As originally invented by Whitcomb Judson, the zipper was a rather complicated concept and was designed for footwear. It had hooks on one side and loops on the other. Each such hook was sewn to the shoe separately, with a special key being used to fasten them.
Such a zipper is far unlike the zipper we are used to handling every day.
Modern zipper consists of two tapes with teeth or spiral fixed in staggered order. The zipper is fastened and unfastened with a slider.
Zipper design
Molniya has been manufacturing all kinds of zippers for over 45 years.
The main elements of a zipper are the tape, the spiral/teeth, and the slider.
- Tape is the base that holds the spiral/teeth in place. The tape is commonly made of textile material, although other materials can be found as well.
- Spiral/teeth.
- Slider is the part that connects and disconnects both sides of the tape with the teeth/spiral.
Then the zipper is furnished with additional elements. If they are absent, the zipper can’t be fully operated. These elements are different for open-end zippers and closed-end zippers.
- Closed-end zipper. To block the slider, the stoppers are placed at the top and bottom of the tape. Besides, there are top and bottom extensions (where the spiral ends) behind the stops.
- Open-end zipper. The top and bottom include the following parts: the pin (the part that locks into the retainer box), the locking link (the part that keeps the slider from slipping off the spiral and stabilizes the tape), and the reinforcement tape (the part that seals the tape, making it rigid). Another mandatory part of the zipper is the retainer box that locks at the bottom.
- The shoulder of the tape is its thickened edge, by which the spiral is attached.
Please see the photo below for more details.
A slider as an inseparable part of a zipper
The slider is the element without which a zipper can’t perform its direct function. Its main parts are the body, the cap crown, and the puller.
- The body is the main part of the slider that makes it work.
- The cap crown is a part of the case for auto-lock sliders. For non-locked sliders, a knob is attached to hold the puller.
- The puller. Often the brand logo is required to be printed on the puller of the slider. There are also sliders without a puller.
There may be additional elements depending on the locking system. There are such locking mechanisms: auto, semi-auto, pin-lock, or non-locked system. For example, a five-piece lock slider still has a locking mechanism and a spring.
Please see the photo below for more details.
Long-lasting and irreplaceable zippers for various industries can be produced only with high-quality raw materials and by trusted suppliers. Molniya, a Ukrainian manufacturer, manufactures just such zippers. The zipper’s quality and plant’s reliability have been proven by long-term cooperation with domestic and foreign factories, plants, and large companies in light industry, leather goods, and other sectors.
