All too often the slide fastener elements, incorporated into the fly opening of trousers or similar articles of apparel, gradually open while the trousers are being worn, resulting in an embarrassing situation. This unfortunate event may occur (1) if the fly opening was improperly closed, or (2) subsequent to the inadvertent unlatching of the pants closure by the wearer while the trousers are being worn.
In the past, many pants closures have been suggested to prevent the possibility of slide fastener elements from opening. However, these devices have been unsuccessful in accomplishing this task. As examples, the U.S. patents to Yankers U.S. Pat. No. 3,271,832, Miller U.S. Pat. No. 2,675,599, Glass U.S. Pat. No. 2,688,138 and 25 Perry U.S. Pat. No. 2,591,193, all disclose pants closures wherein the zipper handle of the zipper is connected to trouser-closure elements when the slide fastener elements are in the closed position; thereby attempting to secure together the front flaps of the trousers, and seal 30 the vertical opening there between. However, none of the above-stated references disclose pants closures that would absolutely guarantee that the slide fastener elements of the fly opening would remain securely closed and locked when the trousers are in use. For example, in Perry, it is possible, when the trousers are being worn, that hook portion 92 of tab 88 would disengage eye 94 thereby allowing glide to move in the downward direction resulting in separation of the slide fastener elements. There is no element in Perry that locks the 40 pants closure elements in the closed position. Similarly, Yankers does not disclose a component that would guarantee against hook 37 and pull tab 35 from disengaging loop 23, through inadvertent movement by the trouser wearer, eventually resulting in the opening of the trouser fly.
Therefore, it is important to insure that the slide fastener elements, incorporated into the fly opening thereof, remain in the closed position when the trousers are being worn. Until the applicant’s invention, the state 50 of the art could not provide the trouser wearer absolute assurance that the slide fastener elements would remain closed.
