Information AboutZipper |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT ZIPPER | |
| textile closures | |
| genericized trademark | |
This article is about the fastening device called A zipper ( together. It is widely used in Clothing , Luggage and other Bag s, Sporting Goods and Camping gear (e.g., Tent s, Sleeping Bag s), and other Textile s. Other fasteners used in the same items inclued Buckle s, Button s, Safety Pin s, Laces , snaps (also known as poppers and press studs), and Velcro . DESCRIPTION The bulk of a zip consists of two strips of fabric tape, each afixed to one of the two pieces to be joined, and each carrying tens or hundreds of specially shaped metal or plastic teeth. Another part, the slider, which is operated by hand, moves along the rows of teeth. Inside the slider is a Y-shaped channel that meshes together, or separates, the opposing rows of teeth, depending on its direction of travel. The friction of the slider against the teeth causes a characteristic buzzing noise, which is probably the origin of the name 'zip'. Some zips have two slides, allowing variation the opening's size and position. In jackets and similar garments, the opening usually is entirely closed when one slide is at each end; in Baggage , the opening usually is entirely closed when the two slides are next to each other, at any position along the zipper. Zippers have multiple uses:
A zip costs a fraction of the total cost of the garment. However, if the zipper fails, the garment may be rendered unusable until the zipper is repaired or replaced. HISTORY An early device similar to the zip, "an Automatic, Continuous Clothing Closure", was patented in the United States by Elias Howe in 1851 ; but it was not of practical use and did not reach the market. Whitcomb L. Judson patented a similar "Clasp Locker", for fastening Shoe s and Boot s, in 1891 or 1893 , and marketed the invention through his Universal Fastener company. These two designs used hooks and eyes. The true zipper, and the design used today, is based on interlocking teeth. It was invented Gideon Sundback , a Swedish-born immigrant to Canada and an employee of Judson's; he invented the "Hookless fastener" in 1913 , and patented it, in 1917 , as the "Separable Fastener". The B. F. Goodrich Company coined the name Zipper in 1923 , and used the device on tobacco pouches and boots. The zip became popular for children's clothing and men's trousers in the 1920s and 1930s . At this stage, the zip was permanently joined at one end, so could not be used to fasten jackets. Whitcomb died in 1956. Today, leading global companies such as YKK and Tex Corp make various types of zips including "invisible" zippers, metallic zippers, and plastic zippers. TYPES
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