US2867880A - Slider pull - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 13, 1959 AOIHANLON 2,867,880

SLIDER PULL Filed Jan. 20', 1955 INVENTOR Aow g BY m was ATTORNEYS United States Patent "()fifice- SLIDER PULL Elsa A. OHanlon, Pacific, M0. Application January 20, 1955, Serial No. 483,056 2 Claims. (Cl. 24--205.15)

This invention relates broadly to means for facilitating the actuation of hookless fasteners and in its more specific aspects it relates to a device whereby hookless fasteners which are applied in relatively inaccessible areas of garments may be readily actuated to opened and closed positions by the wearer of the garment; and the nature and objects of the invention Will be readily recognized and understood by those skilled in the arts to which it relates in the light of the following explanation and detailed description of the accompanying drawings illustrating what I at present believe to be the preferred embodiments or mechanical expressions of my invention from among various other forms, arrangements, combinations and constructions, of which the invention is capable within the spirit and scope thereof.

Many garments, particularly womens wearing apparel and swimming suits, are provided with openings in the back which are usually closed by means of a hookless fastener of the conventional zipper type. It is often very difficult and sometimes impossible for the wearer of the garment to reach around her body to the back thereof in order to grasp and actuate the relatively short tab by which the hookless fastener is operated. In many instances the wearer of the garment is forced to have someone else actuate the hookless fastener in order to either open or close the garment so that it may be put on or removed from the wearer thereof.

It has been my intention in devising this slider pull to provide a simple device which may be economically produced and readily attached to a hookless fastener tab and detached therefrom, whereby the wearer of a garment having an opening therein which is controlled by a hookless fastener may attach the device to the tab of the hookless fastener so that the latter may be either opened or closed. By using the device which I have devised the wearer of the garment is not subjected to the diflicult stretching routines which were formerly necessary in order to actuate the tabs of hookless fasteners and the device has been so designed and constructed that there is no danger of damage to the garment or under garments or to the skin of the wearer upon the opening or closing movements of the tab of the hookless fastener.

I am aware that means have heretofore been devised for facilitating the operation of the tabs of hookless fasteners by the wearer of a garment when the hookless fastener is applied thereto in difiicult areas to reach. However, I have discovered that such prior art devices are not entirely satisfactory and in many instances do not function in a smooth and easy manner.

Certain of the prior art devices of which I now have knowledge provide a hook device fastened to the end of a strap or cord, the hook device being coupled to the strap or cord by means of a flat platelike buckle or the like; the hook, of course, is designed to be hooked into I the eye or opening which is provided in the tab of the hookless fastener. In operation the strap may extend over the shoulder of the wearer of the garment so that the end may be pulled downwardly to move the slider of the hookless fastener upwardly along the stringers to close the same. When it is desired to open the hookless fastener, a downward pull is applied to the strap without the strap passing over the shoulder. a

The slider pulls which have heretofore been developed provide no means for maintaining the book which is attached to the tab of the fastener outwardly spaced from the garment and the stringers of the hookless fastener, instead the hook and the tab in these prior art devices assume a more or less parallel position with respect to the stringers and in operation remain close thereto and to the garment. It will thus be apparent that in the actuation of the hookless fastener in devices of the type now being discussed there is constant danger of the hook damaging the garment which is being opened or closed and also the possibility of scratching theskin of the wearer exists. A further objection to these known devices is that unless the tab of the hookless, fastener is maintained in more or less perpendicular relation with respect to the stringers, the slider is liable to become locked so that the opening or closing operation cannot be completed. This is particularly true when the hookless fastener is being opened so that a downward pull is exerted on the tab and consequently on the slider.

It is a well-known fact that conventional hookless fasteners sometimes become jam-med and cannot be operated. This jamming may be caused by translation of the slider of the fastener along the stringers when the stringers are not in proper positions relative to each other and to the slider. It will be recognized that in the use of a slider pull of the type which involves a hook on the end of a strap or cord for opening or closing hookless fasteners which are in more or less inaccessible positions that the forces or pull on the tab and the slider will not in most instances be parallel with the axis of the sliders, instead there will be lateral forces applied which in the devices of which I am now aware are likely to. misalign the slider and the stringers to thereby cause this highly undesirable jamming action.

