Zipper

Abstract

In a closed state of a zipper, distance from a tape-facing plane of an upper blade of a slider to a first tape at an end of a first terminal element facing a first row is different from distance from the tape-facing plane of the upper blade of the slider to the first tape at an opposite end of the first terminal element.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A zipper, comprising:
 a first tape with a first row of engaging elements;   a second tape with a second row of engaging elements;   a slider having an upper blade and a lower blade;   a first terminal element behind the last engaging element on the first tape in a closing direction of the slider; and   a second terminal element behind the last engaging element on the second tape in the closing direction of the slider, wherein   in a closed state of the zipper, the second terminal element extends beyond an end face of the first tape facing the second tape, and   in the closed state of the zipper, distance from a tape-facing plane of the upper blade of the slider to the first tape at an end of the first terminal element facing the first row is different from distance from the tape-facing plane of the upper blade of the slider to the first tape at an opposite end of the first terminal element.   
     
     
         2 . The zipper according to  claim 1 , wherein
 when the distance from the tape-facing plane of the upper blade of the slider to the first tape at the end of the first terminal element facing the first row in the closed state of the zipper is d, the distance from the tape-facing plane of the upper blade of the slider to the first tape at the opposite end is D, and thickness of the first tape at an edge facing the second terminal element in the closed state of the zipper is T,   the following relation applies: 0.5 T≤D−d≤2 T.   
     
     
         3 . The zipper according to  claim 1 , wherein
 at least one of a surface of the first terminal element facing the upper blade in the closed state of the zipper and a surface of the first terminal element facing the lower blade in the closed state of the zipper, is at least partially inclined with respect to the first tape, so as to rise or fall in the closing direction.   
     
     
         4 . The zipper according to  claim 3 , wherein
 the surface of the first terminal element facing the upper blade in the closed state of the zipper is parallel to the surface of the first terminal element facing the lower blade in the closed state of the zipper.   
     
     
         5 . The zipper according to  claim 3 , wherein an inclination angle of the at least one of the surface of the first terminal element facing the upper blade in the closed state of the zipper and the surface of the first terminal element facing the lower blade in the closed state of the zipper, is in a range from 0.10 to 15°. 
     
     
         6 . The zipper according to  claim 5 , wherein the inclination angle is in a range from 3° to 10°. 
     
     
         7 . The zipper according to  claim 6 , wherein that the inclination angle is in a range from 4° to 6°. 
     
     
         8 . The zipper according to  claim 1 , wherein
 at least one of a surface of the first terminal element facing the upper blade of the slider in the closed state of the zipper and a surface of the first terminal element facing the lower blade of the slider in the closed state of the zipper, is at least partially inclined with respect to the first tape, so as to rise or fall in a direction from the first terminal element to the second terminal element.   
     
     
         9 . The zipper according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and the second terminal elements has a stopper against which the slider is to abut in the closed state of the zipper. 
     
     
         10 . The zipper according to  claim 9 , wherein the at least one of the first and second terminal elements is integral with the stopper. 
     
     
         11 . The zipper according to  claim 1 , wherein the first terminal element has at least one recess at least partially overlapping with a part of the second terminal element extending beyond the end face of the first tape facing the second tape in the closed state of the zipper. 
     
     
         12 . The zipper according to  claim 1 , wherein in the closed state of the zipper, the first terminal element and a part of the second terminal element not extending beyond the end face of the first tape together form a “V” shape. 
     
     
         13 . The zipper according to  claim 1 , wherein the second terminal element has at least one recess at least partially overlapping with a part of the first tape in the closed state of the zipper. 
     
     
         14 . The zipper according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second terminal elements has a recess configured to receive a lock pin. 
     
     
         15 . The zipper according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and the second terminal elements is provided with an advertising element.