Zipper pull tab attachment

Abstract

A three-dimensional zipper pull tab attachment mechanism providing an enlarged gripping surface for facilitated location and manipulation of a pull tab, which is particularly useful in connection with diving equipment and by those having limited finger dexterity. The body of the pull tab attachment comprises mating male and female components, wherein male component comprises a locking arm sized for insertion through a zipper pull tab aperture and dimensioned to matingly engage the female component by way of a correspondingly shaped channel region extending at least partially therethrough. Upon appropriate engagement of male locking arm with a zipper pull tab and female component, a three-dimensional pull tab attachment having an enlarged gripping surface depends from the pull tab. The body of the pull tab attachment in an assembled condition, wherein male and female components are interconnected, may either include faces or a curved surface.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a zipper or slide fastener attachment mechanism and, more specifically, to a three-dimensional zipper pull tab attachment with an enlarged surface area for facilitated location and manipulation thereof. The pull tab attachment has particular utility for use by those with limited finger dexterity and/or in connection with diving equipment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A plurality of attachment mechanisms specifically adapted for mounting to pull tabs of zippers have been devised in order to facilitate opening and closing thereof. Typical among the prior art is, for example, the attachment mechanism of U.S. Pat. No. 4,193,172, which discloses a substantially circular pull tab fastener comprising a body having upper and lower plates. Between the upper and lower plates there is defined a channel configured for receiving the pull tab of a zipper or other slide fastener. A locking means comprising a central projection and a pair of retaining projections is adapted to engage and retain the edge of a pull tab opening, maintaining the pull tab within the channel of the fastener.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,209,176, teaches a bell-shaped fastener for selectively clamping a zipper cord. The fastener comprises a base portion having a U-shaped channel therein. The channel is surrounded by a rotatable locking arm movable between open and closed positions. In an open position, a zipper cord may be introduced within the exposed channel and secured by closing the arm.

By way of further example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,873,750 discloses a generally rectangular attachment having a channel therein. A locking tongue, i.e., a spring metal clip, projects into the channel for engaging a pull tab opening upon insertion of the tab within the channel.

As the foregoing references demonstrate, a variety of zipper attachment mechanisms have been devised to facilitate manipulation of a zipper pull tab for opening and closing of a slide fastener. While use of zipper attachments such as those described has made possible facilitated location and manipulation of zipper pull tabs, such conventional zipper attachment mechanisms fail to provide a pull tab attachment that is easily located by arthritic persons and/or those wearing bulky gloves or mitts, such as those commonly worn by cold-water divers. Thus, a need exists for a zipper pull tab attachment having a superior configuration and utility over the prior art attachment mechanisms. In particular, a need exists for an improved zipper pull tab attachment which is particularly useful for facilitated manipulation of conventional zipper pull tabs on articles of clothing, such as jackets, as well as in connection with diving suits, wherein the pull tab attachment can be easily manipulated by persons having impaired finger flexibility or those wearing bulky gloves.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a zipper pull tab attachment that is easily affixable to a zipper, i.e., slide fastener, pull tab.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a zipper pull tab attachment having an enlarged, yet unobtrusive, gripping surface configured for facilitated location and grasping thereof to improve the user's manipulation of a zipper, whether the fastener is in an open or closed position.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a zipper pull tab attachment having particular utility for use in connection with diving equipment, including diving suits, whereby the improved attachment may be located and manipulated by divers wearing thick, bulky gloves commonly utilized in cold water diving conditions.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a zipper pull tab attachment configured for trouble-free manipulation by those having impaired finger dexterity caused, for example, by arthritis.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a zipper pull tab attachment of simple construction and economical manufacture.

In accordance with the foregoing objects, there is provided a three-dimensional zipper (slide fastener) pull tab attachment having an enlarged gripping surface for facilitated location and manipulation of a pull tab. The three-dimensional attachment may either include faces or have a curved surface. The device has particular utility for use in connection with diving equipment, whereby the configuration of the pull tab attachment enables a diver donning gloves to easily locate and manipulate a zipper. The pull tab attachment is also desirably utilized by those having limited finger dexterity, such as resulting from arthritis.

