Zipper attachment device

• US 5,136,758 A
• Filed: 06/25/1990
• Issued: 08/11/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: James J. Wilcox, Richard D. Mcfadden, Robert L. Tuchman
• Original Assignee: James J. Wilcox, Richard D. Mcfadden, Robert L. Tuchman
• Inventors: Wilcox, James J., McFadden, Richard D., Tuchman, Robert L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sakran, Victor N.
• Application Number:
  US07/542,890
• Time in Patent Office: 778 Days
• Field of Search: 24/431, 24/429, 24/437, 24/419, 24/16 PB, 24/17 AP, 24/30.5 P, 24/11 S, 24/49 S
• US Class Current: 24/431
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 19/262 Pull members; Ornamental attachments for sliders
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/1498 Plastic band
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/1986 Slider
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/199 Ornamental
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/2586 including pull tab attaching means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/2589 with ornamental slider

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a device that suspends decorative designs, logos or jewelry from zipper apertures. The device consists of a band that has ridges along its surface and a slide that is adjustable along the band. The slide has attachment means for selectively engaging the ridges of the band, thus locking the slide into place. The band is placed through a zipper aperture, until a stop at the end of the band comes to rest against the aperture. The resulting portion of the band being suspended from the zipper aperture may be passed through the slide, and the slide may then be arbitrarily locked into position by the attachment means. The slide contains a decorative design that can be either two or three dimensional. The suspended slide can be easily unlocked from the band and readjusted or removed without harming the band or the slide. Once removed, the decorative design-containing slide can be replaced with any other slide with other designs. When a decorative design slide is attached to the band, the band is secured to the zipper aperture by the band stop on one side of the aperture and the decorative design slide on the other. The suspended design slide may optionally be used to functionally assist the operation of the zipper by pulling on the suspended design rather than on the zipper itself.

Claims

1. A device for suspending objects from small apertures, which comprises, in combination:

(a) a band having at least two side surfaces, a top end and a bottom end, with at least one side of said two side surfaces having a plurality of ridges formed thereon, and said top end terminating in an enlarged stop unable to pass through said small aperture;

(b) a slide having a front surface and a back surface, said back surface having a plurality of yokes linearly aligned thereon, for the passage of said bottom end of said band therethrough, and at least one tension member positioned between any two said aligned yokes, said tension member engaging said band as said band transgresses the length between said adjacent yokes, the contact of said band with said plurality of yokes and said tension member inhibiting the movement of said slide along said band; and

(c) a formed object of aesthetic value being permanently affixed to said front surfaces of said slide.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the engagement of said band with said tension member, as said band trangresses the length between two said yokes, causes said tension member to elastically deform from its normal orientation, said tension member thus being spring biased against said band, stressing said band between said yokes and inhibiting the movement of said slide along said band.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein said tension member has a plurality of protrusions formed thereon, said protrusions positively engaging said ridges formed on said band, preventing the linear movement of said band in relation to said slide.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein said tension member terminates at one end with a formed finger press, the downward application of force to said press by a user causing said tension member protrusion to disengage said ridges on said band, allowing said band to move linearly through said slide.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein said slide with said plurality of yokes and said tension member are unistructurally formed from the same material.

6. A device for suspending objects from small apertures, which comprises in combination:

(a) a band having at least two side surfaces, a top end and a bottom end, with at least one side of said two side surfaces having a plurality of ridges formed thereon, and said top end terminating in an enlarged stop unable to pass through said small aperture;

(b) a slide having a front surface and a back surface, said back surface having an attachment means thereon, said attachment means having an orifice formed therethrough for the passage of said band, wherein said orifice has an elastic ratchet pawl extending downwardly therein, said elastic pawl having at least one angled stop protruding downwardly therfrom, the passage of said band into said orifice causing said ratchet pawl to elastically deform from its instressed orientation, the deformation of said ratchet pawl causing said ratchet pawl to be spring biased against said angled stop to engage said ridges formed on said band, inhibiting said band to move independently of said slide; and

(c) a formed object of aesthetic value being permanently affixed to said front surface of said slide.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein one end of said elastic pawl ratchet extends through said orifice, allowing said elastic pawl ratchet to be manually deformed by a user to a point where said elastic pawl ratchet no longer engages said band.

8. The device of claim 6 wherein said elastic pawl has two angled stops protruding downwardly therefrom, each said angled stop engaging said ridges formed on said band, inhibiting the movement of said slide along said band in any direction.