Link chain zipper device

Abstract

A pair of rows of laterally projecting teeth mounted on respective one ends from respective stringers to be moved from opposite sides of a locking plane to be engaged in the locking plane. The teeth include catches constructed to, when the teeth are in the locking plane, engage each other to lock the rows of teeth together.

1 . A slider fastener device comprising:
 a pair of first and second elongated stringers;   first and second rows of respective transversely elongated first and second teeth to be positioned in a closed position with the teeth of the first and second rows interleaved with one another, the teeth formed with respective base sections attached to the respective first and second stringers and projecting transversely therefrom to form respective the first and second free extremities;   the respective first and second free extremities of the respective first and second teeth configured with respective first and second catch devices cooperating, when the rows of teeth are in the closed position, to lock the first teeth to the respective second teeth of the first and second teeth; and   a slider device formed with first and second tracks receiving the respective first and second rows of teeth and constructed to be drawn longitudinally therealong in a selected longitudinal direction to draw the first and second rows of teeth together in a common plane in the interleafed position, the first track constructed to, when drawn in the selected longitudinal direction, guide the first extremities to a position spaced over the second extremities and to then as travel of the slider is continued in the selected longitudinal direction, close the respective second catch devices on their first catch devices.   
     
     
         2 . The slide fastener device of  claim 1  wherein:
 the first and second catch devices are formed with respective receivers and catches, the catches received in the respective receivers. 
 
     
     
         3 . The slide fastener device of  claim 1  wherein:
 the respective first and second teeth are configured with respective base sections integral with the free extremities, the base sections and free extremities formed with respective longitudinal sides defining proximal and distal planar edges projecting at an angle of substantially 150° relative to one another. 
 
     
     
         4 . The slide fastener device of  claim 1  wherein:
 the first and second elongated stringers are constructed of rigid or semi-rigid material. 
 
     
     
         5 . The slide fastener device of  claim 1  wherein:
 the slider is formed with the first track angled proximally downwardly and the second track angling proximally upwardly. 
 
     
     
         6 . The slide fastener device of  claim 1  wherein:
 the slider is configured with the first and second tracks angling in the one direction away from one another. 
 
     
     
         7 . The slide fastener device of  claim 1  wherein:
 the respective first and second teeth are constructed of plastic. 
 
     
     
         8 . The slide fastener device of  claim 1  wherein:
 the respective first and second teeth are constructed of metal. 
 
     
     
         9 . The slide fastener device of  claim 1  wherein:
 the first catch devices are in the form of receivers and the second catch devices are in the form catches received in the respective receivers. 
 
     
     
         10 . The slide fastener device of  claim 1  wherein:
 the first and second catch devices include respective first and second hooks formed on respective first and second distal extremities 
 
     
     
         11 . The slide fastener device of  claim 1  wherein:
 the respective first and second tooth bodies are formed with slots receiving the marginal edges of the respective stringers. 
 
     
     
         12 . A slide fastener device comprising:
 a pair of first and second elongated stringers;   first and second rows of respective transversely elongate first and second teeth mounted on respective one ends from the respective first and second stringers for articulation relative thereto and projecting therefrom to from respective first and second free extremities configured to travel form unlocked positions separated from one another through predetermined first and second paths from planes on opposite sides of a locking plane, to locking positions disposed in the locking plane, the free extremities including respective first and second hook elements constructed to, when the teeth are in the locking position, releasably hook together; and   a slider formed with first and second tracks for receiving the respective first and second rows of teeth to, when the slider is drawn along the rows of teeth in one direction, guide the first and second rows of teeth along the predetermined paths to the locking plane to engage the respective first and second hooks together.   
     
     
         13 . The slide fastener device of  claim 12  wherein:
 the free extremities of the teeth include respective receivers and catches constructed to, when the rows of teeth are in the closed position, engage together. 
 
     
     
         14 . The slide fastener device of  claim 12  wherein:
 the slider is formed with the first and second tracks tapering in the direction opposite the one direction inwardly toward one another, the first track tapering downwardly and the second track tapering upwardly. 
 
