Nike patents magnetic zipper sliders that snap together automatically

1. A fastening assembly for a zipper having a first slider tape and a second slider tape, each slider tape including a series of interdigitating teeth along a zipper axis, the fastener assembly comprising: a first structure comprising; a first portion defining a first internal cavity; and a second portion defining a first alignment zone, the second portion having a first end adjacent the first internal cavity, an upper surface extending from the first end to an upper outer end, a locking notch adjacent the first end, and a lower surface extending from the locking notch to a lower outer end, wherein at least a portion of one of the upper surface and the lower surface is a curved, concave shape; and a second structure comprising; a spherically shaped wall defining a second internal cavity; a locking tab extending from an outer surface of the spherically shaped wall, the locking tab shaped to mate with the locking notch; a magnet held within one of the first internal cavity and the second internal cavity; and a magnetically attractable material held within the other of the first internal cavity and the second internal cavity; wherein when the first structure and the second structure are near each other, the magnetically attractable material is attracted to the magnet, such that the spherically shaped wall of the second structure is guided at least partially by at least the curved, concave shaped portion of one of the upper surface or the lower surface of the first structure to align the locking tab with the locking notch.