World's Biggest Zipper Maker Is Developing a Self-Propelled Zipper (theverge.com) 39
YKK, the world's largest zipper maker, has unveiled a prototype self-propelled zipper that uses a motorized worm gear to zip itself closed at the push of a button. It currently relies on a wired remote and external power, and can zip spans up to 16 feet in under a minute. The Verge reports: Although some recent zipper innovations, such as Under Armour's one-handed MagZip upgrade, are designed to improve accessibility and make zippers easier to use for those with limited mobility, YKK envisions more industrial use cases for its prototype. As demonstrated in a video recently shared on the company's YouTube channel, the self-propelled zipper is seen connecting a pair of 16-foot-tall membranes in about 40 seconds. Zipping them together manually would require the use of a ladder or other machinery.
In another video, the prototype is used to quickly connect a pair of 13-foot-wide temporary shelters standing over eight feet tall, taking about 50 seconds to progress from one side to the other. [...] In addition to miniaturizing the tech and adding a battery, YKK would also need to develop some safety mechanisms before its self-propelled zipper could ever reach consumers' clothing, ensuring there's nothing that might get stuck.
In another video, the prototype is used to quickly connect a pair of 13-foot-wide temporary shelters standing over eight feet tall, taking about 50 seconds to progress from one side to the other. [...] In addition to miniaturizing the tech and adding a battery, YKK would also need to develop some safety mechanisms before its self-propelled zipper could ever reach consumers' clothing, ensuring there's nothing that might get stuck.
Self Propelled Zipper . . . (Score:5, Funny)
What could possibly go wrong? (ouch)
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the idea of a remote control operating system *anything* on my pants, let alone the zipper, is, well . . .
just another reason to stick to button fly jeans!
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That movie is 27 years old now - would people still get the reference? And Cameron Diaz is 52.
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Had a bathroom zipper incident myself about 50 years ago when I was in pre-school. I don't remember anything else about pre-school but I sure remember that.
Anyone who has seen that movie won't ever forget that scene either.
Re: Self Propelled Zipper . . . (Score:2)
Re:What could possibly go wrong? (Score:2)
The Bee Gee's and Michael Jackson already tested it. Both gave it high praise.
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The Bee Gee's and Michael Jackson already tested it. Both gave it high praise.
You can tell from the way they use their walk.
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You can tell from the way they use their walk.
BECAUSE IT'S THRILLER
THRILLER N*zip*iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
Re: Self Propelled Zipper . . . (Score:1)
Did the trial lawyers pitch the concept to them? (Score:2)
What could possibly go wrong? (ouch)
Did the trial lawyers pitch the concept to them?
Pinched Elephant Trunks In 3..2..1 (Score:1)
So let's have a running bet as to how long before this company gets sued out of existence.
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As someone who has deployed portable stuff... (Score:5, Interesting)
As someone who has deployed portable stuff, this could be immensely useful, provided the zipper doesn't get fouled on dirt or grime, especially for larger stuff like beer tents. If it is remotely controlled, it could even be used to open/close vents in the top which can be useful if the weather turns from hot to rainy.
Overall, it is a simple thing, but there are a lot of niche applications for this where it can come in handy.
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Ya, it'd be a hit at cocktail parties for anyone with a Zipper Zapper to break through the zipper security and waiting until some old dear is cutting a rug on the dance floor.
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Overall, it is a simple thing, but there are a lot of niche applications for this where it can come in handy
I mean you didn’t even mention the largest market, porn. Because it’s always the largest market, there are even products to help with that.
Not resting on laurels (Score:4, Interesting)
Good to know some companies aren't resting on their laurels and continue to innovate. YKK is ubiquitous to the point it's noticable when a zipper is not made by them.
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The B-17 crashed due to poor maintenance on the engines and a pilot who wasn't trained well and made bad decisions as a result.
Zippers on protective gun covers and supernatural jinxes had nothing to do with it.
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However, supernatural jinxes have everything to do with Evangelical events such as speaking in tongues. But I wouldn't trust those stories much, someone did a study and they are essentially speaking jibberish. Sid Caesar could flip between 4 different "languages" in his "double-talk" in his stand-up act. There youtube videos, they are a riot.
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Ah yes, the tower of Babylon. God said disperse (Gen 9:1), and the people said nope! An early version of FAFO.
YKK, the world's largest zipper maker (Score:4, Funny)
The worlds largest manufacturer of zippers. Or the manufacturer of the worlds largest zipper?
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The world's longest zipper [guinnessworldrecords.com] was made by a different company.
How soon before it's hacked? (Score:3)
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And what happens if you alternate broadcasting the "zip" and "unzip" commands to a room? Will someone inevitably get caught in their zipper? Asking for a friend.
YKK's CVE for "compression algorithm exploitation" (Score:1)
should make for some interesting reading.
Better improvements (Score:4, Informative)
I'd rather have a zipper that doesn't suck cloth in and stronger zipper pulls.
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>"I'd rather have a zipper that doesn't suck cloth in and stronger zipper pulls."
This. Plus...
I would rather have a zipper on which the tongue/tong doesn't separate from the clothing. Or there was some way of fixing it when that happens. Almost every zipper failure I have experienced has been from that and ruined expensive clothing (like outerwear, motorcycle gear, etc) because it would require replacing the entire zipper, which would cost more than the clothing.
Most of the time, it is the falling apa
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>"while the tong still remains firmly attacked"
That should read "firmly attached"
I need to proof-read BEFORE clicking submit. Sigh.
Links? (Score:1)
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If only we had some kind of technology, so an author could provide an resolvable adresse to a video when referred to. God damn lazy editing.
Look, LLM have come a long way and are still fairly new so give them a break, will ya? We haven’t had humans curating this site for years now.
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We havenâ(TM)t had humans curating this site for years now.
And then they got LLMs
Things the world does not need (Score:2)
I guess some engineers got bored. On the other hand, engineers need to do engineering and if you expect to continue to need them, you have to let them do things like this.
World's biggest zipper (Score:2)
Maybe this one? https://www.burlingtonfreepres... [burlingtonfreepress.com]
I can see why it might need some kind of propulsion!
Colossus Says It's Time for You to Retire (Score:2)
The Gimp (Score:2)