Concealed Zipper Assembly

Abstract

A concealed zipper assembly and a method of binding a first material to a second material with the concealed zipper assembly.

1 . A low profile zipper body comprising:
 a base plate having a plate upper surface and a front edge;   a tongue having an upper surface substantially aligned with said plate upper surface and wherein said tongue extends from said baseplate and past said front edge; and   a pair of guide channels configured to receive teeth of a zipper.   
     
     
         2 . The low profile zipper body of  claim 1  wherein said tongue includes an aperture. 
     
     
         3 . The low profile zipper body of  claim 2  wherein said aperture is approximately perpendicular to said plate upper surface. 
     
     
         4 . The low profile zipper body of  claim 3  wherein said base plate includes a front edge a back edge and sides extending between said front edge and said back edge and wherein said sides open outwardly from said back edge to said front edge. 
     
     
         5 . The low profile zipper body of  claim 4  wherein said zipper has an operational axis and wherein said tongue is approximately aligned along said operational axis. 
     
     
         6 . The low profile zipper body of  claim 5  wherein said aperture is approximately centered about said operational axis. 
     
     
         7 . The low profile zipper body of  claim 1  wherein said tongue includes a first portion extending over said base plate and a second portion extending beyond said front edge and wherein said front edge approximately divides said first and second portions and wherein said aperture is located in said second portion. 
     
     
         8 . The low profile zipper body of  claim 1  wherein said tongue is substantially fixed from movement relative to said base plate. 
     
     
         9 . The low profile zipper body of  claim 8  wherein said tongue is not hinged relative to said base plate. 
     
     
         10 . The low profile zipper body of  claim 1  wherein said base plate includes a recess and wherein a portion of said tongue is set within said recess. 
     
     
         11 . The low profile zipper body of  claim 1  wherein said tongue includes an aperture located proximate to a front edge of said zipper body. 
     
     
         12 . The low profile zipper body of  claim 11  wherein said aperture is configured to receive a removable hook. 
     
     
         13 . The low profile zipper body of  claim 1  wherein said upper surface of said tongue and said plate upper surface are both planer and each of said planes approximately form a single plane. 
     
     
         14 . The low profile zipper body of  claim 1  wherein said plate upper surface does not include a crown. 
     
     
         15 . The low profile zipper body of  claim 1  wherein said tongue is not attached to a crown. 
     
     
         16 . A method of concealing a zipper assembly comprising:
 providing a first material including a set of teeth;   providing a second material including a set of teeth;   providing a slider body slidably engaging the sets of teeth of said first and second materials and having an extended tongue approximately aligned with said teeth and defining an aperture;   providing a tool having a hook portion;   engaging the hook portion of the tool in the aperture; and   applying a force to the tool in a first direction to interconnect the teeth of the first material with the teeth of the second material.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  further including the step of applying a force to the tool in a second direction to disengage the teeth of the first and second material and wherein said first direction is opposite said second direction.