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One handed zip

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Bob Lamb22/11/2010 13:33:21
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140 forum posts
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We have a friend who has recently lost his left arm.  One of the great difficulties is doing up a zip fastener on a jacket. Having experimented with velcro on a bit of wood attached to a clip with velcro on the two sides of the jacket i gave up as it did not work easily every time.  I have now tried a strong small plastic clip (like a strong clothes peg) with a long bit of string on it.   Attach the clip to the moving part of the zip, put string in mouth connect second part of zip into base with right hand, hold tight at the bottom and pull the fastener up with your mouth.  Try it - it works fairly easily when you get the knack.  It's a bit heath Robinson though - anyone amongst the world's finest minds got any better / more civilised ideas?
dcosta22/11/2010 14:58:16
496 forum posts
207 photos
Hello.
 
You can use a very strong magnet attached to the belt or to the trousers and other magnet  attached to right place on the jacket. This will free the hand to move the cursor part of the zip and will also help in the operation of fitting the two pieces.
You can find very strong magnets for free in old computer disks or you can buy it from 
http://www.first4magnets.com/ or  http://e-magnetsuk.com/
 
Hope I have helped.
 
 
Dias Costa
David Clark 122/11/2010 16:52:27
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3357 forum posts
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10 articles
Hi There
Talk to Remap.
That is what they do.
regards David
Stub Mandrel22/11/2010 19:14:51
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4318 forum posts
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1 articles
Not an engineering solution but when one hand is occupied I find I can inch a zip along by holding between finger and thumb and 'pushing off' the coat with the other three fingers.
 
If it's a metal zip rubbing it with candle wax should help make it more free running too.
 
Neil
Bob Lamb22/11/2010 21:08:06
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140 forum posts
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Thanks for the replies so far. I have registered with Remap and will give them a go when I can log in.  I will try the magnets but I think they may have the same problem as the Velcro - you have to make sure the two parts of the zip are FULLY engaged and remain there as you pull the fastener up.  This seems to be one of the problems - the other being keeping the two sides of the zip aligned as you pull it up.  I agree with Neil - once you get it started  you can use the fingers and thumb to inch it up fairly easily but it is starting the process which seems to be the problem.
It has to be simple and just as important work easily every time.  The string and clip does it but I feel there must be a better solution.
 
Bob
dcosta22/11/2010 22:01:59
496 forum posts
207 photos
Hello Bob.
 
If You could try the magnets of a PC disk You will know that they guaranty  the alignment all the times in a very (and I mean very)  strong way. I think it can even dismiss the fitting of the two pieces (one inside the other) once the magnets are attached to the jacket in a well planned way.
 

Dias Costa

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