The body of the pull tab attachment in accordance with the invention comprises mating male and female components, which components are adapted to engage a pull tab aperture and depend therefrom. While it is preferred that the body of the attachment, when in an assembled condition, have a substantially spherical or other smooth, curved surface, the three-dimensional attachment may comprise a plurality of faces.

In a first embodiment of the invention, a female component comprises orthogonal recess and channel regions extending at least partially therethrough, wherein the recess region is adapted to receive a portion of a zipper pull tab therein, which portion includes a pull tab aperture. The channel region is configured to intersect the recess region such that a male locking arm may be inserted through both the channel region and pull tab aperture to engage the pull tab within the body of the attachment.

In a second embodiment of the pull tab attachment in accordance with the invention, the female component comprises a T-shaped channel region dimensioned to receive a correspondingly shaped locking arm projecting from a wall of the male component. The locking arm may be inserted through a pull tab aperture and the channel region such that the pull tab is oriented between the male and female components, whereby the resulting three-dimensional body depends from the zipper pull tab.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other features and advantages of the invention will be better understood from the following detailed description of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary first embodiment of a pull tab attachment in accordance with the present invention, illustrating male and female components in mating relationship;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the pull tab attachment of FIG. 1 oriented in locking engagement with a zipper pull tab;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the pull tab attachment of FIG. 1, the opposing side being a mirror image thereof;

FIG. 4 is a front view of the pull tab attachment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a front view of the pull tab attachment illustrating an alternative channel region configuration;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the pull tab attachment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view of the pull tab attachment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a pull tab attachment in accordance with the present invention, illustrating the pull tab attachment in an unassembled condition;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the pull tab attachment of FIG. 8 oriented in locking engagement with a zipper pull tab;

FIG. 10 is a side view of the pull tab attachment of FIG. 8, illustrating the male and female components in mating relationship;

FIG. 11 is a front view of the pull tab attachment of FIG. 8, illustrating the relative relationship of the elements of male and female components, including the locking arm, when in mating relationship;

FIG. 12 is a side view of the unassembled pull tab attachment of FIG. 8, the opposing side being a mirror image thereof; and

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the pull tab of FIG. 8, illustrative of the manner of engaging male and female components with a zipper pull tab.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is generally directed to an improved zipper pull tab attachment having an enlarged gripping surface, which pull tab comprises a three-dimensional body, either having faces or a curved surface. With reference to the drawings, and particularly FIGS. 1-7, there can be seen an exemplary first embodiment of a zipper (slide fastener) pull tab attachment in accordance with the invention generally referenced by numeral 10. The pull tab attachment 10 depicted in the drawings comprises a three-dimensional, substantially spherical body having male and female components 24 and 26, respectively, which are configured to interconnect in a mating relationship. As shown, for example, in FIG. 2, mating male and female components 24, 26 are adapted to engage a zipper pull tab 20 providing for facilitated location and manipulation thereof when appropriately mounted thereto.

As set forth in FIGS. 1-3, the female component 26 of the pull tab attachment 10 has extending therethrough orthogonally oriented recess and channel regions 28 and 30, respectively. The recess region 28, defined by opposing, substantially planar interior sidewalls 32 and 34 and bottom surface 36, extends at least partially through the female component 26, being dimensioned to accommodate a portion of the pull tab 20 therein, which portion includes at least the pull tab aperture.

