US2841851A - Slide fastener sealing closure - Google Patents

Description

July 8, 1958 w. F. VAN AMBURG ETAL 2,841,851v

SLIDE FASTENER SEALING CLSURE Filed Jan. 29, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 8, 1958 w. F. VAN AMBURG ETAL 2,841,851

SLIDE FASTENER SEALING cLosURE Filed Jan. 29, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN T0R.S` :para 5 July 8, 1958 w. F. VAN AMBURG ETAL 2,841,851

SLIDE FASTENER SEALING CLOSURE Filed Jan. 29 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 July 8, 1958 w. F. VAN AMBURG ET AL 2,841,851

SLIDE FASTENER SEALING CLOSURE Filed Jan. 29, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 4f 45 i Q7 Til Ti. 1:3. $5.14.

SLIDE FASTENER SEALING CLOSURE William F. Van Amburg, Erie, and Walter M. Redmond and Gail W. Pringle, Meadville, Pa., assignors to Talon, Inc., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application January 29, 1953, Serial No. 334,014

6 Claims. (Cl. Ztl-205.1)

This invention relates to slide fastened closures and, more particularly, to an improved means for sealing such closures against leakage.

While conventional slide fasteners make etfective closing devices for openings, due to their construction and the spacing apart of the fastener elements along the stringer tapes, it is impossible to provide a gas or liquid-tight closure with a single fastener. Various types of closures have been heretofore suggested and used employing two such fasteners having sealing means disposed therebetween. While some of these sealing means effectively sealed the closure along the major portion thereof, they did not effectively seal the closure at the ends of the slide fastener structures. Thus, leakage oftentimes occurred at the ends of the closure and fasteners Vthereby defeating the purpose for which the closure was intended and, consequently, discouraging the use of such fasteners for closures which had to be absolutely leak proof for certain applications.

Accordingly, it is the general object of the present invention to provide not only an improved means for sealing the adjacent margins of a slide fastener closure continuously therealong, but also means for sealing effectively the ends of such slide fastened closures.

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved means for sealing effectively both ends of the slide fastened closures and especially along and around the slider at the closed end of the fasteners.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved sealing means for slide fasteners which is simple and inexpensive in its construction and at the same time ellicient and eective in its use.

`It is a more specific object of the present invention to provide an improved end structure for sealing closures for slide fastener structures which co-operates with means carried by the slider for sealing effectively the end of the closure when the slider is disposed at that end of the closure and to an improved slider for such purpose.

Various other objects and advantages of this invention will be more apparent in the course ofthe following specication, and will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, there is shown for the purpose of illustration, an embodiment which our inventionI may assume in practice.

In `these drawings:

Fig. l is a perspective view, partly in section, of the improved sealing closure of our invention, showing the slider in a partially closed position;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;`

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. l; Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6--6 of Fig. 1; Fig. 7 is a sectional View taken on line 7-7 of Fig. l; Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the top rear side of the closure showing the slider in its fully closed position;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on line 9--9 of Fig. 8; Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken on line 10-10 of Fig.

Fig. l1 is a bottom end view of improved slider of the present invention;

Fig. 12 is a plan view thereof; Fig. 13 is a side view of the same; and

Fig. 14 is a rear view thereof. t t

Referring more particularly to Figs. l through 10 o the drawings, the improved sealing closure of the present invention comprises a pair of conventional slide fasteners 2 and 3, each consisting of a pair of Stringer` tapes 4 and 5 having spaced-apart interlocking fastener elements 6 arranged along their marginal edges. There is arranged on the fastener elements 6, a slider, generally designated at 7, for longitudinal movement therealong for engaging` and disengaging the same in a well known manner.

Between the two fasteners 2 and 3 there is arranged a pair of longitudinally extending sealing members 8 and 9, which are made preferably of rubber, but: which may be made from any other suitable rubber-like or resilient material. These sealing members 8 and 9 have relatively large opposed inner marginal edge portions 10 and 12, respectively, with the body portions thereof tapering outwardly to the outer edges thereof. These marginal edge portions 10 and 12 have preferably curved opposed inner edges, but may be square if desired, and have longitudinally extending tubular portions 13 and 14, respectively, arranged therein extending throughout the length thereof. These tubular portions 13 and 14 are preferably substantially tear-drop in cross-section and are spaced inwardly of the marginal edges 10 and 12 so as to provide relatively thin and pliable opposed wall portions 15 and 16, respectively, along the inner edges thereof. The marginal edge portions 10 and 12 are disposed and extend a slight distance beyond the outer ends of the fastener elements 6 for a purpose hereinafter to be described.

