Mechanical zipper assist

This patent application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/990,707 filed on Nov. 28, 2007 and entitled “Dr. V\'s Hose Helper,” the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference as if fully rewritten herein.

The described invention relates generally to closure systems for use with garments and the like, and more specifically to a zipper system that includes a plurality of zippers which have been modified to allow a user to easily close the zipper on a garment by using only one hand.

Countless devices contain fasteners, of which one popular type is a zipper. A typical zipper includes a track or chain having two rows of teeth that interlock or mate with each other. A zipper slider is located on the track so that a user can pull on a pull tab on the zipper slider in order to move the slider up and down the track, thereby causing the zipper to zip open and closed as desired. A drawback in the current zipper systems is that if any pressure or tension is need to close the zipper a person must use two hands or have assistance from another person to close the zipper. Thus, there are countless situations that would benefit from a zipper system that use of only one hand to close the zipper system.

Therefore, while various devices are known in the art for fastening or closing together cloth or garments, a need still exists in the art for a zipper system that is easy to use, especially with only one hand.

The following provides a summary of exemplary embodiments of zipper system according to the present invention. This summary is not an extensive overview and is not intended to identify key or critical aspects or elements of the present invention or to delineate its scope. This invention provides a solution for consumers that need to close garments, specifically garments and such that require sufficient compressive pressure to adequately close the gap in those garments, such as compression stockings, wetsuits, and other garments that have elastic properties. The present invention allows a user to easily zip up or close a zipper with only one hand on garments or the like that require sufficient inward compressive pressure to enable mating of the two rows of teeth to provide closure to the zipper system.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a zipper closure system is provided. This zipper system closure comprises a first track and a second track, each track further including a row of teeth, wherein the teeth of the first track are adapted to mate with the teeth of the second track; a first slider adapted to move along the first track, wherein the first slider further includes a first pull tab connected thereto and a first pull tab extender connected to the first pull tab, wherein the first pull tab extender further includes a linking portion and a ring portion; a second slider adapted to move along the second track, wherein the second slider further includes a second pull tab connected thereto and a second pull tab extender connected to the second pull tab, wherein the second pull tab extender further includes a linking portion and a ring portion; a third slider, positioned between the first and second sliders, wherein the third slider is operative to mate the first track with the second track; and a connector, wherein the connector is operative to link the third slider with the first and second sliders.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a zipper system is provided. This zipper system is intended for use with one hand and includes a set of tracks having a row of fasteners mate-able with each other, a plurality of sliders that cooperate with the row of fasteners, a connector system for joining the plurality of sliders and allowing the user to move the plurality of sliders along the row of fasteners, and a stopper. The plurality of sliders are adapted to cooperate with the row of fasteners of the first and the second tracks, and the plurality of sliders further comprises a first slider that is adapted to slide along the first track, a second slider that is adapted to slide along the second track, and a third slider, central to the first and second sliders, that cooperates with both the first and second tracks to cause first and second track to mate to form a closed chain. The connector system further comprises a plurality of U.S. Non-Provisional Patent Application (Utility) extenders, and a pull ring. The plurality of extenders further comprise a first extender attached to a first pull tab of the first slider, a second extender attached to a second pull tab of the second slider, and a third extender central to the first and second extenders and attached to a third pull tab of the third slider. The pull ring is attached to the first extender, the second extender and the third extender. The stopper holds the plurality of sliders in place once the sliders have reached a predetermined position on the track and the full chain has been formed.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a one hand zipper system is provided. This zipping system includes a set of tracks having a row of fasteners mate-able with each other, a plurality of sliders that cooperate with the row of fasteners, a connector system for joining the plurality of sliders and allowing the user to move the plurality of sliders along the row of fasteners, and a stopper. The plurality of sliders are adapted to cooperate with the row of fasteners of the first and the second tracks, and the plurality of sliders further comprises a first slider that is adapted to slide along the first track, a second slider that is adapted to slide along the second track, and a third slider, central to the first and second sliders, that cooperates with both the first and second tracks to cause first and second track to mate to form a closed chain. The connector system further comprises a plurality of extenders, a bundler, and a plurality of pull rings. The plurality of extenders further comprises a first extender attached to a first pull tab of the first slider, a second extender attached to a second pull tab of the second slider, and a third extender attached to a third pull tab of the third slider. The bundler bundles the first extender, the second extender, and third extender. The plurality of pull rings allows for easy movement along the row of fasteners of both tracks to form the chain, and the plurality of pull rings further comprises a first pull ring attached to the first extender and bundled by the bundler, a second pull ring attached to the second extender and bundled by the bundler, and a third pull ring attached to the third extender and bundled by the bundler. The stopper holds the plurality of sliders in place once the sliders have reached a predetermined position on the track and the full chain has been formed.

In yet another aspect of this invention, a zipper system is provided. This zipping system includes a set of tracks having a row of fasteners mate-able with each other, a plurality of sliders that cooperate with the row of fasteners, a connector system for joining the plurality of sliders and allowing the user to move the plurality of sliders along the row of fasteners, and a brake system. The plurality of sliders is adapted to cooperate with the row of fasteners of the first and the second tracks, and the plurality of sliders further comprises a first slider adapted to slide along the first track, a second slider adapted to slide along the second track, and a third slider, central to the first and second sliders, that cooperates with both the first and second tracks to cause first and second track to mate to form a closed chain. The connector system further comprises a plurality of extenders and a pull ring. The plurality of extenders further comprises a first extender attached to a first pull tab of the first slider, and the first extender is further attached to a first connector piece, and the first connector piece is further attached to a third connector piece, a second extender attached to a second pull tab of the second slider, and the second extender is further attached to a second connector piece, and the second connector piece is further attached to the third connector piece, and a third extender attached to a third pull tab of the third slider, wherein the third extender is further attached to the third connector piece. The pull ring is attached to the third connector piece to allow easy movement along the row of fasteners of both tracks to form the closed chain. The brake system holds the plurality of sliders in place once the sliders have reached a predetermined position on the track and the full chain has been formed.

Additional features and aspects of the present invention will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading and understanding the following detailed description of the exemplary embodiments. As will be appreciated by the skilled artisan, further embodiments of the invention are possible without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and associated descriptions are to be regarded as illustrative and not restrictive in nature.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated into and form a part of the specification, schematically illustrate one or more exemplary embodiments of the invention and, together with the general description given above and detailed description given below, serve to explain the principles of the invention, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a first exemplary embodiment of the zipper closure system of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view of a first exemplary embodiment of the zipper system of the present invention;

FIG. 3a is a front view of the first exemplary embodiment in use in a garment, such as a medical compression stocking, showing a closed zipper with mated teeth;

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Closure for a brassiere
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