Curved Zippers and Methods, Systems, and Devices for Making Same

Abstract

A zipper with at least one curve includes a first tape and a second tape, and interlocking elements attached to the first tape and the second tape, wherein the first tape and the second tape are curved, and wherein a curve of at least one of the tapes was caused by compaction of that tape, wherein compaction of the two tapes uses a compactor, and wherein the compactor comprises at least one drum, wherein the drum comprises a notch or groove to allow the zipper's interlocking elements to pass without pressure from the drum while the tapes on either side of the interlocking elements are being compacted.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A zipper comprising:
 a first tape and a second tape; and   first multiple interlocking elements connected to the first tape and second multiple interlocking elements connected to the second tape, wherein interlocking elements from the first tape are joinable with interlocking elements of the second tape, and   wherein the first tape is formed from a first fabric compacted to a first degree of compaction, and   wherein the second tape is formed from a second fabric compacted to a second degree of compaction distinct from the first degree of compaction,   wherein the zipper has one or more curves, and wherein the one or more curves are caused, at least in part, by (i) compaction of the first tape, and/or (ii) compaction of the second tape, and   wherein at least a portion of the first tape and a corresponding at least a portion of the second tape are curved,   wherein compaction of the tapes uses a compactor, and   wherein the compactor comprises at least one drum, wherein the drum comprises a notch or groove to allow the zipper's interlocking elements to pass without pressure from the drum while the tapes on either side of the interlocking elements are being compacted.   
     
     
         2 . The zipper of  claim 1 , wherein the first fabric and the second fabric are selected from cotton or polyester or nylon. 
     
     
         3 . The zipper of  claim 1 , wherein the first tape and the second tape were compacted prior to being connected to the interlocking elements. 
     
     
         4 . The zipper of  claim 1 , wherein the interlocking elements comprise teeth or a coil and are formed from brass or steel or stainless steel or nylon. 
     
     
         5 . The zipper of  claim 1 , wherein the first tape comprises a first fusible substrate. 
     
     
         6 . The zipper of  claim 5 , wherein the second tape comprises a second fusible substrate. 
     
     
         7 . The zipper of  claim 1 , wherein the first multiple interlocking elements were attached to the first tape and the second multiple interlocking elements were attached to the second tape after the first fabric and the second fabric were compacted. 
     
     
         8 . The zipper of  claim 7 , wherein the first multiple interlocking elements were attached to the first tape and the second multiple interlocking elements were attached to the second tape after fusible substrate was fused with compacted fabric. 
     
     
         9 . The zipper of  claim 1 , wherein a curve of the first tape was caused, at least in part, by compaction of the first tape. 
     
     
         10 . The zipper of  claim 9 , wherein a curve of the second tape was caused, at least in part, by compaction of the second tape. 
     
     
         11 . The zipper of  claim 9 , wherein the first multiple interlocking elements were attached to the first tape before the first tape was curved. 
     
     
         12 . The zipper of  claim 11 , wherein the second multiple interlocking elements were attached to the second tape before the second tape was curved. 
     
     
         13 . The zipper of  claim 1 , wherein the first tape is woven with a first edge portion having a tighter weave than the rest of the first tape. 
     
     
         14 . The zipper of  claim 13 , wherein the second tape is woven with a second edge portion having a tighter weave than the rest of the second tape. 
     
     
         15 . The zipper of  claim 13 , wherein at least a portion of the first tape is fused with a fusible substrate. 
     
     
         16 . The zipper of  claim 13 , wherein less than the entire zipper is curved. 
     
     
         17 . The zipper of  claim 13 , wherein the zipper has more than one curve. 
     
     
         18 . The zipper of  claim 13 , wherein at least a portion of the first tape has a different degree of curvature than a corresponding at least a portion of the second tape. 
     
     
         19 . The zipper of  claim 1 , wherein the drum is heated. 
     
     
         20 . A product comprising a zipper according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         21 . The product of  claim 20 , wherein the product is selected from: a garment, footwear, an item of sports equipment, boat covers, bags, pencil cases, backpacks, computer/laptop cases, luggage, zip-up portfolio cases, zip-up storage bins, sleeping bags, tents, make up/toiletry bags, lunch bags, hats with zipper pockets, toys, toy clothing. 
     
     
         22 . A zipper comprising:
 a first tape and a second tape; and   multiple first interlocking elements connected to the first tape and multiple second interlocking elements connected to the second tape, wherein first interlocking elements from the first tape are joinable with second interlocking elements of the second tape, and   wherein the first tape is formed from a first fabric compacted to a first degree of compaction, and   wherein the second tape is formed from a second fabric compacted to a second degree of compaction distinct from the first degree of compaction,   wherein at least a portion of the first tape and a corresponding at least a portion of the second tape are curved,   wherein the zipper has one or more curves, and   wherein the one or more curves are caused, at least in part, by compaction of the first tape and/or compaction of the second tape, and   wherein at least a portion of the first tape and a corresponding at least a portion of the second tape are curved, and   wherein compaction of the tapes uses a compactor, and   wherein the compactor comprises at least one drum, wherein the drum comprises a notch or groove to allow the zipper's interlocking elements to pass without pressure from the drum while the tapes on either side of the interlocking elements are being compacted.   
     
     
         23 . The zipper of  claim 22 , wherein the drum is heated. 
     
     
         24 . The zipper of  claim 22 , wherein at least a portion of the first tape has a different degree of curvature than a corresponding at least a portion of the second tape. 
     
     
         25 . A zipper comprising:
 a first tape and a second tape; and   multiple first interlocking elements connected to the first tape and multiple second interlocking elements connected to the second tape, wherein first interlocking elements from the first tape are joinable with second interlocking elements of the second tape, and   wherein the first tape is formed from a first fabric compacted to a first degree of compaction, and   wherein the second tape is formed from a second fabric compacted to a second degree of compaction distinct from the first degree of compaction,   wherein at least a portion of the first tape and a corresponding at least a portion of the second tape are curved, and   wherein at least a portion of the first tape has a different degree of curvature than a corresponding at least a portion of the second tape, and   wherein the zipper has one or more curves, and   wherein compaction of the tapes uses a compactor, and   wherein the compactor comprises at least one drum, wherein the drum comprises a notch or groove to allow the zipper's interlocking elements to pass without pressure from the drum while the tapes on either side of the interlocking elements are being compacted.   
     
     
         26 . The zipper of  claim 25 , wherein the drum is heated. 
     
     
         27 . The zipper of  claim 25 , wherein the one or more curves are caused, at least in part, by compaction of the first tape and/or compaction of the second tape.