The sealing members 8 and 9 are secured to the stringer tapes 4 and 5, preferably by vulcanizing, but may be attached thereto in any other suitable manner. The body portions of the Stringer tapes and the sealing members are also joined together, preferably by vulcanizing, to the adjacent margins 17 and 18 of the opening in the wall of the article to be closed, such as life-saving suits, aviators garments, tents, footwear or other articles.

Atv the closing end of each of the slide fasteners 2 and` 3, there is provided preferably a bridge-type top stop 19 which is attached to the opposed edges of the Stringer tapes 4 and 5 immediately beyond the endmost fastener elements of the respective stringers for holding the ends of the tapes together and for limiting and positioning the slider in its fully closed position. Also, in accordance with the present invention, there is positioned at the closing end of the fastener, an elongated resilient forklike member 20 having leg portions 21 and 22 and an outer eye-like portion. 23. Each of the leg portions 21 and 22 has opposed outwardly extending olf- set portions 24 and 25, resepticevly, arranged therein intermediate the length thereof so as to provide a space therebetween. This worklike members is disposed between the fasteners 2 and 3 adjacent the ends thereof and extends substantially parallel thereto with the leg portions 21 and 22 thereof extending into and disposed in the tubular portions 13 and 14 of the sealing members 8 and 9 adjacent l the end of the closure, as more clearly shown in Figs.

`Patented July 8, `1958 respective-bridge stops 19 of the respective fasteners. In the-endofeach of these legportionsl there is arranged an eye portion 28 by means of which they are secured to the Stringer tapes 4,and and the sealing members 8 and 9; as: at 29, bymeans of rivets-or boltsextending therethrough. Theseeye portions 2S-` and the fastening meansk 29 are positioned directly opposite and in alignment withione another and' with the off-setportions- 24 and 25 'of the fork-like member for a purpose to bedescribed hereinafter.

At the oppositeiend ofv each of the fasteners 2 and 3 immediately below the endmost fastener elements 6 thereof, there is arranged a conventional bottom stop 30 forsecurely holdingthestringerstogether at the bottom end of the fasteners and which stops act to limit the movement of the slider-7 in its opening-direction. There is also-arranged at the lower end of the fasteners, preferablyan elongated resilient fork-like member 31, similar to the fork-like member 20, having leg portions 32 which also extend into and are disposed in the tubular portions 13 and 14 ofthe sealing members 8 and 9 adjacent this endof the closure. It is the-purpose of this fork-like member 31 to hold the marginal edges of the sealing members 8 and 9in abutting relation at all times so as to seal effectively the closure around the bottom stops 30 and the fastener elements 6 at the lower end of the closure.

Attention is now directed to Figs. ll through 14 of the drawings which show more clearly the improved slider or runner of our invention. This slider consists of a body member which is preferably die-cast having a pair of spaced-apart wing portions 35 and 36 which have marginal flange portions 37 and 38, respectively. Positioned inwardly of the wing portions 35 and 36 at a spaced distance therefrom, there is arranged plate-like portionsA 39 and.40,- respectively, which are connected at one end thereof to these respective wing portions by neck portions 41 and 42, respectively, so as to provide substantially a Y-shaped channel between these wing portions and their respective plate-like portions for the reception and passage of the fastener elements 6 of the fasteners 2 and 3 in the movement of the slider for opening and closing the fasteners. The plate-like portions 39V and 40 extend preferably a substantial distance above the upper edges offthe wing portions 35and 36 and are spaced from one another for the-reception therebetween of the marginal edges 10 and 12 of the sealing members 8 and 9, and are integrally connected together centrally thereof by means of an intermediate web-like portion 43, which is preferably diamond or oval-shape in cross section. Thus, it will be seen that a double slider construction is providedfwithlthe slider body portions being integrally connected together by the intermediate web-like portion 43 and disposed on vopposite sides of the sealing members 8 and 9 for opening and closing the fasteners 2 and 3. On the outer side of the wing portion 35 there is arranged an elongated lug portion 44 to which a pull member 45 is miovably attached for manipulating thev slider to open and close the fasteners in a well known manner.

