Zipper facts for kids
A zipper, also called a zip, is a clever device that helps join two pieces of fabric or other material. You probably see them every day! Zippers are most often found on clothes, like jackets, pants, and dresses. But they are also used on many other things. You can find zippers on luggage, school bags, and camping gear. They are also on sporting goods and various textile products. Sometimes, zippers are even used just for decoration on clothes or cushions.
A zipper works with a special part called a slider. When you pull the slider up, it pushes together two rows of small teeth. This closes the zipper. When you pull the slider down, it separates the teeth, opening the zipper. It's a simple but very effective way to fasten things!
Contents
How Zippers Work
Zippers are made of two fabric tapes, each with a row of teeth. These teeth can be made of metal, plastic, or even coils. The slider is the part you pull. It has a Y-shaped channel inside. As the slider moves up, it guides the teeth from both sides into the channel. This interlocks them, creating a strong closure. When the slider moves down, it forces the teeth apart, opening the zipper.
Parts of a Zipper
Every zipper has several key parts that work together:
- Tape: This is the fabric part that holds the teeth.
- Teeth (or Elements): These are the parts that interlock. They can be individual pieces or a continuous coil.
- Slider: The piece you pull that opens and closes the zipper.
- Pull-tab: The small handle attached to the slider, making it easy to grip.
- Top Stop: A small piece at the top of the zipper that stops the slider from coming off.
- Bottom Stop: A small piece at the bottom that stops the slider.
- Retainer Box (for separating zippers): On jackets, this box at the bottom helps you connect the two sides of the zipper.
Types of Zippers
There are many different kinds of zippers, each designed for a specific use.
- Coil Zippers: These have teeth made from a continuous coil of plastic. They are flexible and often used on clothing and bags.
- Metal Zippers: These have individual metal teeth. They are very strong and durable, often found on jeans or heavy-duty jackets.
- Plastic Zippers: Similar to metal zippers but with plastic teeth. They are lighter and can come in many colors.
- Waterproof Zippers: These have special coatings or designs to keep water out. They are used on things like raincoats, wetsuits, and outdoor gear.
History of Zippers
The idea for a zipper-like fastener goes back a long time.
- Early Ideas: In 1851, an American inventor named Elias Howe, who also invented the sewing machine, patented an "Automatic, Continuous Clothing Closure." It was similar to a zipper but wasn't very popular.
- The "Clasp Locker": In 1893, Whitcomb L. Judson invented a "Clasp Locker." It was meant for shoes and was a bit tricky to use. He showed it at the Chicago World's Fair.
- The Modern Zipper: The zipper we know today was greatly improved by Gideon Sundback. He was a Swedish-American electrical engineer. In 1913, he developed the "Hookless Fastener No. 2." This design had interlocking teeth that worked much better. He received a patent for it in 1917.
- Popularity Grows: At first, zippers were mostly used for boots and tobacco pouches. In the 1930s, designers started using them on children's clothing. This helped make zippers very popular. Soon, they were used on all kinds of clothes and items.
Images for kids
-
Zippers with common teeth variations: metal teeth (top), coil teeth and plastic teeth.
-
Examples of special zippers with different tape materials, colors, and patterns.
-
A coil zipper with its slider removed.
-
Waterproof zipper on a diving dry suit.
-
Components of a zipper.
-
Page 1 of Sundback's 1917 zipper patent.
-
Page 2 of Sundback's 1917 zipper patent.
-
Page 3 of Sundback's 1917 zipper patent.
-
Page 4 of Sundback's 1917 zipper patent.
-
Page 5 of Sundback's 1917 zipper patent.
See also
In Spanish: Cremallera (indumentaria) para niños
