantially symmetrical with respect to the plane to which they are attached such that the zipper of the invention is having the same design on both sides. This is particularly important when the zipper is of the open-end type where both sides of the elements are visible. Alternatively, the interlocking elements may comprise different rear and front portions. In accordance with the later alternative, the rear portion may have a conventional shape that serves for coupling between the interlocking elements, when the zipper is a one-side zipper, or may carry a design which is different from the design carried by the frontal part, when the zipper is a double-side zipper.
The zipper of the invention may be provided at various sizes, colors and strengths and may be incorporated into unlimited number of articles such as cloths, footwear, bags, tents, luggage and any other article the design of which includes a zipper.
Turning now to the drawings, there are shown a few examples of zippers in accordance with the invention. It will be easily realized that the following drawings are given by way of example only and that the invention is not limited to the examples shown. Rather, a zipper of the invention may assume inexhaustible number of designs. It will be also realized that the use of known trademarks in some of the following examples is made for demonstration sake only and that the respective rights in the trademarks belong to the respective owners.
Each of interlocking elements 40 comprises a coupling portion 42 and a stem portion 44. The stem portion 44 comprises a pair of parallel spaced apart sections (only the upper section seen) forming a groove for embracing and accommodating the tape to which the element is secured, as known in the art. Coupling parts 42, having a slightly wider end, and being substantially symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal axis of elements 40, lend themselves naturally to such a complementary interlocking arrangement when pressed against each other by the slider. However, as will be explained below in association with the following figures, the coupling parts need not be symmetrical, nor do they need to have exact complementary contours. In order to facilitate interlocking between the elements, each of the elements may be provided with at least one protrusion and at least one complementary recess or socket such that when brought in contact, the protrusion of one element fits into the socket of adjacent opposed element. The protrusions and socket may be provided at the mid layer section of the coupling parts between the frontal and rear layers (as will be described below in association with
As best seen in
A channel 116 aligned with gap 120 is cut through the coupling portion 124 of element 110 for receiving the edge of the opposed tape when the zipper is closed. To facilitate engagement between opposed elements when the zipper is closed, element 110 further includes a protrusion 118 extending laterally from the mid layer of the element. When opposed elements are pressed against each other, the tip 119 of one element is engaged with protrusion 118 of adjacent opposed element as is best seen in
FIGS. 7 depict another example of a zipper of the invention according to which the interlocking elements 180 comprise a frontal portion 182 shaped as a bottle and a rear portion 184 of a conventional shape. In accordance with this embodiment, two rows of identical elements 180 are secured to tapes 172 and 174. Each of elements 180 is having a rear portion 182 comprising a coupling section 183 and a stem section 184, and a frontal portion 182 shaped as a bottle. As best seen in
Another example of a zipper, designated 140, is depicted in
In accordance with this example, the desired design 170, shown in detail in
It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove. Rather the scope of the present invention is defined by the claims which follow.
Claims
1. A fastening device comprising a first row of interlocking elements spaced along one longitudinal edge of a material and a second opposed set of interlocking elements spaced along a second opposed longitudinal edge of a material, each of said interlocking elements is having a stem portion anchored to the material and a coupling portion projecting inwardly from the edge of the material toward the opposed edge, the coupling portions are configured to engage adjacent opposed elements, wherein at least one of the interlocking elements carries a design or a fragment thereof.
2. The fastening device of claim 1 wherein said design is an advertising element.
3. The fastening device of claim 2 wherein said advertising element is an identifying mark representing a product, a line of products, a company or a manufacturer.
4. The fastening device of claim 3 wherein said identifying mark is a trademark, a trade name, a logo or a brand name.
5. The fastening device of claim 1 wherein said at least one interlocking element is shaped to have contours representing at least a portion of said design.
6. The fastening device of claim 1 wherein said at least one interlocking element is having a frontal portion and a rear portion and wherein said design or a fragment thereof is carried by at least one of said two portions.
7. The fastening device of claim 6 wherein said design or fragment thereof is imprinted on a face of said at least one portion.
8. The fastening device of claim 6 wherein said design or fragment thereof is engraved on said at least one portion.
9. The fastening device of claim 1 wherein said design or a fragment thereof is formed by a combination of two or more adjacent interlocking elements.
10. The fastening device of claim 9 wherein said two or more adjacent interlocking elements comprise at least two interlocking elements disposed on the same longitudinal edge.
11. The fastening device of claim 9 wherein said two or more adjacent interlocking elements comprise at least one interlocking element disposed at said one longitudinal edge and at least one interlocking element disposed on said second opposed longitudinal edge.
12. The fastening device of claim 1 wherein the interlocking elements are identical and wherein opposed interlocking elements are positioned such that they relate to each other as mirror images with respect to an imaginary plane running parallel to and between said one and second longitudinal edges.
13. The fastening device of claim 1 wherein the interlocking elements are identical and wherein opposed interlocking elements are positioned such that they relate to each other symmetrically with respect to a point centered therebetween.
14. The fastening device of claim 1 further comprising at least one slider configured to be reciprocally pulled along the two rows of interlocking elements for engaging or disengaging opposite elements.
15. The fastening device of claim 14 wherein said slider is having a shape related to the design carried by the interlocking elements.
16. The fastening device of claim 14 wherein said slider is narrower than the full width of two opposed interlocking elements in their engaged position.
17. The fastening device of claim 14 wherein said fastener has a longitudinal axis and the stem portion of the interlocking element comprises a notch extending across the interlocking element from a first lateral side to a second lateral side of the element, parallel to said longitudinal axis and wherein the slider is configured to slide along said notch.
18. The fastening device of claim 14 wherein the stem portions of the interlocking elements comprise a proximal section continuous with the coupling portion and having the same height thereof and a thinner distal section directed away from the coupling portion such as to form a step between said proximal and distal sections and wherein the slider is configured to slide along said step.
19. The fastening device of claim 1 wherein the free end of the coupling portion is having a groove located substantially in mid height for receiving an opposite edge of material.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 16, 2006
Publication Date: Sep 13, 2007
Inventor: Eyal Shay (Kibbutz Yiron)
Application Number: 11/578,763
International Classification: A44B 19/24 (20060101);