Patents by Inventor Helmut Heimberger

Helmut Heimberger has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 4924914
    Abstract: A slide-fastener stringer is made by feeding a warp of warp filaments in a longitudinal warp direction to a weaving location, feeding to an edge of the warp at the weaving location a coupling coil formed by a multiplicity of turns each forming a coupling head directed transversely away from the warp and a coupling part extending at least generally longitudinally, feeding to the weaving location within the coil a thick filler cord, and weaving through the warp filaments and around the coupling parts and filler cord between the heads at least one weft filament. In order to maintain coil pitch exact both the coil and filler cord are positively engaged at a location immediately longitudinally upstream of the weaving location with a feed and guide element so as to retard advance of the feed and guide element and create in both the coil and in the filler cord a tension between the feed and guide element and the weaving location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 15, 1990
    Assignee: Opti Patent-, Forschungs-und Fabrikations-AG
    Inventor: Helmut Heimberger
  • Patent number: 4492098
    Abstract: A coupling strip for a slide fastener, which can be utilized as part of a stringer half together with a fabric tape of which it forms a part, or alone as a stringer half, is produced by crocheting at least two rows of knots using bearded (spring-type) or latch needles and respective yarn guides on a crocheting machine, a continuous coupling element in coil or meander form and composed of a synthetic resin monofilament being inserted as a weft across these rows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1981
    Date of Patent: January 8, 1985
    Assignee: Optilon W. Erich Heilmann GmbH
    Inventor: Helmut Heimberger
  • Patent number: 4418449
    Abstract: A slide fastener has a pair of tapes along confronting edges of which are provided respective rows of coupling elements in a ladder configuration with individual members being affixed together by a continuous textile strand, as one-arm rungs of the ladder. Each coupling member is molded unitarily and unbent, and comprises an upper portion and a lower portion separated by a plane parallel to a slide fastener plane. The head of each coupling member lies above this plane and is mushroom-shaped to have a neck reaching inwardly toward the respective edge of the tape. Flush with this plane but on the lower half of the coupling member are a pair of ledges which function to absorb forces transverse to this plane. The connecting yarn is embedded in the upper half which can be provided for connection to the tape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1980
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1983
    Assignee: Optilon W. Erich Heilmann GmbH
    Inventors: Helmut Heimberger, Helmut Wulz
  • Patent number: 4352654
    Abstract: An apparatus for producing small molded bodies with overhanging portions, e.g. for use as end stop members in slide fastener stringers, wherein a molding band is fed to a forming wheel to define individual molding cavities therewith, the cavities passing to a molding station at which a synthetic resin material is injected into the cavities. According to the invention, the band consists of a plurality of band members which upon being fed to the wheel, form a core with undercut formations around which the synthetic resin material is molded and, following molding, the band portions are laterally or orthogonally offset to release the articles drawn by the band out of forming beds on the wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1980
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1982
    Assignee: Optilon W. Erich Heilmann GmbH
    Inventor: Helmut Heimberger
  • Patent number: 4330244
    Abstract: An apparatus for forming coupling members of synthetic resin for application to a support tape in the production of a slide-fastener stringer comprises a forming wheel to which an endless band is fed to form mold cavities on the periphery of the wheel which are filled with synthetic resin. According to the invention, a further band is fed to overlie the first band and define undercut portions of the cavity to produce projections in the molded members which can engage when the latter are applied to a support tape. A continuous core can be fed to the drum periphery to be embedded in the coupling members as they are formed so that the row of coupling members is produced as a succession of teeth on this continuous element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1980
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1982
    Assignee: Optilon W. Erich Heilmann GmbH
    Inventor: Helmut Heimberger
  • Patent number: 4205027
    Abstract: Continuous coupling elements, e.g. coils of synthetic-resin monofilament, preferably in an interconnected state, are heated to a thermofixing temperature and, with the aid of additional ultrasonic energy and pressure, have upper shanks of each coupling member deformed to provide recesses adapted to receive the stitches for attachment of the coupling elements to a support tape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1977
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1980
    Assignee: Optilon W. Erich Heilmann GmbH
    Inventor: Helmut Heimberger
  • Patent number: 4172308
    Abstract: A fastener of the type in which two arrays of spaced-apart coupling heads are juxtaposed and pressed together, either with or without a slider, so that the heads of one array or row are received in the inter-head spaces of the other row and vice versa, is provided with a pair of spaced apart connecting strands extending the full length of the respective row and integral (unitary) with the coupling heads or their connecting shanks. The strands, molded monolithically with the remainder of the unit, flexibly interconnect the coupling heads and serve as stops for relative lateral movement of the rows upon their interconnection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1978
    Date of Patent: October 30, 1979
    Assignee: Optilon W. Erich Heilmann GmbH
    Inventor: Helmut Heimberger
  • Patent number: 4152813
