Slide fastener chain link

Abstract

The invention involves a zipper chain link and zipper chain assembly. The individual links include an engagement hub having at least one protuberance and at least one concavity on each of opposite side surfaces of the zipper chain link. The protuberance and the concavity are arranged on each of the opposite sides of the chain link to interdigitate with adjacently positioned zipper chain teeth to interlock the zipper chain when a pull member is moved in a first direction and separate the zipper chain when the pull member is moved in a second direction.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A zipper chain link ( 100 ) comprising:
 a chain link body ( 10 ), the chain link body including a first side surface ( 12 ), a second side surface ( 14 ) positioned opposite to the first side surface ( 12 ), and a contoured perimeter surface ( 24 ), the chain link body ( 10 ) having a first clamp arm ( 16 ) and a second clamp arm ( 18 ), the clamp arms deformable to engage a zipper tape ( 26 ) for positioning a plurality of the zipper chain links ( 100 ) in a longitudinal spaced apart arrangement, the chain link body ( 10 ) including an engagement hub ( 20 ), the first side surface ( 12 ) of the engagement hub ( 20 ) having a first protuberance ( 28 ) and a first concavity ( 30 ), the second side surface ( 14 ) of the engagement hub ( 20 ) including a second protuberance ( 32 ) and a second concavity ( 34 ), the protuberances positioned to interdigitate with concavities of adjacently positioned zipper chain links ( 100 ).   
     
     
         2 . The zipper chain link ( 100 ) of  claim 1  wherein the first protuberance ( 28 ) and the first concavity ( 30 ) are positioned on opposite sides of a longitudinal centerline ( 36 ) and in alignment with a transverse alignment line ( 38 ), for balancing the load applied to the zipper chain link ( 100 ) in use. 
     
     
         3 . The zipper chain link ( 100 ) of  claim 2  wherein the first protuberance ( 28 ) is positioned opposite the second concavity ( 34 ), whereby the metal displaced to form the second concavity is used to form the first protuberance. 
     
     
         4 . The zipper chain link ( 100 ) of  claim 2  wherein the second protuberance ( 32 ) is positioned opposite the first concavity ( 30 ), whereby the metal displaced to form the first concavity is used to form the second protuberance. 
     
     
         5 . The zipper chain link ( 100 ) of  claim 2  wherein the engagement hub side surfaces ( 40 ) are parallel to the longitudinal centerline ( 36 ). 
     
     
         6 . The zipper chain link ( 100 ) of  claim 1  wherein the first clamp arm ( 16 ) and the second clamp arm ( 18 ) each include a clamp jaw surface ( 42 ), the clamp jaw surfaces ( 42 ) positioned in a diverging arrangement before either zipper chain link ( 100 ) is secured to the zipper tape ( 26 ) and wherein the clamp jaw surfaces ( 42 ) are positioned parallel when attached to the zipper tape ( 26 ). 
     
     
         7 . The zipper chain link ( 100 ) of  claim 1  wherein the first clamp arm ( 16 ) and the second clamp arm ( 18 ) each include a keyway ( 44 ) for securing the zipper chain link ( 100 ) to a key ( 50 ) on the zipper tape ( 26 ). 
     
     
         8 . The zipper chain link ( 100 ) of  claim 1  wherein the zipper chain link ( 100 ) includes a datum surface ( 22 ) for establishing the position of the zipper chain link ( 100 ) with respect to a zipper tape edge ( 48 ). 
     
     
         9 . The zipper chain link ( 100 ) of  claim 8  wherein a plurality of the zipper chain links ( 100 ) are secured to the zipper tape edge ( 48 ), the zipper tape edge in contact with the datum surface ( 22 ) and wherein the first clamp arm ( 16 ) and the second clamp arm ( 18 ) each include a clamp jaw surface ( 42 ), the clamp jaw surfaces ( 42 ) positioned in a diverging arrangement before either zipper chain link ( 100 ) is secured to the zipper tape ( 26 ) and wherein the clamp jaw surfaces ( 42 ) are positioned parallel when attached to the zipper tape ( 26 ). 
     
     
         10 . The zipper chain link ( 100 ) of  claim 7  wherein a plurality of the zipper chain links ( 100 ) are secured to the zipper tape key ( 50 ), and wherein the first clamp arm ( 16 ) and the second clamp arm ( 18 ) and their respective keyways ( 44 ) secure each of the zipper chain links ( 100 ) to the zipper tape key ( 50 ).