The channel region 30 may be centrally disposed and formed within female component 26 by molding to accommodate the male component, which component preferably comprises a locking arm 24, such as, for example, a press fit pin or bolt, as is known in the art. Preferably, the channel region 30 is of a substantially elongated, cylindrical configuration such that a correspondingly sized and shaped elongated, non-threaded male locking arm 24 fits snugly therein, whereby the outer diameter of the male locking arm 24 is substantially equal to the inner diameter of the channel region 30. Alternatively, male locking arm 24 may comprise external threads (not shown) which may be threadedly received by corresponding internal threads (not shown) of channel region 30. As most clearly seen in FIG. 3, the channel region 30 is oriented above bottom surface 36 of the recess region 28 so as to accommodate and maintain the male locking arm 24 when disposed therethrough.

With particular reference to FIG. 2, the pull tab 20 may be inserted within recess region 28 intermediate opposing interior sidewalls 32, 34 and oriented such that the pull tab aperture (not shown) and channel region 30 are in alignment, whereby the male locking arm 24 may pass therethrough. Upon appropriately passing male locking arm 24 through channel region 28 and the pull tab aperture, mating male and female components of the invention 24, 26, are oriented in locking engagement with the pull tab 20 such that a three-dimensional attachment having an enlarged gripping surface depends therefrom. As shown, the male locking arm 24 and channel region 30 are configured such that male locking arm 24 may be fittably received and retained therein without additional securing mechanisms. Alternatively, locking arm 24 may be in the form of a bolt having a stop or head at a first end thereof to engage the periphery of the female component 26. A nut or other securing device may be placed on a second end of male locking arm 24 so as to prevent spontaneous disengagement.

While the female channel region 30 and male locking arm 24 have been illustrated and described as being substantially cylindrical in configuration, the configuration thereof may be any suitable shape such as pentagonal, as shown in FIG. 5, square, octagonal, etc., so long as both elements are of complimentary shape such that male locking arm 24 may be received and retained within the channel region 30 of female component to engage a zipper pull tab 20 as described herein. Similarly, the substantially spherical body of the attachment in an assembled condition may be of any three-dimensional configuration, either with faces or having a smooth, curved surface.

With reference to FIGS. 8-13, there is shown a second embodiment of a pull tab attachment in accordance with the invention, identified by numeral 50, wherein a substantially spherical body comprises dual, generally hemispherical male and female components 52 and 54, respectively. As shown most clearly in FIGS. 10, 12 and 13, the female component comprises a channel region 56 dimensioned to interconnect in mating relationship with a corresponding locking arm 58 projecting from wall 72 of male component 52. While the channel region 56 may be of any suitable configuration so as to receive correspondingly shaped locking arm 58, it is preferred that the channel region 56 have a substantially T-shaped configuration to accommodate a T or cone-shaped head 60 of locking arm 58.

As can be seen in FIG. 10, when the male and female components are oriented in the mating relationship, i.e., in an assembled condition, there is provided an open region 70 therebetween, which region is dimensioned to accommodate a zipper pull tab 20 as shown, for example, in FIG. 9. The attachment is assembled by inserting locking arm 58 through zipper pull tab aperture 74 and then forcibly engaging head 60 into channel region 56 as shown in FIG. 13, until the head enters the widened end 66 of the channel region. The pull tab attachment is then retained in a depending relationship with the pull tab, as exemplified in FIG. 9.

Preferably, head 60 is formed of a flexible material, such as a deformable plastic, whereby the peripheral edge thereof 62 deforms in response to forcible contact with interior walls 64 of the channel and expands within widened end 66 so as to matingly engage female component 54. The pull tab body may be formed of any suitable material. It is preferred, however, that the attachment mechanism be formed of a durable, water-resistant material, such as plastic, to provide a rigid gripping surface for the user under extreme conditions.

In addition to having an aesthetically pleasing appearance, the three-dimensional body of the pull tab attachment of the invention provides increased surface area enabling facilitated gripping thereof for manipulation of an appropriately engaged zipper pull tab for opening and closing of a slide fastener. Of particular advantage, the pull tab attachment of the present invention has particular utility for use in connection with diving equipment as, for example, in cold water diving conditions, wherein divers tend to wear bulky gloves or mitts which render the task of grasping or even locating a zipper pull tab extremely difficult. The pull tab attachment of the present invention provides a readily locatable, yet unobtrusive, means for manipulating a hard-to-find zipper pull tab. The pull tab attachment described herein also benefits those having limited finger dexterity caused by arthritis and the like, which often poses problems for sufferers when attempting to grip and manipulate a zipper pull tab.

