EP1460911B1 - Water-tight zipper - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a water-tight zipper, whereby the zipper comprises rows of teeth (2, 2') which may be brought to engage with each other, arranged on zipper strips (1, 1'). The teeth comprise pairs of engaging elements and an engaging element is arranged both above and below the plane of the zipper strip, for hooking to a corresponding engaging element on the opposing row of teeth. Sealing lips (27) run between the pairs of engaging elements along the front edge of the zipper strips in the plane thereof. The sealing lips (27) on both rows of teeth (2, 2') lie sealed against each other when the zipper is closed. A zipper slider (3) is provided which may be run along the rows of teeth (2, 2') between an end stop (5) in the open position and a dock (4) in the closed position of the zipper. The slider (3) has a wedge (10) for opening the rows of teeth (2, 2'), flanks for closing the rows of teeth and an upper and a lower plate (7, 8), between which the rows of teeth (2, 2') run. The wedge (10) connects both plates (7, 8) together and the flanks are arranged on the upper and/or lower plate (7, 8). The dock (4) is provided with sealing means for the slider (3) and said dock (4) comprises at least partly of extended sealing lips and seals in the shape of a horseshoe, surrounding a wedge region of the dock (4), moulded above and below the above and on the front region of the zipper strips.

Description

The present invention relates to a waterproof zipper having the features of the preamble of claim 1.

Zippers, also sealing with slide are known. They are threaded to close or are sewn on one or both sides, the slider is constantly connected to the zipper halves. To close, the slider must be pulled along the two zipper halves, with two outer flanks, the teeth of the zipper engaged with each other. To open the slider must be guided along the zipper and separates with its central, wedge-shaped heart teeth. By molded sealing elements has been tried many times to produce waterproof zippers.

From the WO 98/18359 is a waterproof zipper known, consisting of two zipper halves, which are encapsulated with a thermoplastic elastomer, which rests in each case as a profile-like coating on the abutting edges of the zipper tapes, the profile-like coatings sealingly abut each other with the zipper closed. The zipper has a port for the slider, which is formed as a circumferential bead around a heart area. The harbor is provided with seals and has a transition to the coating profile of the zipper, which is designed with an oversize, so that the flanks of the zipper exert a greater lateral pressure to seal the port.

The EP-A-0 900 532 and the US-A-2,910,754 show zippers in which the teeth are present as a pair of engagement elements, which are respectively arranged below and above the zipper belts and which are interconnected by holes in the bands. Between the engagement elements extend along the zipper tapes sealing lips or sealing elements.

In the US-A-4524493 For example, a zipper is proposed in which the gasket is achieved by starting against a Y-shaped sealing element and corresponding clamps which are heavy and unsafe to close and open. Also in the closest EP-A-522 366 a waterproof zipper is described, which has elements on a housing of a zipper slider, between which a sealing element is clamped in the closed state. This requires a large bias, or is very power consuming when closing and opening and therefore it often comes to incorrect positions of the slide when closing and associated leaks.

Object of the present invention is to provide a sealing zipper, in particular by a particularly simple means a watertight closure is ensured.

This object is achieved with the features of the characterizing part of claim 1. Training and advantageous embodiments of the invention are included in the further claims.

According to the invention, there is a waterproof zipper, wherein the zipper consists of mutually engageable, arranged on zipper bands rows of teeth, wherein the teeth consist of pairs of engagement elements and respectively above and below the plane of the zipper tapes an engagement member is arranged for entanglement with a corresponding engagement member of the opposite row of teeth, wherein extending between the pairs of engagement elements along the leading edge of the zipper tapes in the plane lying sealing lips, wherein with the zipper closed, the sealing lips of both rows of teeth sealingly abut each other, wherein a zipper slider is present which is displaceable along the row of teeth between an open position stop and a port in the closed position of the zipper, the slider having a heart for opening the row of teeth, edges for closing the rows of teeth, and a lower and upper plate between which the Rows of teeth are guided, wherein the heart connects both plates together and the flanks are arranged on the upper and / or lower plate and wherein the port with sealing means for the slider provided is characterized in that the harbor consists at least partially of elongated sealing lips, as well as from above and below this and the front region of the zipper tapes molded horseshoe-shaped, a heart region of the harbor enclosing seals exists.

The sealing lips form with the seals in the heart area of the port sealing planes for the heart of the slider. The seals are flush in the sealing plane with the sealing lips or have a protrusion of up to 0.5 mm on this. The legs of the port each directly connect to the last tooth of the associated zipper tape, wherein one leg is extended according to the distance of the teeth relative to the other leg.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the longer leg has an essentially positive recess for the opposing teeth.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the seals on their upper sides around the heart area of the port circumferential raised sealing lips for engagement with the plates.

