(1) The open-ended zipper uses a "box and pin" mechanism to lock the two sides of the zipper's end into place when the zipper is closed, but it also "comes apart" when it is fully opened. This type is often used in jackets and other outerwear that has to fully open.
(2) Unlike the closed-ended zipper, this baby knows no limits. Just you, the sky, and the open road, my friend.
Grab, pull, and keep pulling as long as you want — this zipper will stay with you to the end, and there isn't any. Go for it.
The open-ended zipper isn't infinite though. That's the point. You don't have to think about it, only pull. No philosophical implications whatsoever. No guilt, nothing. The zipper does all you need by coming apart where it needs to.
And here's the kicker — it's supposed to come apart at the far end. One end for open, one end for closed. That's it!
Pull one way and it closes up nice and snug. Pull the other and your jacket's fully open so the bugs can get in not only around your neck, but from the front too, and around the bottom. In fact, if the bugs are really thick, and hungry, and your jacket is unzipped as the professionals say, well those bugs can slide your whole jacket right off you the way you peel a banana, but easier (cuz the zipper's open), and expose all of your tasty goodness.
And, at no extra cost, you get the same benefits with this kind of zipper as with all the rest — teeth.
Yep.
Any odd body parts or areas with loose skin or stray hairs can get sucked right in and pinched in those teeth until you don't know what all.
Metal teeth are best for this, of course. And then when the zipper gets old, sometimes it splits apart right in the middle, so you can have it zipped up tight and cozy and then suddenly your soft belly is out in the cold wind again.
Not to mention jamming. Buttons never rose to this level of sophistication.
When the open-ended zipper is working right its bottom has a sort of little box on one side and a pin-like deelybob on the other that fits into the empty slot in the box, and that locks it, for when you want to zip up and go do gnarly stuff.
That's about it. Go for it if you dare.
Have anything worth adding? Then try sosayseff@gmail.com
Me? Still bleeding a bit.
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