Abstract: A closure mechanism for an article of footwear is provided. The article of footwear having an upper comprising a lateral sidewall and a medial sidewall, a vamp, an ankle opening, a first tension member, a second tension member, and a slider. The first tension member being coupled to the lateral sidewall portion and the second tension member being coupled to the medial sidewall at each of a first end near the vamp, an intermediate point at the ankle opening, and a second end. The slider may be coupled to and movable along the tension members from a first position at the vamp to a second position at the ankle opening, such that moving the slider from the first position to the second position operatively reduces a maximum size of the ankle opening.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a track zipper and a connecting structure having a track zipper. The track zipper includes a first track, a second track, and a zipper core connecting the first and second tracks. The first track and a first side of the zipper core are provided with a first slidably connecting structure. The second track and a second side of the zipper core are provided with a second slidably connecting structure. When the track zipper is in a closed position, the zipper core is positioned between the first and second tracks and holds the first and second tracks together. The track zipper of the present disclosure is advantageous in that it can prevent foreign material from being caught by the zipper, and that it has a much stronger bearing capacity.

Abstract: A tunnel spring structure three-dimensionally printed on a base layer. The tunnel spring structure includes three tubular structures and two connecting portions. A connecting portion is disposed between two tubular structures. A tensile strand extends through the tubular structures. Tension applied to the tensile strand forces the tubular structures to adjoin due to the flexibility of the connection portions.

Abstract: An article of footwear includes an outsole and an upper positioned above the outsole and including an opening having opposed edges thereof. A plurality of eyelets extends along the opposed edges of the opening, and a tongue extends from the upper into the opening. A plurality of rows of loops is found on an upper surface of the tongue, with each row containing a plurality of loops, and each row being positioned between a pair of opposed eyelets.

Abstract: A clasp is disclosed wherein two housings with fingers are interlocked in a transition fit and then secured by a central lock bar. The clasp is beneficially applied to open space between garment edges whereby the garment is fastened and sized.

Abstract: Fastening devices and systems and methods thereof. Fastening devices and systems and methods thereof can include a unitary or one-piece body having first and second ends configured and operative to be coupled together or to be coupled to their respective complement in another of said fastening devices. The first end can include a ring or annular portion and a projection that are sized and shaped to fit around an anchor and in an orifice, respectively, of the second end. Fastening devices and systems and methods thereof according to embodiments may be used with items, including footwear, apparel, luggage, a backpack, a bag, a purse, a boxing glove, a punching bag, football or lacrosse shoulder pads, or the like.

Abstract: A system for sealably closing a reservoir is disclosed. The system can have a container and a slider. The container can have an orifice and catches and lips surrounding the orifice. The slider can be translatably attached to the container over the orifice. The slider can slidably engage the catch and lips to force the orifice closed. While attached to the catch and lips, the slider can create a pressurized seal of the orifice.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fit adjuster for a neckband type headset, which includes a headset band and a pair of earpieces connected to both ends of the headset band and placed on the ears of a user. The fit adjuster includes at least one opening formed at a stress concentration portion of the headset band; and an adjustment pin inserted into the opening to be movable in a longitudinal direction of the opening.

Abstract: A system for sealably closing a reservoir is disclosed. The system can have a container and a slider. The container can have an orifice and catches and lips surrounding the orifice. The slider can be translatably attached to the container over the orifice. The slider can slidably engage the catch and lips to force the orifice closed. While attached to the catch and lips, the slider can create a pressurized seal of the orifice.

Abstract: Disclosed is a device for creating a seal which includes an upper seal member, a lower seal member, and a slider, wherein mating surfaces of the upper and lower seal members interlock. A lifting rib on the slider cooperates with a lifting wing on the upper seal member and a closure bar cooperates with a closure bar groove of the lower seal member. By moving the slider in one direction, the lifting rib lifts the upper seal member from its interlocking relationship with the lower seal member. Moving the slider in the opposite direction causes the upper and lower seal members to interlock. Also disclosed is a seal device which includes upper and lower seal members and a cooperating slider and plug. Each of the slider and plug cooperate with first and second mating surfaces of the upper and lower seal members. In addition, the slider and plug have an exterior tongue and groove portion which cooperate to interlock the slider and the plug.

Abstract: An interface mechanism is provided that removably unites a carbon dioxide absorption canister with a patient breathing circuit on a ventilator. The interface mechanism includes a cradle that is moveably positioned between a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position, the canister is coupled to the cradle and the cradle is positioned such that the canister is in fluid communication with the breathing circuit. In the second position, the canister is removable from the cradle and the cradle extends at an angle from the patient breathing circuit. The interface mechanism advantageously provides visual indication when the canister is removed and the breathing circuit is operating as a closed loop system, without CO2 filtration. The mechanism also facilitates efficient and accurate fluid connection between the carbon dioxide absorption canister and the breathing circuit.

Abstract: The present invention relates to mounting of a sound tube inside a shell of a hearing aid. The invention provides a sound tube adaptor, a tool for insertion of the adaptor and a method for attaching a sound tube to a shell, the sound tube adaptor facilitating attachment of a sound tube to a shell, having a first end for attachment to one end of a sound tube and a second end that is adapted to be received inside the shell in a hole in the shell in such a way that the adaptor and the sound tube extend inside the shell from the hole towards the entrance of an ear canal of a user when the shell is positioned in the ear canal.