Preferably, the plates of the slide in the closing direction have flaring run-on slopes and the seals or their sealing lips are thickened according to these chamfers at their end.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the zipper tapes are connected in the harbor area at least at its end with a welded-on tissue or a welded-on film, wherein at least a part of the connecting region of the horseshoe-shaped seals is welded onto this fabric or or this film. Preferably, here the filaments of the fabric are air impermeable or airtight coated and the fabric should contain at least a proportion of monofilaments.

According to another embodiment of the invention, at least a few teeth of the zipper tapes run into the heart area of the harbor, preferably being reduced in volume with respect to the remaining teeth, the decrease in volume being increasingly towards the end of the harbor.

The sealing lips are formed on the zipper tapes or form the front edge thereof. Preferably, the engagement elements of a respective toothed tooth are connected to one another by the associated zipper tape, wherein the zipper tapes have holes for this purpose. Preferably, the teeth are plastic injection molded parts and the zipper tapes are fabric strips coated with a plastic material.

• Fig. 1 eine Draufsicht auf einen Reißverschluss;
• Fig. 2 eine Draufsicht, teilweise mit Ausbruch, einer ersten Ausführungsform eines Reißverschlusses (ohne Schieber dargestellt);
• Fig. 3 eine erste Ausführung eines Schiebers;
• Fig. 4 eine zweite Ausführung eines Schiebers;
• Fig. 5 eine vergrößerte Darstellung des Hafenbereichs einer zweiten Ausführung;
• Fig. 6 Zähnchen mit Eingriffselementen.

In the following, the present invention will be described by way of example with reference to drawings. Showing:

• Fig. 1 a plan view of a zipper;
• Fig. 2 a plan view, partially with breakout, a first embodiment of a zipper (shown without slider);
• Fig. 3 a first embodiment of a slider;
• Fig. 4 a second embodiment of a slider;
• Fig. 5 an enlarged view of the harbor area of a second embodiment;
• Fig. 6 Teeth with engaging elements.

Fig. 1 shows a zipper from two zipper tapes 1, 1 ', which are provided with rows of teeth 2, 2', which engage with each other. The teeth have here inen rectangular footboard, to which the actual engagement part, consisting of a round-sided indentation and a round head connects. The zipper has a slider 3 which is sealingly enclosed in a port 4 in the closed position shown here. At the end of the zipper opposite the port 4 there is an end stop 5 against which the slider 3 rests when the zipper is fully open. The zipper tapes are made of or are coated with a weldable material. Behind the port 4 and partly below and behind the end stop 5 are strips of a weldable fabric or foil. End stop 5 and port 4 are on the zipper tapes 1, 1 ', Bzw. Strip 6, 6 'molded.

Fig. 2 shows a first embodiment of the invention in which low-volume teething 15 enter the port 14, which is injection-molded as a horseshoe-shaped seal at the top and bottom of the zipper tapes 1, 1 'and enclosing a heart area 17. Since the port 4 widens from the zipper, it can be seen that the reduced-diameter teeth lie with their outer ends 16 outside the row of teeth 2 and thus provide pressure points for the flanks 9 of the slider. In this way, a lateral, sealing pressure is applied to the beginning of the port. On the port is further an increased sealing lip 13 is provided which sealingly abuts the respective (upper or lower) plate of the slider. Here, only the top of the zipper with the port is shown, however, the bottom is identical. The teeth consist of paired engagement elements 25, 25 '( Fig. 6 ), which are respectively arranged above and below the zipper tape 1. The engagement elements 25, 25 'are one-piece plastic injection-molded parts with a connecting web 26 (FIG. Fig. 6 ) passing through holes 12 ( Fig. 2 ) of the zipper tape is guided. The leading edge of the zipper tapes is dimensioned and constructed to form a sealing lip 27 ( Fig. 6 ), which, when the zipper is closed, bears under tension on the sealing lip of the other zipper tape.

Fig. 3 shows an embodiment of a slider 3, consisting of an upper plate 8 and a lower plate 7, which are connected by the slider heart 10, which serves to open the zipper. In this embodiment, the slider heart 10 has a sealing bead 11 for sealing engagement in the harbor. The flanks 9, which serve to close the zipper, are arranged at the bottom on the outer sides of the upper plate 8. Fig. 4 shows another embodiment of a slider, which is specially designed for teeth with paired engagement elements and therefore both on the lower plate 7, as well as on the upper plate 8 upwardly, or bottomed flanks 9 ', 9 has. The heart 10 is executed here without sealing bead. To the front, the slide on the upper and the lower plate 8, 7 each have a run-on slope a for easier closing, the port is then designed according to the run-up slope thickened.

