Quick-release zipper

March 31, 1953

2,632,933

O. FIRING

QUICK-RELEASE ZIPPER

<img file="US2632933A_D0001.tif" />

Patented Mar. 31, 1953

2,632,933

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

2,632,933

QUICK-RELEASE ZIPPER

Osborne Firing, Woodbury, Conn., assignor to Scovill Manufacturing Company, Waterbury, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut

Application February 16,1951, Serial No. 211,399

Claims. (Cl. 24—205.11)

·. 2 the check device and ready to be torn open, and Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing a modified construction.

The zipper illustrated has the usual pair of corded edge tapes 4 and 5 carrying the rows of interengageable fastener elements or scoops 6 and 7, respectively.

In the case of the long stringer 4 shown here on the left the row of scoops is longer, and attached to the tape at the upper end of this row is a positive or permanent top stop 8, the particular shape of this top stop is not a part of the present invention and may be like any suitable permanent stop now on the market. Also the particular shape of the fastener elements or scoops 6 and 7 may be varied to suit different specifications.

A slider 9 which is moved over the rows of scoops to open or close the zippei· is of any common form having upper and lower wings each with inturned side flanges 10, and united at the upper end by a neck 11, the flanges and neck forming a Y-shaped channel through which the scoops pass.

Preferably the upper end of the shorter stringer 5 has the cords removed in the portion indicated at 12 so that it can slip sidewise through the flanges ί 0 of the slider. If desired instead of removing the cords in this portion one or more of the slider flanges could be somewhat relieved ³⁰ to allow the cords to pass trough the side of the slider, but in any case this portion will be devoid of scoops.

My improved checking device consists simply of a solid block 13 clamped around the corded edge ³⁵ of one of the stringers preferably the shorter one 5, at a location sufficiently below the top stop 8 so that the slider when moved against said top stop will have passed over the checking device 13. Preferably I remove one of the scoops ⁴⁰ a slight distance from the end of the row of scoops and replace such removed scoop by block 13, but if desired such block could be placed beyond the end of the row of scoops on the shorter stringer. The block 13 is substantially thicker than the 45 space between two fastener elements and it is preferably made of the same material as the scoops. When reference is made here to thickness it is intended to refer to the dimension lengthwise of the stringers.

The free end of the block is wedge-shaped as indicated at 14 and extends a sufficient distance from the stringer so as to wedge between two adjacent scoops on the opposite side when the slider is pulled against the block 13. The term 55 “wedge-shaped” is used herein and in the ap1

This invention is an improvement in quick release zippers.

During recent years there has come into use, to a limited extent, what is commonly called quick release zippers. They are used in applications ⁵where it is desirable to tear the zipper open without having to move the slider all the way back along the rows of fastener elements, or scoops, as they are commonly called in the trade. Such fasteners are useful for example in flying suits ¹⁰and sleeping bags, especially in the event of an emergency, to enable the wearer to get out of the suit or bag as quickly as possible.

These so-called quick release devices as heretofore presented have some objections, either be- 15 cause they were too expensive and bulky or did not give sufficiently reliable service.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved quick release device which is simple in construction and cheap to manufacture. 20

Another object is to provide a neat appearing fastener of this type and to avoid the use of cumbersome and unsightly parts; and a further object is to provide a quick release device which shall be durable and dependable in operation 25 throughout the life of the fastener.

So-called quick release zippers involve the use of a positive or permanent stop on one stringer so that the slider cannot come off and get lost, and in addition a supplementary check device below the top stop which serves to check the movement of the slider on a normal pull and thus keep the garment fastened, while at the same time allowing further movement up to the positive stop upon an extra strong pull or yank. When the slide is thus pulled over the quick release or checking device the second stringer can be pulled sidewise through the slider and enable the fastener to be tom open quickly while leaving the slider against the positive top stop.

My improved check device while preferably applied to the shorter stringer which does not have the positive stop, could also be applied to the longer stringer.

In the accompanying drawing I have shown for purposes of illustration two embodiments which my invention may assume in practice.

In these drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front view of the top portion of my improved quick release zipper showing the slider in its normally closed position.

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the top part of the slider removed.

Fig. 3 is a similar view with the top part of the slider removed but illustrating the position of the parts when the slider has been pulled beyond

2,632,983 pended claims to refer to a shape produced by a sloping or tapering of the upper and lower sides of the block at its free end, or to a rounded end which would accomplish the same purpose.

It will be evident that this block 13 serves as a check which will stop the slider when it is operated with the normal pulling force. As seen in Fig. 2 the wedge-shaped end of the block bears against a pair of scoops and the attached ends of these scoops and the block will bind frictionally against the flanges I 8 of the slider. Now when a stronger pull or yank is given to the slider the wedge block will push between a pair of scoops on the opposite stringer· and angle or twist them slightly to one side. This is? possible because of the normal clearance between interengaging parts of the scoops. As seen in Figs. 2 and 3 when the scoops are thus twisted, they bend the corded edge of the tape as indicated at IS which acts as a spring and which brings the scoops back into proper alignment when freed of the pressure of the wedge block.

In Fig. 4 I have shown a modified form of construction which may be used where it is desired· to provide greater resistance by the checking device and which locates the slider in its normally closed position more definitely by a snapping action. Here the wedge block, indicated by the numeral 16, has its attaching end projecting farther over the tapes than the attaching ends 17 of the scoops, thus putting it out of line with the normal travel of the slider flange.. Thus when the slider strikes the member 16 it will force the wedge block over somewhat farther than in the first embodiment offering more resistance and then it will snap into a recess 16 in the slider flange thus giving a definite indication of the normal end position of the . slider. The edges of the recess 18 are beveled at 19 so that when an additional pull is put on the slider it can move over the wedge block 16 in either direction.

As a result of my invention it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that I have devised an improved quick release device which is simple in construction, cheap to manufacture, neat in appearance and dependable in operation.