Protective barrier for a zipper assembly

• US 9,545,158 B2
• Filed: 06/12/2012
• Issued: 01/17/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CleanBrands, LLC
• Original Assignee: CleanBrands, LLC
• Inventors: Goldberg, Gary
• Primary Examiner(s): Sandy, Robert J
• Assistant Examiner(s): San, Jason W
• Application Number:
  US13/494,250
• Publication Number:
  US 20120311785A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,680 Days
• Field of Search: 244/33, 244/36, 243/88, 244/03, 244/98, 243/89, 569/9, 573/8, 549/9, 550/1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 31/007 Anti-mite, anti-allergen or anti-bacterial means
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 31/105 for mattresses
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 2009/001 Anti-allergen; Anti-mite
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 9/0253 Pillow slips
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/2514 with distinct member for sealing surfaces

Abstract

Protective assemblies for zippers described may include a protective barrier for preventing migration of particles and/or organisms between opposite surfaces of the barrier. When a zipper assembly is brought to a closed position, a zipper slider may form a connection with the barrier resulting in an obstruction to block infiltration of small particles or organisms (e.g., bed bugs, allergens, dust mites, small particles, etc.). The barrier may be attached to an article, such as a padded material for use with a bedding/furniture cover. In some embodiments, a cover may be implemented to enclose a portion of the zipper slider. The barrier may include one or more padding materials for preventing migration of small particles or organisms past obstructions formed by the padding material(s).

Claims

1. A barrier comprising:

a base attachable to the surface of an article that includes a zipper with zipper tracks and a zipper slider that cooperates with the zipper tracks to open and close the zipper, the base having a slider connecting region configured to receive the zipper slider;

a cover attached to the base and movable from an open position to receive the zipper slider in the slider connecting region, to a closed position to enclose the zipper slider received in the slider connection region; and

a slider padding located on the base and extending across the slider connecting region from a first side of the base to a second side of the base, the first side of the base to be located on a first side of the zipper tracks and the second side of the base to be located on a second side of the zipper tracks when the base is attached to the surface of the article, the slider padding to extend across and overlie a portion of the zipper tracks at the slider connecting region, the slider padding constructed and arranged to engage with the zipper slider and to form an obstruction that prevents migration of particles or organisms past a portion of the barrier when the cover is in the open position and the zipper slider is received in the slider connecting region, wherein a material of the slider padding is softer than a material of the base.

2. The barrier of claim 1, wherein the slider connecting region comprises at least one detent constructed to provide mechanical resistance to the zipper slider.

3. The barrier of claim 1, wherein the slider connecting region comprises a recess constructed to receive the zipper slider.

4. The barrier of claim 1, further comprising an upper padding located on and moveable with the cover and constructed and arranged to abut the zipper slider upon enclosing the zipper slider with the cover in the closed position.

5. The barrier of claim 1, wherein the receiving region and/or the cover is configured to provide a notification that the obstruction is formed.

6. The barrier of claim 5, wherein the notification comprises a visible notification.

7. The barrier of claim 1, wherein a portion of the slider connecting region is constructed to form an interference fit with the zipper slider.

8. The barrier of claim 1, wherein the obstruction prevents migration of particles or organisms less than 10 microns in size past the portion of the barrier.

17. The barrier of claim 1, further comprising a zipper tab retainer located on the base and constructed and arranged to receive at least a portion of a zipper tab and secure the zipper tab to the base, the zipper tab attached to and extending from the zipper slider.

18. The barrier of claim 17, wherein the zipper tab retainer includes a post constructed and arranged to engage an opening of the zipper tab.

9. A protective assembly, comprising:

an article having a surface;

a pair of zipper tracks including a first plurality of teeth engageable with a second plurality of teeth, the pair of zipper tracks attached to the article;

a zipper slider cooperating with the pair of zipper tracks to manipulate the pair of zipper tracks between an open position and a closed position, the zipper slider having a first height; and

a barrier including a base attached to and more rigid than the surface of the article, the base having a slider connecting region constructed and arranged to receive the zipper slider when the zipper tracks are in the closed position and to obstruct migration of particles or organisms past a portion of the barrier, the slider connecting region including first and second side surfaces located along opposing sides of the zipper track, the first and second side surfaces having a second height that is greater than the first height of the zipper slider so that the first and second side surfaces extend above the zipper slider when the zipper slider is received in the slider connecting region, and the barrier including a cover attached to the base and moveable from an open position to receive the zipper slider in the slider connecting region, to a closed position to enclose the zipper slider received in the slider connecting region.

