GB2327238A - Slider for a slide fastener - Google Patents

Abstract

A slider for a slide fastener comprising a slider body 6, moveable along a slide fastener 10 to couple and uncouple fastening elements 12, and a pull tab 24 attached to the slider body 6, for instance via a pin 26, 26', so as to be rotatable about an axis in the direction of movement of the slider body 6. A connecting element 22 may be used to attach the pull tab 24 to the slider body 6, the connecting element 22 being rotatable relative to the slider body 6 about an axis transverse to the direction of movement of the slider body 6. Preferably the pull tab 24 is of rigid construction. The rotatable pull tab 24 of the slider allows a slide fastening following a nonlinear path to be opened and closed without the user having to change grip or twist the fastener.

Description

Slider for a Slide Fastener The present invention relates to a puller for a slide fastener.

When opening a slide fastener which follows a non-linear path, for example a zip fastener on a suit case, the user has to change his grip on the puller, or twist his wrist to accommodate the changing orientation of the puller, in order to avoid twisting the slider itself - since twisting the slider will impair the movement of the slider.

Sliders have been provided with a flexible pull-tab, but these still apply some sideways strain when twisted, and are not aesthetically pleasing.

The present invention provides a slider for a slide fastener, the slider comprising a body portion which is moved along a slide fastener to open or dose it, and a pull tab for a user to move the slider body, characterised in that the pull tab is connected to the slider body by a connection which allows the pull tab to rotate about the direction of the movement of the siider.

By allowing rotation of the pull tab, which is gripped by the user the slider can be slid around a non-linear path without the user having to twist his wrist, or release the slider. A further benefit to the invention is that the pull tab can carry a different logo or trade mark on each side; and these will both by displayed, at intervals, to a user. In particular a rigid pull tab can be used.

Preferably the pull tab is mounted on the slider body by a mounting part, the mounting part being rotatable about a direction transverse to the direction of movement of the slider body.

The invention will be further described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which : Figure 1 is a plan view of a zip fastener incorporating a slider forming an embodiment of the invention, Figure 2 is a side view of the slider of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a modification of a puller of the slider of Figures 1 and2.

Figures 1 and 2 illustrate a slider 2 for a zip fastener. The construction of such sliders is well known in the art and will be described only briefly here. The slider 2 has a slider body 4 formed by upper and lower wings 6, 8 joined at their front ends by a central guide post 9. The slider body 4 is drawn along a zip fastener chain 10 by a puller 14 in the direction A-A in Figure 1, to couple or uncouple the elements 12 of the chain 10.

The puller 14 has an end bar 16 which is secured to the upper wing 6 of the slider body 4 by a cover 18. Cover 18 is crimped onto two projections (not shown) on the upper wing 6, and the end bar 16 rotates freely within a space 20 formed between the cover 18 and wing 6. The puller 14 rotates about a line transverse to the direction A-A of sliding of the slider body 4.

The construction thus far described is well known in the art. It will be appreciated by those in the art that other constructions for mounting the cover 18 and/or pull tab 14 are well known and include, for example, mechanisms for releasably locking the slider 2 against movement along the chain 10.

The construction of the puller 14 will now be described in more detail.

The puller 14 comprises a mounting part 22 and a pull tab 24, the pull tab being gripped by a user to pull the slider 2 along the chain 10. The puller 14 is constructed to allow rotational movement of the pull tab 24 about a line generally in the direction A-A of pulling the slider 2.

The mounting part 22 is in the form of a dosed loop incorpöSating the end bar 16. The pull tab 24 is attached to the mounting part 22 by a pin 26 which passes through a hole 28 in a second end bar 30 of the mounting paXt 22. The pin 26 has an enlarged head 32, which is larger than the hole 28, and a stem 34 which passes through the hole 28 and is glued in a blind bore 34 in an end wall 36 of the pull tab 24. The pin 26 rotates freely in the hole 28, allowing the tab 24 to be rotated relative to the mounting part 22 and the slider body 4. Thus, when the slider 4 is being moved, the pull tab will extend generally in the direction A-A and can be rotated relative to the slider body 4 about the axis of pin 26.

The slider body 4 and puller 14 may be made of a variety of materials to suit particular applications. Typically, metal alloys or plastics are used.

In particular the pull tab 40 may be of substantially rigid material.

Figure 3 shows a modification of the puller 14, in which the pull tab 24 is moulded of plastics material and has an integrally formed pin 26' which has an, arrow-shaped head 38 which is slotted to allow the head to be compressed and so forced through the hole 28 and then expand to lock the pull tab 24 on the mounting part 22.

The pull tab 24 can carry a logo or other design on each major surface 40, for example, it may carry the logo of the zip fastener manufacturer on one surface and the logo of the manufacturer of the garment, bag or other item incorporating the fastener on the other surface.

Claims (5)

CLAIMS:

1. A slider for a slide fastener, comprising a body portion which is moved along a slide fastener to open or dose the fastener, and a pull tab for a user to grip and pull the slider body along the slide fastener, wherein the pull tab is connected to the slider body by a connection which allows the pull tab to rotate relative to the slider body about the direction of movement of the slider body.

2. A slider as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pull tab is attached to the slider body by a mounting part, the mounting part being mounted at one end on the slider body to rotate about a direction transverse to the direction of movement of the slider body, and the pull tab being rotatably connected to the mounting part 3. A zip fastener including a slider as dainiedir' claimed in claim 1 or 2.

3. A slider as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the pull tab is substantially rigid.

4. A zip fastener including a slider as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3.

5. A slider for a slide fastener, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 or Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.