Breakaway slide fastener for large-scale applications and methods for using same

Abstract

A breakaway slide fastener having a single slider body can be implemented for use in connection with large-scale applications, such as covers for bedding articles, boat or automobile covers, and the like. In an exemplary embodiment, a cover for a bedding article includes a first cover portion having a first slide fastener tape, a second cover portion having a second slide fastener tape, and a single slider body configured to be maneuverable along the first slide fastener tape and the second slide fastener tape in order to bring a first row of slide fastener teeth into at least substantially interlocked arrangement with a second row of slide fastener teeth, thereby arranging the breakaway slide fastener into a closed configuration and pairing the first cover portion with the second cover portion around the bedding article. When the breakaway slide fastener is in the closed configuration, the single slider body is further configured to be maneuverable past a pliable top stop of the first slide fastener tape to permit the first row of slide fastener teeth to be separable from the second row of slide fastener teeth by a pulling force applied to at least one of the first slide fastener tape or the second slide fastener tape, thereby facilitating detachment of the first cover portion from the second cover portion.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A cover assembly for a boat cockpit, the cover assembly comprising:
 at least one panel having a first slide fastener tape of a breakaway slide fastener attached along a perimeter edge thereof, the first slide fastener tape including a first row of slide fastener teeth and a pliable top stop at an end of the first row of slide fastener teeth;   a second slide fastener tape of a breakaway slide fastener attached to an edge of a panel attachment area of a boat cockpit, the second slide fastener tape including a second row of slide fastener teeth and a non-pliable top stop at an end of the second row of slide fastener teeth; and   a single slider body configured to be maneuverable along the first slide fastener tape and the second slide fastener tape in order to bring the first row of slide fastener teeth into at least substantially interlocked arrangement with the second row of slide fastener teeth, thereby arranging the breakaway slide fastener into a closed configuration and pairing the at least one panel to the panel attachment area;   wherein, when the breakaway slide fastener is in the closed configuration, the single slider body is further configured to be maneuverable past the pliable top stop of the first slide fastener tape to permit the first row of slide fastener teeth to be separable from the second row of slide fastener teeth by a pulling force applied to at least one of the first slide fastener tape or the second slide fastener tape, thereby facilitating detachment of the panel from the panel attachment area of the boat cockpit.   
     
     
         22 . The cover assembly for a boat cockpit of  claim 21 , wherein the slide fastener teeth of the first and second rows of slide fastener teeth are coil-type teeth. 
     
     
         23 . The cover assembly for a boat cockpit of  claim 21 , wherein, when the breakaway slide fastener is arranged in the closed configuration, the pliable top stop is disposed at a position that is offset from that of the non-pliable top stop. 
     
     
         24 . The cover assembly for a boat cockpit of  claim 21 , wherein the single slider body is further configured so as not to be maneuverable past the non-pliable top stop of the second slide fastener tape. 
     
     
         25 . The cover assembly for a boat cockpit of  claim 21 , wherein the pulling force is a force that is applied at an angle relative to an axis defined by a direction that the single slider body is maneuverable along the first slide fastener tape and the second slide fastener tape when the breakaway slide fastener is in the closed configuration. 
     
     
         26 . The cover assembly for a boat cockpit of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one panel is configured to cover a portion of the boat cockpit. 
     
     
         27 . The cover assembly for a boat cockpit of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one panel is configured to cover substantially the entirety of the boat cockpit. 
     
     
         28 . The cover assembly for a boat cockpit of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one panel includes a plurality of panels. 
     