10. The protective assembly of claim 9, wherein a portion of the slider connecting region is constructed to provide mechanical resistance to the zipper slider.

11. The protective assembly of claim 9, wherein connection of the zipper slider and the slider connecting region of the barrier forms an obstruction in a mattress or pillow encasement to block entry and exit of particles or organisms to and from the mattress or pillow encasement.

12. The protective assembly of claim 9, wherein placement of the zipper tracks in the closed position obstructs migration of particles or organisms between a lower region and an upper region of the barrier.

19. The protective assembly of claim 9, wherein the barrier further includes a post constructed and arranged to engage an opening of a zipper tab, the a zipper tab attached to and extending from the zipper slider for pulling the zipper slider along the pair of zipper tracks.

13. A protective assembly, comprising:

an article having a surface;

a barrier including a base attached to the surface of the article;

a pair of zipper tracks including a first plurality of teeth engageable with a second plurality of teeth, the pair of zipper tracks attached to the article;

a zipper slider cooperating with the pair of zipper tracks to manipulate the pair of zipper tracks between an open position and a closed position, a zipper tab attached to and extending from the zipper slider for pulling the zipper slider along the pair of zipper tracks, wherein the base includes a slider connecting region constructed and arranged to receive the zipper slider when the zipper tracks are in the closed position, the slider connecting region having an open end to receive the zipper slider and a closed end opposite the open end; and

a zipper tab receiving region located on the base, the zipper tab receiving region including a zipper tab retainer to securely engage the zipper tab within the zipper tab receiving region, wherein the zipper tab retainer is located beyond the closed end of the slider connecting region in a direction away from the open end of the slider connecting region to position the zipper tab beyond the closed end when the zipper tab is secured in the zipper tab receiving region, and wherein the zipper tab receiving region is constructed and arranged to produce an audible sound and/or a tactile snap fit when the zipper tab is pushed into engagement with the zipper tab retainer as an indication that the zipper tab is secured within the zipper tab receiving region,

wherein the barrier includes a cover attached to the base and movable from an open position to receive the zipper slider in the slider connecting region, to a closed position to enclose the zipper slider received in the slider connecting region.

14. The protective assembly of claim 13, wherein the audible sound is indicative of a snap fit produced by the zipper tab and the zipper tab receiving region.

15. The protective assembly of claim 13, wherein the zipper tab receiving region includes detents configured to form an interference fit with the zipper tab.

16. The protective assembly of claim 13, wherein the slider connecting region is constructed and arranged to obstruct migration of particles or organisms past a portion of the barrier when the zipper slider is received in the slider connecting region.

20. The protective assembly of claim 13, wherein the zipper tab retainer includes a post constructed and arranged to engage an opening of the zipper tab.

21. A barrier comprising:

a base configured to be attached to an article, the base having a receiving region constructed and arranged to receive a zipper slider having a zipper tab; and

a cover, at least a portion of which is transparent or translucent, the cover attached to the base and movable between an open position and a closed position to enclose the zipper slider and the zipper tab received in the receiving region,

wherein the transparent or translucent portion is positioned on the cover so as to overlie at least a portion of the zipper tab when the zipper slider and the zipper tab are received in the receiving region and the cover is in the closed position such that the portion of the zipper slider is visible through the transparent or translucent portion of the cover.

22. The barrier of claim 21, wherein the cover includes a pad, and a material of the pad is softer than a material of the base.

23. The barrier of claim 22, wherein the pad is configured to abut a pair of zipper tracks when the cover is in the closed position.

24. The barrier of claim 21, in combination with a mattress cover.

25. The barrier of claim 21, wherein the receiving region includes a post constructed and arranged to engage an opening of the zipper tab to secure the zipper tab to the base.