GB2190706A

GB2190706A - Zip puller

Info

Publication number: GB2190706A
Application number: GB08612373A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Leonard Law
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1986-05-21
Filing date: 1986-05-21
Publication date: 1987-11-25
Also published as: GB8612373D0

Abstract

A zip puller comprising means for attachment to an operating device of a zip fastener, said means including a first body portion 2 and a second portion 12 adapted to engage said operating device, said second portion including a limb which can be passed through said operating device so as to secure said zip puller to said operating device. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Zip puller This invention relates to zip pullers, that is to a device for attachment to a zip fastener operating means in order to ease the operation of the zip fastener.

In many instances, zip fasteners have a small operating device which is difficult to get hold of, with the result that it is not always easy to operate the zip fastener to effect the opening and closing thereof, and the invention seeks to provide means whereby such operation is made easier and more convenient.

According to the present invention, there is provided a zip puller comprising means for attachment to an operating device of a zip fastener, said means including a first body portion and a second portion adapted to engage said operating device, said second portion including a limb which can be passed through said operating device so as to secure said zip puller to said operating device.

Preferably, said body portion will be rigid or semi-rigid, and said second portion will be less rigid than said body portion to the extent that is can be flexed and moved relative to said body portion.

Said second portion will preferably be formed integrally with said portion, the limb of the second portion being releasably securable to said body portion by engaging means on said body portion.

When the limb of the second portion is secured to the body portion, the said second portion will preferably be in the form of a closed loop, said loop being in engagement with the operating device so as to hold the zip puller captive with respect to said operating device.

The zip puller will preferably be composed of a synthetic plastics material.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, an embodiment thereof will now be described, by way of example, reference being made to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a zip puller according to the invention; Figure 2 is a front elevation of the zip puller of Fig. 1 in its open or unlocked position; Figure 3 is a rear elevation of the zip puller in its closed or locked position; and Figure 4 is a side elevation of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawing, and firstly to Fig.

1, a zip puller for attachment to an operating device of a zip fastener comprises a first, body portion 2 and a second portion 4 integral therewith. As will be seen, the body portion 2 is generally triangular in shape and has an enlarged lower (in the drawing) end 6.

The second portion 4 comprises a first limb 8 formed integrally with said body portion 2, a second limb 10 and a connecting limb 12, the said limbs 8, 10, and 12 being formed integrally with each other. The limb 10 may be flexed and moved relative to the limb 8, through the intermediary of the connecting limb 12, and may be releasably secured to the body protion 2.

Figs. 1, 3, and 4 show the limb 10 in its engaged or locked position, whilst Fig. 2 shows the limb 10 in its open or unlocked position.

In the open or unlocked position of the limb 10, the limb 10 may be passed through an operating device of a zip fastener so as to secure the zip puller 2 to said device, the securement being retained by locking the limb 10 to the body portion 2.

Reference to Figs. 3 and 4 will show that the body portion 2 has a locking device 14 formed integrally therewith, the locking device 14 forming, with the rear surface 16 of the body portion 2, a slot 18 which is engageable by the limb 10. When in the slot 18, and as shown in Fig. 3, the limbs 8, 10, and 12 form a closed loop 20 such that the zip puller can be captively retained on the operating device of the zip fastener, not shown. It will also be seen from Fig. 3 that the limb 10 is biassed towards the bottom of the slot 18 so as to make a positive, but releasable, connection with the locking device 14, this being further ensured by the provision of an upstanding protruberance or projection 10A on the limb 10 engaging in a groove or recess 14A of the locking device 14.

The limb 10 is inserted into the slot 18 by moving the limb slightly rearwardly from the rear of the body portion 2 and then flexing the limb about points X and Y until the limb has overridden the locking device 14. The limb 10 is then moved towards the rear surface of the body portion 2 and released so that it enters the slot 19, whereupon the protruberance or projection 10A engages in the groove or recess 14A. Thus, by passing the limb 10 through the operating device of the zip fastener, and locking the limb 10 to the body portion 2 as described, the zip puller may be securely-but releasably-attached to said operating device.

Release of the zip puller from the operating device is, of couse, by reversal of the above procedure.

The zip puller will be composed entirely of synthetic plastics material, although it is envisaged that other materials may be used if preferred.

Finally, it will be appreciated that the zip puller may take different forms than that shown in the drawings forming part of this specification.