The slider pull which I have devised has overcome the aforesaid and other objections which are inherent in prior art devices of this character. I have provided a slider pull which includes a strap or rope on one end of which is a hook which is adapted to be detachably connected with the conventional tab of a hookless fastener and the upward movement is imparted to the slider along .the stringers by means of the cord which is extended over the shoulder of the wearer of the garment who must only pull on the free end of the cord. To move the slider downward to open the fastener the cord is not extended over the shoulder. I have advanced beyond the prior art devices by providing a combination of elements on the end of the cord or strap which combination includes the aforementioned hook and also involves means operatively associated therewith which maintains the hook when it is operatively associated with the tab of the hookless fastener in position removed from the garment, the sliders and the skin of the wearer of the garment. Thus, by this unique combination I have eliminated the danger of the hook becoming entangled with either the garment, the slider, or of injuring the skin of the wearer.

The means wherebythe hook is maintained in such desirable position during the actuation of the slider of the hookless fastener also functions as a supporting element for the hook and the hook is retractably associated therewith so that it is adjustably mounted thereon for movement to and from position for application in the eye of the tab of the hookless fastener. This means 0r element to which the hook is connected also functions to maintain the tab in more or less perpendicular position relative to the slider of the hookless fastener and during Patented Jan. 13, 1959 y it'is also in' sliding engagement with the stringers of the hookless fastener so as to maintain such stringers in proper relative positions with respect to one another and with respect to the moving slider of the hookless, fastener.

' I have devised a slider pull in which those parts which.

come into contact with the garment are arcuate in configuration and, therefore, present completely smooth nontearing or snagging contact surfaces. 7

The hook which I employ is preferably formed of wire having a degree of flexibility and includes a shank of unique design which is mounted on a disc element which serves to properly position the-hook, tab and stringers as pointed out above. Since the hook is formed of flexible wire it is possible that under rough handling it would bjend into position where the garment might be damaged sults' in view, as well as certain others which will be ap-- parent from the following explanation, the invention con-- sists in certain novel features in design, construction, mounting and combination of elements, as will be more fully and particularly referred to and specified hereinafter.

Referring to the accompanying drawings:

j Fig. l is a view illustrating the slider pull of this invention in operative position attached to the tab of a hookless fastener which is incorporated in the back of a garment.

Fig. 2 is a view in perspective of the slider pull.

Fig. 3 is a detailed view in elevation of the slider pull in operative position attached to the tab of a zipper.

Fig. 4 is a view in vertical section illustrating the slider pull of this invention with the hook in projected position prepared for attachment to the tab of'a hookless fastener. f In the accompanying drawings I have used the numeral 1* to designate in its entirety a womans garment having the conventional hookless fastener or zipper arrangement;

designated generally by the numeral 3 secured adjacent to and to control an opening 5 up the back of the garment.

It will be recognized that hookless fastener controlled. openlngs which are provided in the backs of garments are 1n a pos1t1on which is difficult and often impossible for the wearer of the garment to reach in order to operate the zipper mechanism to either open or close the garment.

It is to alleviate this situation that I have devised this slider pull whereby the wearer of the garment may actuate the zipper to open and close the garment with the utmost facility.

The slider pull of this invention includes what I shall term amounting and controlling disc designated in its. entirety by the numeral 7. This controlling disc is rigid, of circular configuration and is formed to provide a smooth periphery 9, a body portion 11, and a downwardly depending peripheral rib or flange 13. The body 11 of the controlling disc 7 is provided with a pair of generally centrally disposed spaced apertures 15 for a purpose to be hereinafter described. The disc 7 is preferably formed of a plastic material, however it is within my contemplae t1on to construct this disc out of metal or any other material having inherent characteristics which provide an element having the necessary rigidity, weight and smooth periphery.

I provide a hook member designated in its, entirety by the numeral 17. The hook member is preferably con structed of copper or the like wire having the necessary degree of rigidity with the necessary flexibility so that.

will function in its mounted position with the disc 7 as w1ll be fully explained hereinafter. The wire-hook- 17 compnses a length of copper orthe lilke wire 1 Ch 6X.-

tends upwardly toward the disc 7, the length 19 provides What I' shall term the working nose of the hook. The" working nose 19 of the hook' 17 includes a shank which is preferably though not necessarily formed of three sections of wire, namely, an upper section 21, an intermediate section 23 angularly related to said upper section and a lower section 25 which is angularly related to said intermediate section as well as to the working nose. The purposes of the configuration of the shank will be explained hereinafter.