Abstract: A transferring and holding device and method for holding infants having lifelines, such as IV tubes, monitor wire leads, and ventilator tubes, connected thereto. In one embodiment, the device includes a support surface adapted to hold an infant; a boundary attached to and bolstering the support surface; and at least one securing mechanism adapted to secure the lifelines and to impede the lifelines from being disconnected from the infant. The support surface preferably has openings to enable skin-to-skin contact between the infant and a person holding the infant, and at least a portion of the support surface can be a nonabsorbent, open-weave webbed material. The boundary may include a foam member, and/or a flexible plastic or metal member to provide structural support. The boundary may be removable for separate washing of or replacement of the support surface, and the support surface may include sleeves for insertion of at least a portion of the boundary to facilitate removable attachment thereof.

Abstract: A seat belt buckle guard device is provided for preventing access to a release button on a seat belt. The device comprises a sleeve structured to fit over a variety of shapes and sizes of seat belt buckles. The sleeve comprises a front face and a top face that are capable of covering the front portion of a variety of seat belt buckles. The sleeve is made of sufficiently rigid material to prevent indentation of the faces and thereby prevent contact with both front and top belt buckle release button. The sleeve further comprising a split back face, which enables the sleeve to expand to fit over the variety of seat belt buckles. A top arm extending from the sleeve engages the scat belt strap with a tight friction fit to resist removal of the sleeve.

Abstract: Antistatic agent for external use is attached to a synthetic resin material by coating or spraying, which is used in an attachment for clothes and belongings, such as a slide fastener, a button, a snap button, a hook, a strap fastener, a buckle, a swivel hook, a belt adjuster, a strap for portable goods and the like, or a component of the attachment. Alternatively, antistatic agent for internal use may be mixed in the synthetic resin material. Consequently, the attachment is provided with antistatic function, so that static electricity is discharged easily even if such an attachment is worn by a human body, thereby protecting a human body from electric shock.

Abstract: A method for producing a zipper for use in the production of reclosable plastic bags of the type having the zipper extending across a top end of the bag. The zipper has a first profile member and a second profile member that is interengageable with the first profile member. At bag length intervals of the zipper notches are formed by removing at least a portion of the first profile member and a portion of said second profile member. A mold is positioned about each of the notches and a molten thermoplastic material is introduced into the mold cavity filling the notch and extending beyond the notch and over the zipper top so that when the molten thermoplastic material is cooled an end stop is formed in situ at each of said notches.

Abstract: A slider for a closing band includes a core piece (8), two parallel inner surfaces (31, 32), and two support flanks (14, 15). In order improved sliders of this kind, an additional core piece (7) is provided (FIG. 2) in the region of the inner surfaces (31, 32).

Abstract: A closure device for clothing, footwear and luggage items and the like is adapted to act on flattened and adjacent parts and comprises two elongated and parallel elements which have, at their outer lateral edges, a region for fixing to the respective parts to be joined and have, along the mutually facing inward lateral edges, a plurality of shaped portions for coupling to a movable element which is substantially as long as the elongated elements, has a plurality of complementarily shaped portions along its complementary edges, is provided with a grip in an upward region and can slide between the elongated elements in order to close the parts.

Abstract: In a die-casting slide fastener slider having a plastically deformable, cantilevered pull-tab attaching lug on a slider body, the lug projects from an upper end of a guide post over an upper wing toward a rear end of the upper wing and terminates in a downward end projection spaced from the upper wing by a gap through which an attachment ring of a pull tab is threaded. The lug has a longitudinal hollow through its base to facilitate plastically deforming the lug to reduce the size of the gap after threading. In this structure, since first and second slide cores of a mold for die-casting the slide fastener slider can be inserted from the front and rear sides, it is possible to mold the lug without generating any parting line on its overall appearance.

Abstract: A closure arrangement for a flexible package includes two base strips having channels and film-attachment portions, and a closure strip inserted within and slidably engaging the channels of the base strips. The closure arrangement includes shoulders on the channels configured to engage and retain the outer portions of the closure strip. The closure strip slides within the channels of the base strips to open and close the closure arrangement. A package and method of constructing a package are also described.

Abstract: A linear profile, which is self-sealing by mechanical engagement comprising an elastic element (100), engagement elements (20) and a slider (31); the elastic element (100) consists of a pair of seals (2), specular or preferably complementary with hollows (15) facing in opposite directions; each seal (2) having a honeycombed rib (14) in which cavities (13) are made for insertion of the engagement elements (20); the slider (31) is able to abut against the engagement elements (20) to bring about closure of the seals (2).

Abstract: A slide fastener slider comprising: a slider body composed of upper and lower wings joined at their front ends by a guide post; a cantilevered attachment lug standing on an upper surface of the upper wing at its rear end and extending toward its front end; a pull tab having at one end an attaching ring adapted to be threaded on the attachment lug; a stop resiliently supported on the slider so as to normally come into contact with a front end of the attachment lug; and the guide post having in its upper surface a recess and defining between the recess and the front end of the attachment lug a gap that allows the attaching ring of the pull tab to pass through as pressing the stop away from the front end of the attachment lug.

