Caterpillar Zippers

Summary:
This product comprehended by two dented chains of zippers disposed in a single strip, allowing that non permanent connections could be established in its both side, so that it allows the confection of meshes composed partially or completely by caterpillar zippers, making possible its usage in several structural applications.

Full Description:
The present patent has the objective the development of a new product that is based on advanced utilization of a connection provided by zippers. It is a new concept of zipper, which we will call caterpillar zipper, or just, caterpillar. This name will be attributed to the product due to the fact that these zipper have similar configuration as a caterpillar, as seen on figure 2 (PDF attached). This product will allow the manufacturing of a mesh integrally composed by zippers.
The use of zippers it is already well known, being it largely used in clothing locks since the 20th century. Although, its use has been limited, being restricted to promote the union of two fabrics or between two parts of a fabric.
The caterpillar presents itself as an evolution of zipper, where it stop being a complement of the interaction between two parts becoming itself the mesh.
Its functionality is based on its geometry that was developed to allow it to connect it to itself, composing an integrated structure of caterpillar zippers.
In figure 1 (PDF attached), there is a schematic structure of a usual zipper. As can be seen, usual zippers teeth 1 were developed to establish non permanent connections only in one of its side. The teeth are set in a string 2. The string is permanently connected to the lace 3. The lace establishes a permanent connection to a fabric. This way, the only non permanent connection established by usual zippers 4 is provided by one of the sides of the tooth. So, through this connection it is possible to join non permanently two fabrics.
Caterpillar zippers have a different conception. In figure 2 (PDF attached), there is a schematic structure of a caterpillar zipper. It is constituted of bilaterally dented chains. Its teeth will be able to be joined by a string or by another device that could be conveniently selected for its manufacturing process or for its application. The teeth chain of a caterpillar zipper allows it to establish non permanent connections in both of its side. By this, it is possible that a large number of caterpillar zippers can be interconnected in a mesh, by means of adjacent caterpillar zippers, as in figure 3 (PDF attached). To promote bonding between the teeth, cursors 5 can be used, such as those used in usual zippers.
The caterpillar zippers could be produced in many types of materials and in many colors and sizes, according to its needs of use or preference. Evidently, caterpillar zippers’ teeth chains can also have many forms as the usual zippers teeth chains.
To explain the present product, the authors themselves have based in figures of some caterpillar zipper, although any other specific form of it could be used for this explanation.
The meshes produced by caterpillars could have diverse geometries. The simpler geometry of a mesh composed by caterpillars could be a plane composed by one chain of caterpillars disposed in parallel, see figure 3 (PDF attached). However, more complex geometries could be produced.
A mesh of caterpillar zippers could be obtained in cylindrical form, figure 4 (PDF attached), using adjacent chains disposed in parallel to its axis. In this configuration, it is possible to adjust the diameter of the manufactured cylinder, through the number of caterpillar zippers paired.
Another way to obtain a cylindrical form is connecting the caterpillar to itself in a helical configuration, see figure 5. In this way, a cylindrical mesh could be produced, where would be possible to control the cylinder’s diameter, simply selecting the place where the first tooth will connect 6.
Caterpillar zippers and its meshes could have its use in the more diverse sectors of industry, of each the authors emphasize:
 Manufacturing of meshes for clothing, for clothes and accessories;
 Reinforcement and repairs in pipes, adjusting it adequately to the pipe diameter , producing a reinforcement that could be made purely of zippers’ meshes or being associated to other type of material, working as a composite reinforcement;
 Structural layers in pipes, specially in oil industry pipelines;
 Covering for objects, such as upholstery for seats, due to the fact that these meshes can be very mouldable, depending on material used in caterpillar zipper, so that it allows covering different types of geometries adequately.

Problem this idea/invention addresses:
It is a zipper that allows to stablish connections on both of its side, so that it can make a fabric entirely of caterpillar zippers.

Attached files:
Patente_RaNei-desenhos17.pdf

Asking price: [CONTACT SELLER]
Available for consultation? Yes

Invention #11178
Date posted: 2008-12-28


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