    Abstract: A slide fastener with separable end stop members including an insertion member and a reception member each associated with a respective row of coupling elements on a stringer half. The members have complementary offset steps orthogonal to the slide fastener plane to prevent relative displacement of these members when they are interfitted in a direction perpendicular to the slide fastener plane and are mutually engageable. A slider of generally Y-shaped channel configuration can be displaced upon the rows of coupling elements to interconnect and disconnect them. The slider has arcuate slider flanks receiving the insertion and reception members between them and these members have arcuate surfaces corresponding to the curvature of these flanks and engageable therewith. An abutment is provided to enable the coupling element to be drawn over one of these members, namely, the reception member, in a unidirectional manner and preventing withdrawal of the slider in the opposite direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1977
    Date of Patent: May 8, 1979
    Assignee: Optilon W. Erich Heilmann GmbH
    Inventor: Helmut Heimberger
  • Patent number: 4142276
    Abstract: A slide-fastener stringer half has an elongated warp-knitted tape having a pair of opposite faces and a pair of opposite longitudinally extending edges. The tape is knit with a plurality of chained warp yarns each forming a respective longitudinally extending loop chain or pillar defining a respective longitudinally extending wale, a first weft filament laid into and extending over two of the chains at one of the edges of the tape, a group of second weft yarns lapped into the chains across the full width of the tape, and a group of third weft yarns laid into all of the chains except that chain immediately at the one edge. A continuous mono-filamentary coupling element having a succession of turns is secured to one face of the tape along the one edge by stitching which overlies the turns, extends through the tape, and has a needle thread on the other face of the tape between two of the chains at the one edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1976
    Date of Patent: March 6, 1979
    Assignee: Optilon W. Erich Heilmann GmbH
    Inventor: Helmut Heimberger
  • Patent number: 4139927
    Abstract: A slide fastener with separable endstop members has its endstop members formed with a plug and socket arrangement whereby one endstop member can be fitted into the other endstop member generally transversely to the plane of the slide fastener stringer. The male or plug member can form a pivot pin about which the other member is swingable into a slot in the slider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1977
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1979
    Assignee: Optilon W. Erich Heilmann GmbH
    Inventor: Helmut Heimberger
  • Patent number: 4137733
    Abstract: A slide-fastener stringer half comprises a knit tape having a plurality of parallel longitudinally extending wales and a plurality of transversely extending courses, and a monofilamentary coupling element on the tape and having a succession of turns each having a pair of shanks and a coupling head joining the shanks and projecting transversely beyond the longitudinal edge of the tape. The shanks of each turn lie at least in regions adjacent the respective head in a plane generally perpendicular to the tape. The tape comprises at least one warp yarn forming a chain knitted into the tape at every other course and overlying the shanks at the regions adjacent the heads. Thus the shanks are laid into the chains at these regions so that the coupling element is thoroughly integrated into the knit of the tape. The tape itself may be formed of a full-tricot ground. Alternatively the tape can be formed of second weft yarns having open loops at each course and extending transversely each over two respective wales.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1977
    Date of Patent: February 6, 1979
    Assignee: Optilon W. Erich Heilmann GmbH
    Inventor: Helmut Heimberger
  • Patent number: 4134185
    Abstract: A warp-knit slide-fastener stringer half comprises an elongated warp-knitted tape having a pair of opposite faces and a pair of opposite longitudinally extending edges. The tape is knit with a plurality of warp yarns forming longitudinally extending parallel wale-forming chains, a first group of weft yarns laid into and each extending over only three of the chains, and a second group of weft yarns laid into and each extending over only two of the chains. A continuous monofilamentary coupling element having a succession of turns lies on one face of the tape along one edge thereof and is secured thereto by double-lock stitching which overlies the turns, extends through the tape and has a needle thread on the other face of the tape between two of the wales formed by the chains at the edge. The warp-chain-forming yarns and the weft yarns or either of these in the alternative can be composed of shrinkable threads and thermofixed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1977
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1979
    Assignee: Optilon W. Erich Heilmann GmbH
    Inventor: Helmut Heimberger
  • Patent number: 4117575
    Abstract: A fastener of the type in which two arrays of spaced-apart coupling heads are juxtaposed and pressed together, either with or without a slider, so that the heads of one array or row are received in the inter-head spaces of the other row and vice versa, is provided with a pair of spaced apart connecting strands extending the full length of the respective row and integral (unitary) with the coupling heads or their connecting shanks. The strands, molded monolithically with the remainder of the unit, flexibly interconnect the coupling heads and serve as stops for relative lateral movement of the rows upon their interconnection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1977
    Date of Patent: October 3, 1978
    Assignee: Optilon W. Erich Heilmann GmbH
    Inventor: Helmut Heimberger
  • Patent number: 4078279
    Abstract: A slide fastener with separable endstop members has a pair of stringer halves with respective rows of coupling members or heads adapted to interdigitate upon movement of a slide therealong. At an end of the stringer one of the slide fastener halves is provided with a pintle while the other slide half has its endstop member formed with a knuckle enabling one endstop member to pivot about the pintle axis relative to the other laterally and into the slider preparatory to closure of the slide fastener. A hook on one of the endstop members remote from the pintle engages the other endstop member to hold the two together. According to the invention, one of the endstop members forms a double armed lever fulcrumed between the pintle and the hook so that, upon engagement of the hook, the pintle is retained forcibly against its seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1977
