Systems and methods for a multi-material extruded zipper
A zipper includes a ball portion. The zipper portion further includes a socket portion. The ball portion includes a leading edge, the leading edge composed of a first material having a low coefficient of friction. The ball portion includes a trailing edge and a neck portion, the trailing edge and neck portion composed of a second material. The socket includes a socket opening, the socket opening composed of the first material. The socket includes a socket interior, the socket interior composed of the second material.
1. A zipper comprising:
a ball portion;
a socket portion, wherein the ball portion includes a leading edge, the leading edge composed of a first material having a low coefficient of friction, the ball portion including a trailing edge and a neck portion, the trailing edge and neck portion composed of a second material, the socket including a socket opening, the socket opening composed of the first material, the socket including a socket interior, the socket interior composed of the second material; and
a first zipper slide support and a second zipper slide support, the first and second zipper slide supports interconnected with the ball portion and socket portion, respectively, a first body and a second body of the first and second zipper slide supports, respectively, composed of the second material, with a first slide section of the first zipper slide support composed of the first material, and a second slide second section of the second zipper slide support composed of the first material.
2. The zipper of claim 1 wherein the first and second materials are co-extruded.
3. The zipper of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first and second flange portion, the first and second flange portions interconnected with the first and second zipper slide supports, respectively, the first and second flange portions composed of a third material.
4. The zipper of claim 3 wherein the durometer of the second material is higher than the durometer of the first and third materials.
5. The zipper of claim 4 wherein the durometer of the first material is higher than the durometer of the third material.
6. The zipper of claim 5 wherein the first, second, and third materials are Thermoplastic Urethane.
7. The zipper of claim 6 wherein the first material has a durometer of 74 shore D.
8. The zipper of claim 6 wherein the second material has a durometer of 95 shore A.
9. The zipper of claim 6 wherein the third material has a durometer of 75 shore A.
10. The zipper of claim 6 wherein the first, second, and third materials are extruded together as part of a tri-extrusion process; and the first, second, and third materials bond together during the extrusion process as a result of being composed of the sample same base thermoplastic.
11. The zipper of claim 3 , further comprising:
a slide, the slide oriented on the first and second zipper slide supports, the slide operable to close the zipper.