It will be understood thatV when the slider 7 is in its assembled postion in the closure that the fastener elements 6 of one of the fasteners are disposed between one of the wing portions and its respective plate-like member and that the fastener elements of the-other fastener are disposed between the other wing portion andits respective plate-like portion so as to provide a separate slider body portion for each of the fasteners 2 and 3. Ashereinbefore described, the sealing members 8 and 9 are positioned between the fasteners 2 and 3 with the marginal edges10 and 12 thereof extending in opposed relation beyond thc outer-ends of the opposed fastener elements` 6 of the-fasteners, as more clearly shown in- Figs. l and 3. It will be seen that these marginal edge portions are disposed in thespace centrally of the slidery 7 between; the plate-likeportious 3 9 Vand `40 thereof andv 4 extend around the intermediate web-like portion 43 arranged therebetween;

Having described the construction of our improved sealing closure, its function will now be described more in detail. When the slider 7 is manipulated to close the fasteners, i. e., to engage the fastener elements 6 of the respective fasteners 2 and 3, the opposed marginal edges 10 and 12 ofthe sealing members 8 and 9 will gradually be forced; inwardly together in abutting relation due to the closing action of the slider on the elements 6 so as to assume substantially the position shown in Figs. 5 and 7 of the drawings. That is to say, the inner wall portions 15 and 16 of the sealing members 8 and 9 are brought into abutting relation and flattened so as to provide a substantial area of contact along the abutting edges. In such closed position, it will be understood that these outer wall portions 15 and 16 are held yieldably in contact with one another due to the inherent resilient characteristics--ofV the material of the sealing members andithat these marginal edges or walls are-held securely in abutting relation due to the interlocking action of the fastener elements 6 ofthe fasteners 2 and 3'.

When the slider 7 is moved-to and disposed in tsf fully closed position, as shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 10, itv

will be seen that the upper ends of the slider body portions abut the inner sides of the bridge stops 19 which stops not only limit the movement of the slider in its closingA direction but also act to position the slider relative to. the fork-like member 20 and the spring members 26. In such fully closed position the opposed off-set portions 24 and 25 of the leg portions 21 and 22 of the fork-like member 20, whichoif-set portions provide a space therebetweenconforming substantially to the cross-section or outer-contour of the web-like portion 43 of the'slider, are disposed directly opposite this web-like portion. T hese-leg portions, dueto the inherent resiliency thereof, hold securely the thin wall portions of 15` and 16` ofthe sealing members 8 and 9 snugly together in the vicinity of the slider and around the web-like portion 43 so as to prevent leakage around the slider and at this end vofthe closure when the fasteners are fully closed.r It is the purpose of the spring members 26 to assist the leg portions 21'and 22 of the fork-like member-20 in forcing the marginal edges of the sealing members together and around this web-likeportion of the slider. Thus, it will be seen that the fork-like member 20 and the spring member 26 function together to hold the marginal edges of the sealing members 8 and 9 securely in abutting relation and,y

around the web-likevportion43of thevslider so as to prevent leakage therearound andat this end of the closure.

It will be understood that when the slider is moved in a direction tol open the closure, the fastener elements 6 arel disengaged therebyv permitting the marginal abutting edges ofthe sealing members to move apart due tothe inherent characteristics of the material thereof, as shownV in Fig. 3.' Theweb-like portion 43 of the slider acts as a plow also to force the marginal edges of the sealing members apart as the slider is moved along the closure, as shown in Fig. 4, thereby permitting entry to the inner side of the closure.

As a result of our invention, it will be seen that there is provided` a sealing closure construction for slide fas-- teners, which not only seals effectively the closure against leakage throughout the length thereof, but also seals effectively the closure around the slider at the closing end thereof where leakage is Vmost apt to occur, which isv one of the most important advantages of the present invention. It will be seen also that there is provided an improved slider which co-operates with a novel end construction to effect this eiiicient sealing at the end of the closure.

While we have shown and described an embodiment which our inventionmay assumeV in practice, it willbe understood that. this embodiment is merelyv for the-pur:

defined in the appended claims.

fasteners are closed, a resilient fork-like member arrangedv at the closing end of said opening having the leg portions thereof arranged in side-by-side relation and extending and disposed in the hollow portions of said marginal edge portions adjacent the end thereof which are adapted to hold the opposed wall portions in abutting relation, said leg portions being offset intermediate the length thereof so as to provide substantially an oval-shaped space therebetween, `a slider arranged on said fastener elements for engaging and disengaging the same, said slider comprising a pair of spaced-apart wing portions which are disposed on the outer sides of the fastener elements of each of said slide fasteners and a plate-like portion spaced inwardly of each of said wing portions and integrally connected to their respective wing portions by a neck portion so as to provide substantially a Y-shaped channel between each of said wing portions and their respective opposed plate-like portions for receiving the fastener elements of the respective fasteners, said plate-like members being spaced from one another and integrally connected together by a web-like portion substantially diamond-shape in cross section, the marginal edge portions of said sealing members being disposed between said plate-like portions to either side of said web-like portion, said web-like portion adapted to be disposed in the oval-shape space between the leg portions of the fork-like member when the slider is moved to its fully closed position at that end of said opening whereby the marginal edge portions of said sealing members are held tightly together and around said web-like portion so as to prevent leakage through the opening at that end thereof.

