Zipper assembly

Abstract

A zipper assembly that allows for coupling multiple objects together and a single slider that serves to control a common opening for the coupled objects.

1 . A zipper assembly, comprising:
 a pair of zipper tapes, each tape having a set of teeth disposed along inner and outer edges, an inner set of teeth being interdigitatable those on an opposite inner edge, and sets of outer teeth, each set being interdigitatable with a predetermined set of teeth disposed on an object.   
     
     
         2 . The zipper assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a first garment and wherein the tapes of the zipper assembly are secured along opposite sides of an opening in the first garment and the interdigitation of the inner sets of teeth closes the opening. 
     
     
         3 . The zipper assembly of  claim 2  wherein the object comprises a second garment, and wherein the predetermined sets of are supported along opposite sides of an opening in the second garment, the predetermined sets of teeth being arranged to interdigitate with the sets of outer teeth in the zipper assembly. 
     
     
         4 . The zipper assembly of  claim 3  wherein the first garment is an inner garment disposed in the second garment, which is an outer garment. 
     
     
         5 . The zipper assembly of  claim 4  wherein the outer garment comprises a jacket. 
     
     
         6 . The zipper assembly of  claim 4  wherein the sets of teeth on inner and outer edges of the zipper are interdigitable with each other. 
     
     
         7 . The zipper assembly of  claim 4  wherein the sets of teeth on the outer edges of the zipper assembly are interdigitatable with each other. 
     
     
         8 . An object with a zipper assembly, comprising:
 a pair of tapes, each tape having an inner edge and an outer edge and a plurality of teeth spaced along the edges;   each tape being fixed to the same or a different object;   a slider operatively coupled to an inner edge of one tape and operatively coupled or couplable to the inner edge of the other tape; and   the teeth on the outer edges being configured to interdigitate with a set of teeth on at least one selected object that is different from the one to which the tapes are fixed, thereby the zipper assembly allowing for the coupling of multiple objects together.   
     
     
         9 . The object of  claim 8  wherein the slider serves to control a common opening for the coupled objects. 
     
     
         10 . The object of  claim 9  wherein the object comprises a first garment, and further comprising the selected object, the selected object being a second garment, and the zipper assembly is disposed along the edges of a front opening of the inner garment, and the outer edges of the zipper assembly couple to the second garment along the edges of a front opening in the second garment. 
     
     
         11 . The object of  claim 10  wherein the first garment is intended as an inner garment for the second garment, which is an outer garment. 
     
     
         12 . The object of  claim 10  wherein the slider controls a front opening common to the assembled inner and outer garments. 
     
     
         13 . An assembly of garments, comprising:
 an inner garment and an outer garment;   the inner garment having an inner garment zipper assembly supported along opposing edges of a front opening of the garment, the inner garment zipper assembly comprising a pair of opposing tapes arranged generally parallel to each other and fixed to the body of the garment, each tape having an outer edge and an inner edge, the inner edges facing the front opening of the inner garment and the outer edges being disposed as flaps over a body portion of the garment, and a set of teeth are disposed along each edge, the teeth along one inner edge being interdigitatable with a set of teeth on an opposing inner edge;   a slider operatively coupled to one of the inner edges of the tapes and configured to receive an opposing inner edge and interdigitatably couple the teeth on the opposing inner edges of each tape; and   the outer garment having an outer garment zipper assembly supported along opposing edges of a front opening of the garment, the outer garment zipper assembly comprising a pair of opposing tapes arranged generally parallel to each other and fixed to the body of the garment, each tape having at least an inner edge facing the front opening of the outer garment and a set of teeth being disposed along the length of each inner edge, the sets of teeth disposed along the inner edges being interdigitatable with the sets of teeth disposed on the outer edges of the tapes of the inner garment.   
     
     
         14 . The assembly of garments of  claim 13  wherein the assembly of a pair of tapes and associated teeth has a width in a range of from 0.5 to 2.0 inches. 
     
     
         15 . The assembly of garments of  claim 13  wherein the slider serves to control a common opening for the coupled objects. 
     
     
         16 . A method of making an object with a zipper assembly, comprising:
 providing a pair of tapes, each tape having an inner edge and an outer edge and a plurality of teeth spaced along the edges;   affixing each tape to the same or a different object;   a slider operatively coupled to an inner edge of one tape and operatively coupled or couplable to the inner edge of the other tape; and   the teeth on the outer edges being configured to interdigitate with a set of teeth on at least one selected object that is different from the one to which the tapes are fixed, thereby the zipper assembly allowing for the coupling of multiple objects together.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the object comprises a first garment, and further comprising:
 providing the selected object, the selected object being a second garment; and 
 arranging the zipper assembly so that it is disposed along the edges of a front opening of the inner garment and so that the outer edges of the zipper assembly couple to the second garment along the edges of a front opening in the second garment. 
 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the first garment is intended as an inner garment for the second garment, which is an outer garment. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the slider controls a front opening common to the assembled inner and outer garments. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the objects are selected from the group of garments, luggage, backpacks and other carriers; upholstery; tents; car covers; boat covers; and footwear.