CLOSURE DEVICE ASSEMBLY FOR A PIECE OF LUGGAGE

• US 20180279735A1
• Filed: 02/25/2016
• Published: 10/04/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2015
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Victorinox AG (Victorinox Swiss Army Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Victorinox AG (Victorinox Swiss Army Incorporated)
• Inventors: PAUL, Tillman, KULCKE, Carsten, DI GIOVANNI, Antonio
• Application Number:
  US15/546,120
• Publication Number:
  US 20180279735A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/103 Arrangement of zip-fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/18 Devices to prevent theft or loss of purses, luggage or hand carried bags
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 5/03 Suitcases
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 35/105 Locks allowing opening by official authorities, e.g. master key opening of luggage locks by customs officials
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 37/0034 actuated by either
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 65/52 Other locks for chests, boxes, trunks, baskets, travelling bags, or the like

Abstract

Closure device assembly (1) for a piece of luggage (5) with a zipper (60), the assembly (1) comprising a zipper slider (15) for said zipper (60), an engagement element (10) for arrangement on a first body portion (51), a buckle element (11) for arrangement on a second body portion (52) and pivotable for engagement with said engagement element (10). The assembly (1) further comprises a bolt (12) with a bolt biasing member (130) being attached to said bolt (12). Said bolt (12) is moveable between a locking position, in which said bolt (12) engages with the zipper slider (60), the latter being in closed position, and a release position, in which said zipper slider (15) is released. The buckle element (11) is adapted to cover, when engaged to said engagement element (10), said bolt (12) and said engagement section (150) of the zipper slider (15) in said closed position.

Claims

1. A closure device assembly for a piece of luggage, the piece of luggage including a first body portion, a second body portion, and a zipper, said zipper being arranged between said first and second body portions, the closure device assembly comprising:

at least one engagement element adapted for arrangement on said first body portion;

at least one buckle element adapted for arrangement on said second body portion, said buckle element being adapted for pivotal motion between an open position and an engagement position such that, in said engagement position, said buckle element is in contact with said engagement element, said pivotal motion being about an axis that extends substantially parallel to said zipper, and

at least one zipper slider adapted for operation of said zipper and including at least one engagement section for engagement with said engagement element or said buckle element;

wherein the closure device assembly further comprises;

a locking device for locking said engagement section of said zipper slider when said zipper slider is in a closed position;

wherein said buckle element comprises a cover element and is adapted to cover in a closed positon of the closure device assembly with said cover element at least part of the locking device and said engagement section of the zipper slider in said closed position.

2. The closure device assembly according to claim 1, wherein the engagement section is integrally formed onto the zipper slider.

3. The closure device assembly according to claim 1, wherein the locking device comprises:

at least one bolt adapted for releasably locking said zipper slider;

a bolt biasing member being attached to and biasing said bolt;

wherein said bolt is moveable between

a locking position, in which said bolt engages with an engagement section of the zipper slider for locking said zipper slider, when said zipper slider is in the closed position; and

a release position, in which said zipper slider in said closed position is released,

wherein said buckle element is adapted to cover, in said engagement position, with said cover element at least said bolt and said engagement section of said zipper slider in said closed position.

4. The closure device assembly according to claim 3, wherein said bolt biasing member biases said bolt in said release position or wherein said bolt and said bolt biasing member are attached to said engagement element or wherein said bolt and said bolt biasing member are attached to said buckle element.

5. The closure device assembly according to claim 3, wherein said bolt is arranged on a pivotable bolt lever arm, wherein said bolt biasing member biases said bolt lever arm.

6. The closure device assembly according to claim 4, further comprising an actuation device, wherein said actuation device is adapted for moving said bolt against said bolt biasing member from said release position into said locking position upon closing the closure device assembly.

7. The closure device assembly according to claim 6, wherein said actuation device is attached to said buckle element.

8. The closure device assembly according to claim 6, wherein said actuation device comprises an actuation biasing member, said actuation biasing member biasing said actuation device in an actuation position such that, upon closing the closure device assembly, said actuation biasing member overrides said bolt biasing member and pushes said bolt from said release position into said locking position, and wherein said actuation device is adapted for being moved against said actuation biasing member from said actuation position to an initial position.

9. The closure device assembly according to claim 1, wherein said buckle element has a first engagement portion and said engagement element has a second engagement portion, said first and second engagement portions being adapted for mutual engagement.

10. The closure device assembly according to claim 9, wherein said buckle element is designed as a toggle clamp adapted for clamping said first and second body portions to one another.

11. The closure device assembly according to claim 3, comprising a push element for moving said bolt from said locking position into said release position wherein the engagement section may be released by pushing the push element without opening the cover element.

12. The closure device assembly according to claim 10, wherein said push element is a push button arranged on said buckle element, or wherein the closed closure device assembly is adapted for moving said actuation device from said actuation position into said initial position by means of pushing the push element, whereupon said bolt is moved from said locking position into said release position.

13. The closure device assembly according to claim 5, comprising a push element for moving said bolt from said locking position into said release position or wherein the engagement section may be released by pushing the push element without opening the cover element, wherein said push element is adapted to push, upon pushing on said push element, onto said bolt-lever arm to bring it into release position.

14. The closure device assembly according to claim 3, wherein at least one of said bolt and said engagement section of said zipper slider are/is formed such that said zipper slider that is moved to close said piece of luggage pushes said bolt into said release position.

15. The closure device assembly according to claim 1 comprising at least or exactly two zipper sliders working in opposite directions on said zipper, wherein, said closure device assembly comprises at least or exactly one bolt for each zipper slider, or wherein at least one of the locking device and the actuation device comprise two single-lever arms.

16. The closure device assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a counter plate with at least one support portion, wherein the counter plate is arranged and designed such that the support portion supports the zipper slider in closed position against force applied through the cover element onto the zipper slider.

17. The closure device assembly according to claim 1, wherein the zipper slider comprises a pull element, wherein the pull element comprises two parts that are hinged to one another, and wherein the pull element is designed such that the first and second parts are pivotable with respect to one another from a flat configuration to only one side into an angled configuration.

18. The closure device assembly according to claim 17, wherein, in the angle configuration, an angle between the first and second part is 90°

or more.

19. The closure device assembly according to claim 1, wherein the zipper is a double layer coil zipper.

20. The closure device assembly according to claim 1, wherein the engagement element comprises at least one ramp element with an inclined surface for guiding a releasing movement of the cover element.

21. A piece of luggage comprising:

a first body portion,

a second body portion, and

a zipper, said zipper being arranged between said first and second body portions,

the piece of luggage comprising a closure device assembly according to claim 1, wherein said at least one engagement element is arranged on said first body portion and said at least one buckle element is arranged on said second body portion.