2. A closure for opposed edges of a slotted opening, as dened in claim 1, including a resilient member having portions extending to the outer sides of the marginal edge portions of the sealing members and the outer sides of leg portions of the fork-like member for aiding in forcing the leg portions of said fork-like member and the opposed abutting edge portions of the sealing members together.

3. A closure for the opposed edges of a slotted opening, as defined in claim 2, wherein the resilient member having portions extending to the outer sides of the marginal edge portions of the sealing members and the outer sides of the leg portions of the fork-like member consists of a pair of substantially U-shaped members with one arranged on either side of the closure directly opposite each other, the ends of the leg portions of said U-shaped members being attached to one another by rivet-like members extending through the sealing members, the fastener stringers and the ends of said leg portions.

4. A closure for the opposed edges of a slotted opening, as dened in claim 1, including means arranged along the marginal edge portions of the sealing members at the opposite end of the opening for maintaining securely the opposed marginal edge portions of said sealing members in abutting relation at all times.

5. A closure for the opposed edges of a slotted opening comprising a pair of slide fasteners having a series of spaced-apart interlocking fastener elements larranged along the opposed edges of the stringers thereof, a longitudinally extending sealing member of a resilient material arranged between said fasteners and which are securely attached to the stringers thereof, each of said sealing members having an enlarged marginal edge portion which portions are adapted to abut one another when the fasteners are closed, a resilient fork-like member arranged at the closing end of said opening having leg portions arranged in side-byside relation and which are embedded in the marginal edge portions of the sealing members adjacent the end of the opening and which are adapted to hold the opposed marginal edges in abutting relation, said leg portions being formed intermediate the length thereof so as to provide substantially an oval-shaped space therebetween, a slider arranged on said fastener elements for engaging and disengaging the same, said slider comprising a pair of spaced-apart wing portions which are disposed on the outer sides of the fastener elements of each of said slide fasteners, a plate-like portion spaced inwardly of each of said wing portions and integrally connected to their respective wing portions by a neck portion so as to provide substantially a Y-shaped channel between each of said wing portions and their respective opposed platelike portions for receiving the fastener elements of the respective fasteners, said plate-like members being spaced from one another and integrally connected together by a web-like portion substantially diamond-shape in cross section, the marginal edge portions of said sealing members being disposed between said plate-like portions to either side of said web-like portion, said web-like portion adapted to be disposed in the oval-shape space between the leg portions of the fork-like member when the slider is moved to its fully closed position at that end of said opening whereby the marginal edge portions of said sealing members are held tightly together and around said web-like portion so as to prevent leakage through the opening at that end thereof, and a resilient member having portions extending to the outer sides of the marginal edge portions of said sealing members and the outer sides of the leg portions of said fork-like member for aiding in forcing the leg portions of said fork-like member and the opposed abutting edge portions of said sealing members together.

6. A closure for the opposed edges of a. slotted opening, as defined in claim 5, wherein the resilient member having portions extending to the outer sides of the marginal edge portions of the sealing members and the outer sides of the leg portions of the fork-like member consists of :a pair of substantially U-shaped members with one arranged on either side of the closure directly opposite each other, the ends of the leg portions of said U-shaped members being attached to one another by rivet-like members extending through the sealing members, the fastener stringers and the ends of' said leg portions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,734,434 Hutchins Nov. 5, 1929 2,321,926 Marinsky June 15, 1943 2,347,583 Vartabedian Apr. 25, 1944 2,454,214 Sapp Nov. 16, 1948 2,494,249 Krupp Ian. 10, 1950 2,496,878 Krupp Feb. 7, 1950 2,521,174 Krupp Sept. 5, 1950 2,535,391 Clarke Dec. 26, 1950 2,641,037 Gossner June 9, 1953 2,753,609 Gossner July 10, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 557,418 Great Britain Nov. 19, 1943 650,599 Great Britain Feb. 28, 1951

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