1. A zip puller comprising means for attachment to an operating device of a zip fastener, said means including a first body por

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Zip puller This invention relates to zip pullers, that is to a device for attachment to a zip fastener operating means in order to ease the operation of the zip fastener. In many instances, zip fasteners have a small operating device which is difficult to get hold of, with the result that it is not always easy to operate the zip fastener to effect the opening and closing thereof, and the invention seeks to provide means whereby such operation is made easier and more convenient. According to the present invention, there is provided a zip puller comprising means for attachment to an operating device of a zip fastener, said means including a first body portion and a second portion adapted to engage said operating device, said second portion including a limb which can be passed through said operating device so as to secure said zip puller to said operating device. Preferably, said body portion will be rigid or semi-rigid, and said second portion will be less rigid than said body portion to the extent that is can be flexed and moved relative to said body portion. Said second portion will preferably be formed integrally with said portion, the limb of the second portion being releasably securable to said body portion by engaging means on said body portion. When the limb of the second portion is secured to the body portion, the said second portion will preferably be in the form of a closed loop, said loop being in engagement with the operating device so as to hold the zip puller captive with respect to said operating device. The zip puller will preferably be composed of a synthetic plastics material. In order that the invention may be more readily understood, an embodiment thereof will now be described, by way of example, reference being made to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a zip puller according to the invention; Figure 2 is a front elevation of the zip puller of Fig. 1 in its open or unlocked position; Figure 3 is a rear elevation of the zip puller in its closed or locked position; and Figure 4 is a side elevation of Fig. 3. Referring to the drawing, and firstly to Fig. 1, a zip puller for attachment to an operating device of a zip fastener comprises a first, body portion 2 and a second portion 4 integral therewith. As will be seen, the body portion 2 is generally triangular in shape and has an enlarged lower (in the drawing) end 6. The second portion 4 comprises a first limb 8 formed integrally with said body portion 2, a second limb 10 and a connecting limb 12, the said limbs 8, 10, and 12 being formed integrally with each other. The limb 10 may be flexed and moved relative to the limb 8, through the intermediary of the connecting limb 12, and may be releasably secured to the body protion 2. Figs. 1, 3, and 4 show the limb 10 in its engaged or locked position, whilst Fig. 2 shows the limb 10 in its open or unlocked position. In the open or unlocked position of the limb 10, the limb 10 may be passed through an operating device of a zip fastener so as to secure the zip puller 2 to said device, the securement being retained by locking the limb 10 to the body portion 2. Reference to Figs. 3 and 4 will show that the body portion 2 has a locking device 14 formed integrally therewith, the locking device 14 forming, with the rear surface 16 of the body portion 2, a slot 18 which is engageable by the limb 10. When in the slot 18, and as shown in Fig. 3, the limbs 8, 10, and 12 form a closed loop 20 such that the zip puller can be captively retained on the operating device of the zip fastener, not shown. It will also be seen from Fig. 3 that the limb 10 is biassed towards the bottom of the slot 18 so as to make a positive, but releasable, connection with the locking device 14, this being further ensured by the provision of an upstanding protruberance or projection 10A on the limb 10 engaging in a groove or recess 14A of the locking device 14. The limb 10 is inserted into the slot 18 by moving the limb slightly rearwardly from the rear of the body portion 2 and then flexing the limb about points X and Y until the limb has overridden the locking device 14. The limb 10 is then moved towards the rear surface of the body portion 2 and released so that it enters the slot 19, whereupon the protruberance or projection 10A engages in the groove or recess 14A. Thus, by passing the limb 10 through the operating device of the zip fastener, and locking the limb 10 to the body portion 2 as described, the zip puller may be securely-but releasably-attached to said operating device. Release of the zip puller from the operating device is, of couse, by reversal of the above procedure. The zip puller will be composed entirely of synthetic plastics material, although it is envisaged that other materials may be used if preferred. Finally, it will be appreciated that the zip puller may take different forms than that shown in the drawings forming part of this specification. CLAIMS

1. A zip puller comprising means for attachment to an operating device of a zip fastener, said means including a first body por tion and a second portion adapted to engage said operating device, said second portion including a limb which can be passed through said operating device so as to secure said zip puller to said operating device.

2. A zip puller according to Claim 1, wherein said body portion is rigid or semi-rigid and wherein said second portion can be flexed and moved relative to said body portion.

3. A zip puller according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein said second portion is formed integrally with said body portion, the limb of the second portion being releasably securable to said body portion by engaging means on said body portion.

4. A zip puller according to any of Claims 1 to 3, wherein said second portion, when the limb thereof is secured to the body portion, is in the form of a closed loop which is in engagement with the operating device so as to hold the zip puller captive with respect to said operating device.

5. A zip puller according to any of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the zip puller is composed of plastics material.

6. A zip puller constructed and adapted to operated substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.