Are you familiar with those jackets that two zipper slider heads that you can move in various directions to close and open the zipper at the opposite ends? These jacket zippers are a rather common feature among most outerwear jackets for better functionality. Both jackets and jeans need these zippers so they don’t break.
Two-way tail to tail zippers, as mainly used in jackets, are a type of lengthy front zippers with dual or two sliding zipper heads made of metal or sometimes plastic, that could be moved along the zipper to close or open in opposite directions simultaneously. The zipper will open when the zipper heads are moved toward each other, and the zipper closes once they are moved away from each other. This exceptional zipper design lets the wearer of the jacket to adjust the closing or opening of the jacket to at the two ends for the following purposes:
- It allows more breathability below in the crotch and abdomen or up the top chest by decreasing or increasing exposure to the surrounding environment.
- It enhances the wearer’s ability of controlling the temperature of their body while remaining zipped with the lower portion kept opened.
- It increases comfort leaving it unzipped at the lower part of the jacket to lessen restriction and allow better freedom of movement even when sitting
- It enables easier access to the inside pocket through opening the lower part.
How to Use Two-way Jacket Zippers
The primary requirement for ease of use is to ensure that the zipper heads or sliders are completely seated at the lower portion of the zipper before the free zip edge is inserted into both. Then, while the bottom zipper head is maintained firmly in place, top zipper head slider should be pulled upwards. You could then pull up the bottom zipper head to open the bottom part of the zipper. To fully unzip, pull the two zipper heads to the lowest portion of the zipper then off the edge using force-counterforce motion.
Basic Parts of Two-way Zippers
Two-way metal zippers have several basic parts and these include the following:
- Head or slider: This is the specific component that works for either engaging and locking the zipper or unlocking and separating the zipper. This has a mobile component to ensure that it will be easily grasped while in use.
- Elements or teeth – These are the parts on both sides of the zipper that disengage to unlock or engage to lock as the slider or head passes over them. Once the zipper teeth are zipped or interlocked, this is known as forming a “chain.”
- Insert pin or zip edge – The two zip edges join together at the lower part of the zipper for engaging the slider.
- Top stop – It is the upper portion of the zipper chain that eliminates the interlocking teeth and maintains the movement of the slider.
- Tape – This is especially made for zipper and is often a polyester material where the teeth get woven to for the zipper.
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