Locking mechanism for tamper-proof backpack or piece of luggage

• US 4,066,195 A
• Filed: 10/14/1975
• Issued: 01/03/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Paul J. Dickler
• Original Assignee: Paul J. Dickler
• Inventors: Dickler, Paul J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Spar, Robert J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Forsberg, Jerold M.
• Application Number:
  US05/621,870
• Time in Patent Office: 812 Days
• Field of Search: 224/8 R, 224/8 A, 224/9, 224/25 A, 224/46 R, 224/47, 224/43, 224/44, 224/45 S, 190/60, 190/26, 190/41 R, 70/15, 70/76, 70/18, 70/49, 70/30, 70/233, 70/234, 211/4, 150/52 R
• US Class Current: 224/153
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/18 Devices to prevent theft or loss of purses, luggage or hand carried bags
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/20 Chains or bands A45C13/185 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 3/00 Travelling or camp articles travelling rugs A47G9/06; Sacks or packs carried on the body convertible into other articles A45F4/00
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 3/04 Sacks or packs carried on the body by means of two straps passing over the two shoulders
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/402 Fetters
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/409 Shackles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5009 For portable articles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5089 Loop type

Abstract

A tamper-proof backpack is disclosed which is formed of plastic or similar molded construction. The backpack includes a concave rear wall and shoulder straps which enable the backpack to be carried on the back of a user. The backpack may also be hand-carried and a cover is provided for fitting over the concave rear wall thereby hiding the shoulder straps when the backpack is so carried. The backpack includes a locking mechanism which prevents unauthorized access into the interior of the backpack and which also enables the backpack to be secured to a stationary object. The locking mechanism may also be used to secure a conventional luggage-suitcase or similar article to a stationary object.

Claims

1. A piece of luggage comprising a body having side walls and a rear wall defining a space for storing material, a cover connected to one of said side walls and adapted to swing from a closed position to an open position providing access to said storage space, locking means for securing said cover to said body in its closed position, and means for securing said piece of luggage to a stationary object, said stationary object securing means including a well defined in one of said side walls, said well including an aperture opening to said storage space, a securing member having a first end permanently maintained within said storage space exterior of said well and having a second end inserted in said well through said aperture, a cover for said well permanently connected to said piece of luggage and adapted to move from a closed position to an open position, said well cover and said well defining a notch for enabling said securing member to extend from said well when said well cover is closed, wherein said second end of said securing member is adapted to be withdrawn from said well when said well cover is opened with said securing member sliding through said aperture, said securing member being wrapped around said stationary object and said second end of said securing member being reinserted back into said well and said well cover being closed to maintain said securing member looped around said stationary object, and an abutment disposed at said second end of the securing member for preventing withdrawal of said second end through said notch when said well cover is closed and further for preventing withdrawal of said second end through said aperture and back into the storage space.

2. A tamper-proof piece of luggage according to claim 1 wherein said body and said cover are formed of a plastic, resilient material.

3. A tamper-proof piece of luggage according to claim 1 wherein the first end of the securing member is connected within the storage space and the second end of the securing member is adapted to be withdrawn from the storage space wrapped said stationary object and thereafter inserted back into said storage space.

4. A tamper-proof piece of luggage according to claim 1 wherein said securing member is a cable.

5. A piece of luggage according to claim 1 further comprising means for locking the well cover in its closed position.

6. A piece of luggage according to claim 5 further comprising means for biasing said well cover in its open position.

7. A piece of luggage according to claim 6 wherein said well locking means includes a latch for maintaining said well cover in a closed position against the action of the biasing means.

8. A piece of luggage according to claim 7 wherein the well cover is hingedly connected to the well.

9. A tamper-proof piece of luggage comprising a body having side walls and a rear wall defining a space for storing material, a cover connected to one of said side walls and adapted to swing from a closed position to an open position providing access to said storage space, first locking means for securing said cover to said body in its closed position, and second locking means for securing said piece of luggage to a stationery object, said second locking means including a locking mechanism, a well defined in one of said side walls, said well including an aperture opening to said storage space, a cable adapted to slide through said aperture and having a first end disposed within said storage space exterior of said well and having a second end disposed in said well, a hingedly connected cover for said well adapted to open and close responsive to said locking mechanism, said well cover including a notch for enabling said cable to extend from said well when said well cover is closed, wherein said second cable end is adapted to be withdrawn from said well when said well cover is opened, said cable being adapted to be wrapped around said stationary object and said second cable end being reinserted back into said well, an abutment disposed at said second cable end for preventing withdrawal of said second cable end through said notch when said well cover is closed and after said second cable end has been reinserted back into said well, said abutment further preventing withdrawal of said second cable end through said aperture and back into the storage space prior to said second cable end being reinserted back into said well.