It should be apparent, of course, that the specific embodiments of the invention as illustrated and described herein are representative only, as certain changes may be made thereto without departing from the teachings of the disclosure. For example, while the male locking arms herein have been described as being substantially cylindrical in shape the locking arms may be of any configuration, such as square, octagonal or otherwise, such that there is a correspondingly configured channel region dimensioned for receiving the same therein. Similarly, while an attachment having a body with a smooth, curved surface is preferred for facilitated gripping thereof, the assembled attachment may have any three-dimensional configuration, with or without faces. It should also be understood that the term “locking arm,” as used herein, is intended to denote any such member or projection capable of being matingly received within a female component for engagement of a pull tab such that a three-dimensional body, having an enlarged gripping surface, depends therefrom. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is to be defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A zipper pull tab attachment comprising:

a body providing an enlarged gripping surface; and

said body comprising male and female components adapted to engage a zipper pull tab and interconnect in mating relationship.

2. The zipper pull tab attachment in accordance with claim 1, having a substantially spherical configuration when in an assembled condition, wherein said male and female components are interconnected in mating relationship.

3. The zipper pull tab attachment in accordance with claim 1, wherein said male component comprises a locking arm.

4. The zipper pull tab attachment in accordance with claim 3, wherein said female component comprises a channel region dimensioned to receive said locking arm in mating relationship.

5. The zipper pull tab attachment in accordance with claim 3, wherein said locking arm is dimensioned so as to be capable of passing at least partially through a zipper pull tab aperture.

6. The zipper pull tab attachment in accordance with claim 1, wherein said female component comprises a recess region dimensioned to receive the pull tab at least partially therein.

7. The zipper pull tab attachment in accordance with claim 6, wherein said recess region is defined by opposing interior walls and a bottom surface.

8. The zipper pull tab attachment in accordance with claim 6, wherein said channel region is oriented orthogonally to said recess region such that said channel region and said recess region are disposed in an intersecting relationship.

9. The zipper pull tab attachment in accordance with claim 3, wherein said locking arm projects from a wall of said male component.

10. The zipper pull tab attachment in accordance with claim 3, wherein said locking arm comprises a head formed of a deformable material.

11. The zipper pull tab attachment in accordance with claim 4, wherein said male and female components are substantially hemispherical in configuration.

12. A zipper pull tab attachment comprising:

a body having complimentary male and female components, wherein said male and female components are adapted to interconnect in mating relationship;

said male component comprising a locking arm; and

said female component comprising a channel region dimensioned to receive said locking arm in mating relationship.

13. The zipper pull tab attachment in accordance with claim 12, having a substantially spherical configuration when in an assembled condition, wherein said male and female components are interconnected in mating relationship.

14. The zipper pull tab attachment in accordance with claim 12, wherein said locking arm is dimensioned so as to be capable of passing at least partially through a zipper pull tab aperture.

15. The zipper pull tab attachment in accordance with claim 12, wherein said female component further comprises a recess region dimensioned to receive a pull tab at least partially therein.

16. The zipper pull tab attachment in accordance with claim 15, wherein said recess region is defined by opposing interior walls and a bottom surface.

18. The zipper pull tab attachment in accordance with claim 15, wherein said channel region is oriented orthogonally to said recess region such that said channel region and said recess region are disposed in intersecting relationship.

19. The zipper pull tab attachment in accordance with claim 12, wherein said male and female components are substantially hemispherical in configuration.

20. The zipper pull tab attachment in accordance with claim 12, wherein said locking arm projects from a wall of said male component.