    Date of Patent: March 14, 1978
    Assignee: Optilon W. Erich Heilmann GmbH
    Inventor: Helmut Heimberger
  • Patent number: 4075874
    Abstract: A slide-fastener stringer half comprises a knit tape having a plurality of parallel longitudinally extending wales and a plurality of transversely extending courses, and a monofilamentary coupling element on the tape and having a succession of turns each having a pair of shanks and a coupling head joining the shanks and projecting transversely beyond the longitudinal edge of the tape. The shanks of each turn lie at least in regions adjacent the respective head in a plane generally perpendicular to the tape. The tape comprises at least one warp yarn forming a chain knitted into the tape at every other course and overlying the shanks at the regions adjacent the heads. Thus the shanks are laid into the chains at these regions so that the coupling element is thoroughly integrated into the knit of the tape. The tape itself may be formed of a full-tricot ground. Alternatively the tape can be formed of second weft yarns having open loops at each course and extending transversely each over two respective wales.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1976
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1978
    Assignee: Optilon W. Erich Heilmann GmbH
    Inventor: Helmut Heimberger
  • Patent number: 4067208
    Abstract: A slide-fastener support tape is made in a warp-knitting machine which chains a plurality of relatively thin warp yarns to form an array of longitudinally extending and transversely spaced wales. One of the needles of the knitting machine is left empty so as to space the edgemost warp yarn from the other warp yarns by a gap corresponding to the transverse width of one wale. A relatively thick warp yarn is blind-lapped into this gap. A group of first weft yarns is laid into the warp yarns to one side of the thick yarn and a group of second weft yarns is lapped into the warp yarns with loop formations to the other side of the thick yarn. It is also possible to provide a second such thick yarn in the tape, held in place by a group of third weft yarns which are also lapped into the tape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1976
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1978
    Assignee: Optilon W. Erich Heilmann GmbH
    Inventor: Helmut Heimberger
  • Patent number: 4064602
    Abstract: A slide-fastener stringer half comprises an elongated warp-knitted tape having a pair of opposite longitudinally extending edges and a pair of opposite faces and formed with a plurality of longitudinally extending parallel wales. This tape is knit with a plurality of warp yarns each forming a respective lontidudinally extending loop chain extending transversely over two respective wales or needles, a first group of weft yarns laid into and each extending over three of the wales, and a second group of weft yarns laid into and each extending over one of the wales. A continuous monofilamentary coupling element having a succession of turns and lying on one face of the tape along one edge thereof is secured to the tape by stitching which overlies the turns, extends through the tape, and has a needle thread on the other face of the tape between two of the wales at the edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1976
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1977
    Assignee: Optilon W. Erich Heilmann GmbH
    Inventor: Helmut Heimberger
  • Patent number: 4062100
    Abstract: Individual coupling members, molded from synthetic resin onto a support tape and straddling an edge thereof are removed, e.g. to enable the mounting of a slider, the stitching of the tape to a fabric or other carrier or for the formation of end-stop members, by applying orthogonal to the stringer plane a pressure causing plastic deformation and flow of the material of the coupling member which results in a spreading of the fastening shanks thereof. The tape is then withdrawn from between the legs or shanks which have been thus spread apart or the coupling member is withdrawn from the edge of the tape generally in the aforementioned plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1977
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1977
    Assignee: Optilon W. Erich Heilmann GmbH
    Inventor: Helmut Heimberger
  • Patent number: 4051579
    Abstract: A slide-fastener support tape is formed with a Raschel knitting machine having a pair of needle bars. A relatively thin first warp yarn is chained with both of the needle bars to form a longitudinally extending double wale. A plurality of relatively thin second warp yarns are chained with only one of the needle bars into an array of longitudinally extending and transversely spaced single wales spaced by a gap from the double wale. A relatively thick warp yarn is blind lapped into this gap and is held thereon on one side by a weft yarn lapped by one of the needle bars between the double wale and the single wale at the edge of the array and on the other side by another weft yarn lapped by the other needle bar between the double wale and the edge single wale. In addition a plurality of weft yarns are laid into the single wales.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1976
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1977
    Assignee: Optilon W. Erich Heilmann GmbH
    Inventor: Helmut Heimberger
  • Patent number: 4043007
    Abstract: A support tape for a slide-fastener stringer half is knitted on a Raschel knitting machine having a pair of needle bars. This tape has a pair of longitudinally extending edges and a pair of opposite faces and is knit with an intermediate warp yarn that is spaced from the edges and knit with both needle bars to form a longitudinally extending double wale that projects on both faces of the tape and subdivides the tape transversely into an attachment strip and an edge strip. A plurality of first warp yarns in only the attachment strip are knit with one needle bar and form a plurality of longitudinally extending single wales projecting only on one face of the tape, and a plurality of second warp yarns in only the edge strip are knit with the other needle bar and form a plurality of longitudinally extending single wales projecting only on the other face of the tape. A multiplicity of weft yarns are laid into the warp yarns and each extend transversely over at least one of the wales.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1976
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1977
    Assignee: OPTI Patent-, Forschungs- und Fabrikations-AG
    Inventor: Helmut Heimberger