     
     
         15 . The slide fastener device of  claim 13  wherein:
 the receivers are in the form of blind bores and the catches are in the form of cylindrical posts. 
 
     
     
         16 . A slide fastener device comprising:
 a pair of first and second elongated stringers;   first and second rows of respective transversely elongated first and second teeth mounted on respective one ends from the respective first and second elongated stringers and projecting therefrom to form respective first and second free extremities to be moved through predetermined first and second paths from opposite sides of a locking plane to locking positions disposed in the locking plane;   first and second catch elements on the respective first and second extremities constructed to, when the extremities are in the locking position, engage to lock the rows of teeth together; and   a slider formed with first and second tracks for receiving the first and second rows of teeth to, upon sliding in one direction, move the first and second rows of teeth through the respective first and second predetermined paths, and to, upon sliding in the opposite direction, moving the first and second rows of teeth in the reverse direction through the respective first and second predetermined paths to separate the first and second extremities from one another.   
     
     
         17 . The slide fastener device of  claim 16  wherein:
 the first and second catch elements are in the form of hooks. 
 
     
     
         18 . The slide fastener device of  claim 16  wherein:
 the first and second catch elements are in the form of receivers and posts. 
 
     
     
         19 . The slide fastener device of  claim 16  wherein:
 the slider is constructed with transparent walls. 
 
     
     
         20 . The slide fastener device of  claim 16  wherein:
 the first track is formed with a bottom wall disposed in a first plane and the second track is formed with a bottom wall having a recess spaced below the level of the first plane. 
 
     
     
         21 . A method of operating a slide fastener including:
 selecting a pair of first and second elongated stringers mounting laterally projecting first and second rows of teeth formed with respective receivers and catches to latch together when in the closed position;   selecting a slider with first and second tracks for sliding over respective rows of first and second teeth;   operating the slider to displace the rows of first and second teeth first into spaced apart horizontal planes and then shifting the respective first and second teeth into a common plane to latch the respective catches and receivers together.   
     
     
         22 . A fastener device comprising:
 first and second rows of transversely elongated first and second teeth constructed to be positioned in closed positions with the respective first teeth interleafed between respective pairs of the respective second teeth;   the first and second teeth formed with respective first and second base sections and respective first and second projecting free extremities, the first and second free extremities having, when the teeth are in the closed position, confronting surfaces;   first and second catch devices mounted on the first and second confronting surfaces and constructed to, when the teeth are in the closed position, cooperate to engage with one another and prevent the respective first teeth from sliding laterally relative to the second teeth.   
     
     
         23 . A fastener device comprising:
 first and second rows of respective transversely elongated first and second teeth to be selectively positioned in an interleafed position with the respective first teeth interleafed between pairs of the second teeth and an open position wherein the first teeth are separated from the respective second teeth;   the respective teeth including respective base sections and free sections;   the free sections including respective first and second planar surfaces configured to, when the teeth of the first and second rows are in the interleafed position, be disposed in confronting relationship;   bores formed in the first planar sections; and   hooks mounted in the respective second planar sections and configured and arranged to be, when the respective first and second rows of teeth are in the interleafed position, be removably received in respective bores to lock the respective second teeth from shifting laterally relative to the respective first teeth.   
     
     
         24 . A fastener device comprising:
 first and second rows of transversely elongated first and second teeth to be selectively positioned in a closed position interleafed with one another and an open position wherein the teeth of the first and second rows are separated from one another;   the first and second teeth including respective first and second base sections and first and second free sections;   the first and second free sections including respective first and second planar surfaces configured to, when the teeth of the first and second rows are in the closed position, to be disposed in confronting relationship;   bores formed in the first planar sections; and   hooks carried from the respective second planar sections and configured and arranged to be, when the respective first and second rows of teeth are in the locking position, be removably received in respective bores to lock the teeth of the respective first and second rows from shifting laterally relative to one another.