     
         29 . A method of removing a cover from a boat cockpit, the method comprising:
 (a) providing a cover, comprised of at least one panel, and a panel attachment area of a boat cockpit, wherein:
 (i) the at least one panel includes a first slide fastener tape of a breakaway slide fastener attached along a perimeter edge thereof, the first slide fastener tape including a first row of slide fastener teeth and a pliable top stop at an end of the first row of slide fastener teeth; 
 (ii) the panel attachment area of the boat cockpit includes a second slide fastener tape of a breakaway slide fastener attached to an edge thereof, the second slide fastener tape including a second row of slide fastener teeth and a non-pliable top stop at an end of the second row of slide fastener teeth; and 
 (iii) the first row of slide fastener teeth is in an at least substantially interlocked arrangement with the second row of slide fastener teeth, thereby coupling the at least one panel to the panel attachment area; 
   (b) maneuvering a single slider body of the breakaway slide fastener along the first slide fastener tape and the second slide fastener tape to position the single slider body at the pliable top stop of the first slide fastener tape;   (c) pulling the single slider body past the pliable top stop of the first slide fastener tape so that the single slider body is no longer engaged with the first slide fastener tape; and   (d) applying a pulling force to at least one of the first slide fastener tape and the second slide fastener tape to separate the first row of slide fastener teeth from the second row of slide fastener teeth, thereby detaching the at least one panel from the panel attachment area and facilitating removal of the cover from the boat cockpit.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the slide fastener teeth of the first and second rows of slide fastener teeth are coil-type teeth. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the single slider body is configured so as not to be maneuverable past the non-pliable top stop of the second slide fastener tape. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein, when the at least one panel is detached from the panel attachment area, the single slider body remains engaged with the second slide fastener tape. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein applying a pulling force includes applying a pulling force at an angle relative to an axis defined by a direction that the single slider body is maneuverable along the first slide fastener tape and the second slide fastener tape when the breakaway slide fastener is in a closed configuration. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the at least one panel is configured to cover a portion of the boat cockpit. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the at least one panel is configured to cover substantially the entirety of the boat cockpit. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the at least one panel includes a plurality of panels. 
     
     
         37 . The cover assembly for a boat cockpit of  claim 21 , wherein, when the breakaway slide fastener is arranged in the closed configuration, the at least one panel is fully taut relative to the panel attachment area. 
     
     
         38 . A cover assembly for a boat cockpit, the cover assembly comprising:
 at least one panel having a first slide fastener tape of a breakaway slide fastener attached along a perimeter edge thereof, the first slide fastener tape including a first row of coil-type slide fastener teeth and a pliable top stop at an end of the first row of coil-type slide fastener teeth;   a second slide fastener tape of a breakaway slide fastener attached to an edge of a panel attachment area of a boat cockpit, the second slide fastener tape including a second row of coil-type slide fastener teeth and a non-pliable top stop at an end of the second row of coil-type slide fastener teeth; and   a single slider body configured to be maneuverable along the first slide fastener tape and the second slide fastener tape in order to bring the first row of coil-type slide fastener teeth into at least substantially interlocked arrangement with the second row of coil-type slide fastener teeth, thereby arranging the breakaway slide fastener into a closed configuration and securing the at least one panel in a fully taut configuration relative to the panel attachment area;   wherein, when the breakaway slide fastener is in the closed configuration, the single slider body is further configured to be maneuverable past the pliable top stop of the first slide fastener tape to permit the first row of coil-type slide fastener teeth to be separable from the second row of coil-type slide fastener teeth by a pulling force applied to at least one of the first slide fastener tape or the second slide fastener tape, thereby releasing the at least one panel from the taut configuration and facilitating detachment of the panel from the panel attachment area of the boat cockpit; and   wherein the pulling force is a force that is applied at an angle relative to an axis defined by a direction that the single slider body is maneuverable along the first slide fastener tape and the second slide fastener tape when the breakaway slide fastener is in the closed configuration.   
     
     
         39 . The cover assembly for a boat cockpit of  claim 38 , wherein, when the breakaway slide fastener is arranged in the closed configuration, the pliable top stop is disposed at a position that is offset from that of the non-pliable top stop. 
     
     
         40 . The cover assembly for a boat cockpit of  claim 38 , wherein the single slider body is further configured so as not to be maneuverable past the non-pliable top stop of the second slide fastener tape.