Fig. 5 Finally shows a second embodiment, in which no teeth in the harbor area run in. The port 24 is here also horseshoe-shaped executed by two below and on top of the (here open) zipper tapes 1, 1 'molded seals. The sealing lips, which extend along the row of teeth 2, 2 'and are formed by the front edges of the zipper bands or molded onto these, (see Fig. 6 ) are extended into the heart area of the port 4, whereby the two molded seals are molded from above and below on these extensions. The legs 20, 21 of the horseshoe-shaped seals can be flush with the extended sealing lips, or, as shown here, have a protrusion over this of 0 - 0.5 mm. The legs 20, 21 directly adjoin the respective last teeth 2 ", 2"'of the associated zipper tape. In this case, the longer leg 20 has a recess 23 for the front end of the opposing tooth 2 ", so that it can be received in a form-fitting manner during closing. At the outer end of the zipper, ie behind the port 24 and partially below it is on the zipper tapes from below and above each applied a strip 6 of a waterproof fabric or a film. The seals are molded with their rear end on these strips 6 and the extensions of the sealing lips may be performed, for example, up to the beginning of the strip 6. The seals have on their surfaces elevated circumferential sealing lips 19 for the plates of the slider. These sealing lips 19 run along the edge of the heart region 17 of the port.

Claims (15)

1. Water-tight zip, wherein the zip comprises rows of teeth (2, 2') which can be brought into closing engagement with one another and are arranged on zip bands (1, 1'), wherein the teeth comprise pairs of engagement elements and, in each case above and beneath the plane of the zip bands, an engagement element is provided for the purpose of hooking to a corresponding engagement element of the opposite row of teeth, wherein sealing lips (27), located along the front edge of the zip bands, in the plane thereof, extend between the pairs of engagement elements, wherein, with the zip closed, the sealing lips of the two rows of teeth butt with sealing action against one another, wherein there is a zip slide (3) present which can be displaced along the rows of teeth between an end stop (5) in the open position, and a dock (4) in the closed position, of the zip, wherein the slide (3) has a heart component (10) for opening the rows of teeth, flanks (9, 9') for closing the rows of teeth, and a lower plate (7) and an upper plate (8), between which the rows of teeth are guided, wherein the heart component connects the two plates to one another and the flanks are arranged on the upper plate and/or lower plate, and wherein the dock is provided with sealing means for the slide,
   characterized
   in that the dock (4, 24) comprises, at least in part, lengthened sealing lips (27) and horseshoe-shaped seals which are moulded, from above and below, on these sealing lips and the front region of the zip bands and enclose a heart-component region (17) of the dock, wherein these seals have elevated sealing lips (13, 19) which run, on their upper sides, around the heart-component region of the dock and are intended for butting against the plates of the slide, wherein the plates (7, 8) of the slide have run-on slopes (a) which widen in the closure direction, and the seals, or the sealing lips thereof, are thickened at their end in a manner corresponding to this run-on slope.
2. Water-tight zip according to Claim 1,
   characterized
   in that the sealing lips (27) and the seals in the heart-component region (17) of the dock form sealing planes for the heart component (10) of the slide.
3. Water-tight zip according to Claim 1 or 2,
   characterized
   in that the seals in the sealing plane are flush with the sealing lips or project beyond the same by up to 0.5 mm.
4. Water-tight zip according to Claim 1, 2 or 3,
   characterized
   in that the limbs (20, 21) of the dock each immediately follow the final tooth (2", 2"') of the associated zip band,
   wherein one limb (20) is lengthened in relation to the other limb (21) in accordance with the spacing between the teeth.
5. Water-tight zip according to Claim 4,
   characterized
   in that the longer limb (20) has an essentially form-fitting recess (23) for the opposite tooth (2"), and the shorter limb (21) has a convexity (22) for form-fitting abutment against the adjacent tooth (2").
6. Water-tight zip according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized
   in that the zip bands in the dock region, at least at the end thereof, are connected to strips (6, 6') of a welded-on woven fabric or of a welded-on sheet material,
   wherein at least part of the connection region of the horseshoe-shaped seals is welded onto this woven fabric or this sheet material.
7. Water-tight zip according to Claim 6,
   characterized
   in that the filaments of the woven fabric are configured to be air-impermeable or are coated in an air-tight manner.
8. Water-tight zip according to Claim 7,
   characterized
   in that the woven fabric contains monofilaments.
9. Water-tight zip according to Claim 1, 2 or 3,
   characterized
   in that at least some teeth (15) run into the heart-component region (13) of the dock (4).
10. Water-tight zip according to Claim 9,
    characterized
    in that the teeth which run into the dock are of reduced volume in relation to the rest of the teeth.
11. Water-tight zip according to Claim 10
    characterized
    in that the reduction in volume increases in the direction of the end of the dock.
12. Water-tight zip according to one of the preceding claims,
    characterized
    in that the sealing lips (27) are formed on the zip bands (1, 1'), or form the front edge thereof.
13. Water-tight zip according to one of the preceding claims,
    characterized
    in that the engagement elements of a respective tooth are connected to one another by the associated zip band.
14. Water-tight zip according to one of the preceding claims,
    characterized
    in that the teeth are plastics-material injection mouldings.
15. Water-tight zip according to one of the preceding claims,
    characterized
    in that the zip bands are woven-fabric bands coated with a plastics material.

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