US3325869A

US3325869A - Magnetized zipper pull tab

Info

Publication number: US3325869A
Application number: US506970A
Authority: US
Inventors: Franklin F Younger
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1965-11-09
Filing date: 1965-11-09
Publication date: 1967-06-20
Anticipated expiration: 1984-06-20

Description

June 20, 1967 F. F. YOUNGER I MAGNETIZED ZIPPER PULL TAB Filed NOV- 9, 1965 a o Eij m o 'INVENTOR FRANKLIN F. YOUNGER ATTORNEYS United States Patent Ofiice 3,325,869 Patented June 20, 1967 3,325,869 MAGNETIZED ZIPEER PULL TAB Franklin F. Younger, 439 N. Main St.,

Linton, Ind. 47441 Filed Nov. 9, 1965, Ser. No. 506,970 3 Claims. (Cl. 24-20511) The present application concerns a magnetized pull tab for zippers, particularly a pull tab which may lock the zipper in closed position by attraction to magnetic elements attached to opposed sides of a garment opening.

Numerous previous inventors have attempted to devise magnetic closures for jewelry and garments. Several have attempted to devise magnetic zipper closure elements. However, none have devised a positive lock for closure of zippers in garments, particularly ladies dresses. Accordingly, the present invention is utilizable with a conventional zipper closure in order to positively lock the zipper in closed position. Magnetized elements are attached to the opposed sides of a garment opening at the top of a conventional zipper and are complementally configured to engage indentations or dimples in the zipper pull tab. As a result, there is a positive magnetic locking and a male-female engagement of the pull tab dimples and the magnets themselves.

Accordingly, it is an object of invention to provide a positive lock for zipper closure elements.

Another object of invention is to provide a zipper closure element having both magnetic and mechanical locking features.

Additional objects of invention will become apparent from the ensuing specification and attached drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation, partially fragmentary, showing the zipper pull tab 16 pivotally attached to a zipper 'slidable closure 12 and secured in locking position;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the

locking magnets

26 and 28 and the pull tab;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken through the pull tab showing the complemental engagement of the pull tab dimples with the locking magnets; and

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective of a modification of invention where rectangular magnets, instead of annuli, are utilized to engage corresponding rectangular dimples in the pull tab.

In FIG. 1 a garment is fragmentarily illustrated as comprising opposed sides and 32 secured to each other by a conventional zipper 14. Slidable closure 12 has been utilized to close the opposed garment opening sides and has pivoted thereto metallic pull tab 16. Zipper closure loop or bracket 34 extends through aperture 24 in the vertically aligned pull tab base 16. The pull tab top 18 is comprised of laterally extending

arms

36 and 38, each including a dimple or

inset portion

20 and 22. At the top of the opposed zipper sides

magnetic elements

26 and 28, each configured as an annulus may be secured to the garment fabric by means of glue 42 or the like. Alternatively, the magnetic elements may be sewn upon the garment opening sides. As shown in FIG. 3, dimples 20 and 22 include an inset or convex portion which precisely engages the center of the

annuli

26 and 28. Therefore, there is a positive locking of the zipper, not only by means of the magnetic attraction of the laterally extending

arms

36 and 38 to the

annuli

26 and 28, but also due to the frictional or snap engagement of convex portion 40 within the annulus.

In the modification illustrated in FIG. 4, the magnets are configured as rectangles, so as to engage corresponding rectangular

pull tab dimples

20 and 22. According to this modification, magnets 26 and 28' are aligned with the garment opening sides so as to engage each other, as Well as pull tab arms 36' and 38' when the zipper is closed. Magnets 26' and 28, according to this modification, would have to be secured to the garment in opposed north-south relationship, so as to be attracted to each other. According to this arrangement, there is a triple locking effect, namely, the attraction of magnets 26' and 28' to each other and to pull tab top portion 18', as well as the locking engagement of rectangular dimples 20' and 22 with magnets 26 and 28' in rectangular configuration.

Manifestly, the zipper may be applied to all types of zipper closures Without limitation to garments and the pull tab, as well as the magnetic elements, may be variously configured without departing from the spirit and scope of invention, as defined in the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. A zipper pull tab of the type used with a conventional zipper attached to opposed sides of a garment opening and having a slidable closure element, comprising:

(a) a T-shaped metallic body, including:

(i) a vertically aligned base portion pivoted to said slidable closure,

(ii) a pair of laterally extending top arms each including a dimpled portion; and

(b) magnets attached to opposed garment opening sides so as to attract said metallic body and complementally configured to engage said dimpled portion of said laterally extending arms.

2. A zipper pull tab as in claim 1, wherein each of said magnets is configured as an annulus and inset with respect to the opposed garment opening sides.

3. A zipper pull tab as in claim 1, wherein said dimpled portion is of rectangular configuration and each of said magnets is:

(i) configured as a rectangle;

(ii) aligned with the opposed garment opening sides,

and

(iii) positioned north and south so as to be attracted to each other, while being attracted to said pull tab and complementally engaging the rectangular dimpled portion on said pull tab.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,271,832 9/1966 Yankers 24205.11

FOREIGN PATENTS 999,770 2/ 1952 France. 1,187,838 2/1965 Germany.

BERNARD A. GELAK, Primary Examiner.

Claims

1. A ZIPPER PULL TAB OF THE TYPE USED WITH A CONVENTIONAL ZIPPER ATTACHED TO OPPOSED SIDES OF A GARMENT OPENING AND HAVING A SLIDABLE CLOSURE ELEMENT, COMPRISING: (A) A T-SHAPED METALLIC BODY, INCLUDING: (I) A VERTICALLY ALIGNED BASE PORTION PIVOTED TO SAID SLIDABLE CLOSURE, (II) A PAIR OF LATERALLY EXTENDING TOP ARMS EACH INCLUDING A DIMPLED PORTION; AND (B) MAGNETS ATTACHED TO OPPOSED GARMENT OPENING SIDES SO AS TO ATTRACT SAID METALLIC BODY AND COMPLEMENTALLY CONFIGURED TO ENGAGE SAID DIMPLED PORTION OF SAID LATERALLY EXTENDING ARMS.