Abstract: An elevator car has transparent side walls and is guided in an open elevator shaft to provide passengers with an unobstructed view of the surroundings outside the car. An information display apparatus is detachably coupled to an outer surface of a side wall of the elevator car to attract the attention of persons outside the car and provide information of a technical, an entertaining, an educational or a promotional. The information display apparatus uses an image forming screen electrically connected to the elevator car and a display panel removably retained in front of the screen to provide such information.

Abstract: A slider which includes a slider body having a nose suspending at one side, a front open chamber, and two protrusive flanges bilaterally disposed at the front side of the front open chamber, a spring bolt mounted inside the front open chamber to block the gap between the free end of the nose and the slider body, and a stop block mounted in the front side of the front open chamber and secured in place by the protrusive flanges to hold the spring bolt inside the front open chamber, the spring bolt having a beveled top edge, which permits the pull tap to be inserted through the gap between the free end of the nose and the slider body into engagement with the nose and, which prohibits disconnection of the pull tab from the nose after its installation.

Abstract: A cover assembly for sealing a slotted opening about a shaft which moves across the opening; and in particular for sealing an opening in the fuselage of an aircraft which accommodates a movable flap support tube. The closure assembly includes a pair of material sections which cover the opening, and each having a fastener element such as a zipper track or magnetic strips or the like, along its inner edge. The fastener elements are joined together by a closure device which includes a pair of spaced apart rollers which engage the tracks and cause them to interlock during movement of the closure device with the support tube. Opening of the zipper tracks is caused by a wedge on the closure device which causes the interlocked tracks to separate. The rollers and wedge are mounted on a main plate which is fitted about the movable support tube.

Abstract: The device provides a fastener which somewhat resembles a slide fastener but which can be made at least substantially fluid-resistant. It comprises a first component (1), of flexible and resilient material, having an engagement formation having a longitudinal groove (6) and longitudinally spaced mating formations (10), and a second component (2), of similar material, having a rib (16) and longitudinally spaced mating formations (19). The components can be progressively engaged by the introduction of the rib into the groove and the interengagement of the mating formations. The latter prevent significant relative longitudinal movement between the components. Each component can be made by extrusion of a blank followed by the formation of the mating formations by a rotary die (123). The components can be engaged and disengaged by means of a slide (52) like that used in a conventional slide fastener.

Abstract: A slide fastener having a top stop assembly including a pair of top end stops which are meshable with each other so as to make the total width of the top stop assembly slightly smaller than the minimum width of a Y-shaped guide channel of a slider for allowing the top stop assembly to pass through the guide channel. The two top end stops have at their inner sides a pair of mating stepped portions complementary in shape to each other. The top stop assembly also includes blocking means for being attached to at least one of the mating stepped portions to prevent the two top end stops from meshing with each other.

Abstract: A slide fastener slider has an arch-shaped lug projecting from the top surface of an upper wing and terminating in a rear free end spaced from the top surface of the upper wing by a predetermined gap. A slide is slidably mounted in the upper wing and has a closure projection. The slide is movable between an open position in which the closure projection is spaced from the free end of the lug to open the gap for allowing the pintle of a pull tab to pass therethrough, and a closed position in which the closure projection is disposed adjacent to the free end of the lug to close the gap for preventing the pintle of the pull tab from passing therethrough. The slide is normally urged to its closed position by a spring mounted in the upper wing.

Abstract: A molded plastic container has first and second portions which are relatively movable between open and closed configurations; and the two portions have first edges which are juxtaposed when the portions are closed. A T-shaped rail is fixed to the first edge of one of the container portions, and the rail extends along said edge for a significant length--except for a location where it is interrupted by two adjacent gaps. A pair of posts are fixed to the first edge of the second container portion, and the posts are positioned so as to be insertable into the two rail gaps when the two container portions are in their closed configuration. The posts have a transverse configuration which matches the transverse configuration of the rail, so that the posts may be described as forming geometric extensions of the rail when the two container portions are closed. A slide has an interiorly facing opening which is sized for engaging the rail and for being captured thereby.

Abstract: There is described a sliding closure intended for use with a bag or the like, the closure comprising two track parts (2,3,60,61) extending along opposite sides of an opening in the bag (1), and fixed thereto, and a closure element (20) composed of a plurality of articulated segments (21) which engage enlarged rail portions (2a, 3a) of the tracks to hold the tracks together. The closure is described in relation to postal envelopes and mailbags, and in relation to the various alternative embodiments there are described guides (5, 6, 7, 30, 31, 53, 53a) for the sliding closure element, end stop assemblies (10, 53), and a sealing arrangement is envisaged.

Abstract: Disclosed is a device for closing a snaplock type seam having a pair of internestable interlocking V-shaped portions. The one piece closure device is assembled astride the V-shaped portions of the two seam members and functions to force these portions laterally into interlocked assembly as the device is advanced along the seam.