The hook 1'7 is integrally formed with a handle forming portion 27 which consists of a length of the copper or the like wire or other suitable material which is bent on itself or deformed into a loop to provide spaced handle sections 29 and 31, the handle sections are preferably bowed away from each other as is clearly illustrated in the drawings, and particularly in Fig. 4 thereof. It will be evident that the hook 17 and the handle 27 are formed of a single length of wire which is bent to provide the various parts which have just been enumerated. The hook and handle. are associated with the disc by extending the section 29 through one of the apertures 15 which are provided in the disc and also by extending the free end of, the section 31 through the other aperture and then bending said free end to provide an angularly related stop finger 33 which is bent so that it will engage against the under side of the body 11 of the disc 7 when the hook and handle sections are in retracted position relative to the mounting and controlling disc 7.

A cord or strap 35 is tied or otherwise secured to the handle loop as at 37 to extend from said handle in order to operate the slider pull. At its opposite end, the cordor strap 35 may be provided with a conventional handle pull or knob 39. It is desirable that the cord or strap 35 is preferably formed with a smooth exterior surface so that in the operation of the device it will not damage the garment at the shoulder portion thereof and will slide thereover with relative ease.

When it is desired to attach the slider pull in operative position on a conventional hookless fastener or zipper the user of the device merely has to grasp the two lengths 29 and 31 of the handle and push downwardly thereon toward the disc 7 so that the working nose 19 of the hook will be projected away from the disc into zipper attaching position as particularly illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings. Due to the bowed construction of the handle forming sections 29 and 31, as they are pushed a relatively short distance through the apertures 15 of the disc they will be forced closer together and will be under tension. With the hook in projected position as described, the working nose is in position for being inserted into the eye 41 of a conventional hookless fastener tab 43 which hingedly projects from the slider 45. of a hookless fastener. The slider 45 is adapted for translation along the stringers 47 of the hookless fastener in order to either open or close the stringers. It is desirable, though not necessary, that the slider pull be operatively attached as described to the tab of the hookless fastener prior to donning the garment. When the working nose 19 of the hook has been attached to thetab 43 as described, the user of the device may release her hold on the handle forming members 29 and 31, whereupon due to thebowed construction thereof they will spring back to thereby move the handle and the hook 17 into retracted position so that the free end of the working nose 19 of the hook will be in the position illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings. With the device attached to the tab of the zipper as described, the dress may be put on and the cord or strap 35 placed over the shoulder of the wearer of they garment whereupon by pulling on the knob 39, the tab 43 and slider 45 of the hookless fastener will be pulled upwardly along the stringers to close the fastener. In order to release the sliderpull from operative position associated with the tab of the hookless fastener it is.

only necessary to again grasp the sections 29 and 31 to push them a distance through the apertures to project the hook 17 away from the disc for its release from the eye of the tab. When it is desired to open the fastener for removal of the garment, the slider pull need only be attached as described to the tab of the hookless fastener and a downward pull is then imparted to the cord or strap 35 to move the slider along the stringers.

