Illinois Tool Works Inc.

Edward Gayowski

Stanley Piotrowski

John F Nelson

Henry L Swain

Douglas J Sharp

Lynnette Dehnke

The disclosure relates to a slider and a reclosable zipper, particularly a zipper with first and second profiles for watertight vessels, packages or similar devices. The slider is generally C-shaped with an upper arm, a lower arm, and a support wall in between. The support wall includes a groove which captures a rail formed on the first profile so that the slider can slidably move along the rail, riding the first profile. The lower arm includes separator blades which separate the first and second profiles when the slider is moved in the opening direction so as to urge the second profile between the upper and lower arms. When the slider is moved in the closing direction, the second profile travels between the upper and lower arms and is urged into engagement with the first profile by the upper arm. At the final closing position, the slider is stabilized or parked within a cut-out portion of the second profile.

One-sided rail slider for reclosable zipper

The apparatus is a carrier tape reel assembly formed of two reel halves. The reel halves include hub portions which further include male detent elements which are rotationally symmetric with each other and likewise include female detent elements which are rotationally symmetric with each other. The male and female detent elements, however, include rotationally asymmetric elements to assure that the two halves are properly aligned so that the open tape slots of the two reel halves are properly aligned. The male and female detent elements are further engaged by a longitudinal motion, without the need for rotational movement during engagement. Stacking apertures are formed rotationally midway between adjacent detent elements to permit the stacking of reel halves, whereby the reel halves are facing in the same direction, but are rotated so that the male detent elements pass through the stacking apertures free of detent engagement.

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Colleyville, TX, United States of America

Edward Gayowski