In the operation of the device, the periphery 9 of the disc 7 engages the stringers of the hookless fastener and tends to keep them in more or less aligned position so that the slider, as it moves therealong, will not become jammed. This smooth peripheral edge of the disc presents no projections or other configurations which might be damaging to the garment. Consideration particularly of Fig. 3 of the dawings will also indicate clearly that the working nose 19 of the hook is disposed radially inwardly with respect to the periphery of the disc so that the working nose of the hook cannot possibly come into contact with the garment, with the stringers or with the skin of the wearer. The advantages of such construction will be evident when it is recognized that the working nose 19 of the hook must be maintained in position removed from the garment and from the hookless fastener to prevent damage to the garment or skin and to prevent the hook from becoming engaged with the operating parts of the hookless fastener. It will also be recognized that when the device is being operated, the disc not only serves to maintain the hook removed from the fastener and the garment but also functions to maintain the tab 43 of the fastener in more or less perpendicular relation to the slider 45 so that there is no danger in this operation of the slider being locked against movement as would be the case if the tab was more or less parallel with the stringers and the slider when the device was operated. The angular construction of the sections of the shank of the hook aid the disc in maintaining the hook in more or less perpendicular relation relative to the stringers during the operation of the hookless fastener due to the fact that this unique construction provides three corners at the points of junction between the sections in which the eye of the tab will seat depending upon the particular angular position which the disc 7 may assume during the operation. It will be understood that lateral and other forces may be imparted to the device when it is operated by pulling the cord or strap and this angular construction of the shank of the hook provides these seats for the tab so that it will assume this perpendicular relationship regardless of the angular position of the disc. The upper angular section 21 of the shank of the hook is not only angularly related with respect to the intermediate shank section 23 but also with respect to the handle section 29 so that this handle section 29 will be restrained from being pulled upwardly through the aperture'an undue distance when the hook is in retracted position and the cord or strap is being pulled upon.

As I have explained above it is desirable that the hook and handle forming sections be made of a single length of wire which has a degree of flexibility. In order to eliminate the possibility of the working nose 19 of the hook and its associated shank portions from being unduly deformed under hard and rough usage so that the working nose might be extended into position where the garment or fastener or skin of the wearer might be damaged I have provided the downwardly depending flange 13 on the mounting and controlling disc. It will be clear that the end of the working nose will come into contact with this depending flange and be 6 stopped thereby from being extended radially outwardly beyond the periphery of the disc where it might cause the aforesaid damage.

It will noW be appreciated that I have devised a slider pull which is economical to produce and is durable under normal use conditions and which will function in a highly satisfactory and practical manner.

I claim:

1. A slider pull adapted to operate a hookless fastener, said slider pull including a hook adapted to be detachably connected to the tab of a slider of a hookless fastener, a handle for said hook, a rigid disc, said hook and handle being connected to said rigid disc and extending therethrough in substantially perpendicular relation with respect to the plan dimension of the disc, and the hook having a maximum width less than the diameter of the disc to thereby prevent the hook from coming into contact with parts of the hookless fastener other than the tab thereof, said hook and handle being adjustably connected to said disc for projection of the hook from the disc in position for its connection to the tab and retraction of the hook toward and adjacent the disc, said handle and said disc constantly biasing said hook into retracted position, and said handle adapted to be connected to a cord for grasping by the user of the slider pull to impart a pulling force on the hook to actuate the slider.

2. A slider pull adapted to operate a hookless fastener, said slider pull including a single length of pliable wire bent to form a hook and a handle therefor, said hook adapted to be detachably connected to a tab of a slider of a hookless fastener and said handle including a loop forming two sections of wire each bowed away from the other, a rigid disc having a pair of apertures therein spaced apart less than the maximum spacing of said two sections of wire and said two sections of wire extending through the apertures to cause the handle to extend from one face of the disc and the hook from the other face of the disc in substantially perpendicular relation with respect to the plan dimension of the disc, and the hook having a maximum width less than the diameter of the disc to thereby prevent the hook from coming into contact with the parts of the hookless fastener other than the tab thereof, said hook and handle being movable through the apertures to project the hook from the disc while deforming said two sections of wire from their normal bowed shape and said hook and handle being automatically retractable from projected position under the action of said two sections of wire assuming their normal bowed conditions, means on said two sections of wire for limiting the length of the retracting stroke, and said handle adapted to be connected to a cordfor grasping by the user of the slider pull to impart a pulling force on the hook to actuate the slider.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 160,643 Marbourg 1 Oct. 24, 1950 1,275,842 Callahan Aug. 13, 1918 1,826,564 Mix Oct. 6, 1931 1,925,816 Oster Sept. 5, 1933 2,531,805 Clark Nov. 28, 1950 2,604,242 Vahan July 22, 1952 2,663,588 Scheldorfer Dec. 22, 1953 2,672,230 Jetzke Mar. 16, 1954 2,708,805 Garvie May 24, 1955 2,811,763 Jordan Nov. 5, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,066,651 France June 9, 1954

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