Zipper lock assembly for an article with a zipper having two pull tabs

• US 6,202,455 B1
• Filed: 01/24/2000
• Issued: 03/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Su, Shun-Chang
• Original Assignee: Su, Shun-Chang
• Inventors: Su, Shun-Chang
• Primary Examiner(s): Gall, Lloyd A.
• Application Number:
  US09/491,076
• Time in Patent Office: 421 Days
• Field of Search: 70/67--69, 70/71, 703/12, 703/16, 703/17
• US Class Current: 70/68
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 37/12 with tumbler discs on several axes
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 65/52 Other locks for chests, boxes, trunks, baskets, travelling bags, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5053 Interengageable slide fastener type
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7305 Manually operable

Abstract

A zipper lock assembly is provided for an article with a zipper having two pull tabs. The zipper lock assembly includes a casing having two compartments and two slots for intercommunicating the compartments with outside to allow respective passing of the pull tabs into the compartment. A number lock assembly includes several number wheels rotatably mounted in the casing and a slide plate mounted in the casing and movable in a lateral direction in response to rotational movement of the number wheels. A follower member is releasably engaged with the slide plate. Two push members are pivotally mounted in the casing and each includes a first end for manual operation and a second end with a locking piece and a lug. When the number wheels of the number lock assembly are not in correct code number for unlocking, engagement of the follower member with the slide plate as well as pivotal movement of the push members are prevented to retain the locking piece in the compartment for retaining the pull tabs in place. When the number wheels of the number lock assembly are in the correct code number for unlocking, the follower member is allowed to engage with the slide plate upon pivotal movement of the push members by manually pressing the first ends of the push members, thereby disengaging the locking piece from the pull tabs and thus allowing removal of the pull tabs.

Claims

1. A zipper lock assembly for an article with a zipper having two pull tabs, comprising:

a casing including a compartment, the casing further including a slot for intercommunicating the compartment with outside to allow passing of the pull tabs into the compartment;

a number lock assembly including a plurality of number wheels rotatably mounted in the casing and a slide plate mounted in the casing and movable in a lateral direction in response to rotational movement of the number wheels;

a follower member releasably engaged with the slide plate; and

a push member pivotally mounted in the casing and including a first end for manual operation and a second end with a locking piece and a lug, the lug being operably connected to the follower member;

whereby when the number wheels of the number lock assembly are not in correct code number for unlocking, engagement of the follower member with the slide plate as well as pivotal movement of the push member are prevented to retain the locking piece in the compartment for retaining the pull tabs in place,

whereby when the number wheels of the number lock assembly are in the correct code number for unlocking, the follower member is allowed to engage with the slide plate upon pivotal movement of the push member by manually pressing the first end of the push member, thereby disengaging the locking piece from the pull tabs and thus allowing removal of the pull tabs.

2. The zipper lock assembly as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a resilient member mounted in the compartment, the resilient member being compressed by the pull tabs when the pull tabs are locked in the compartment such that the pull tabs are ejected out of the casing by the resilient member when the locking piece is disengaged from the pull tabs.

3. The zipper lock assembly as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an elastic member mounted in the casing for biasing the follower member to a position adjacent to the lug of the push member.

4. A zipper lock assembly for an article with a zipper having two pull tabs, comprising:

a casing including two compartments, the casing further including two slots for intercommunicating the compartments with outside to allow respective passing of the pull tabs into the compartments;

a number lock assembly including a plurality of number wheels rotatably mounted in the casing and a slide plate mounted in the casing and movable in a lateral direction in response to rotational movement of the number wheels, the slide plate including two engaging notches;

a follower member including two legs releasably engaged with the engaging notches of the slide plate; and

two push members pivotally mounted in the casing and each including a first end for manual operation and a second end with a locking piece and a lug, the lug being operably connected to the follower member, the locking piece being movable between a first position in an associated said compartment for engaging with an associated said pull tab of the zipper and a second position disengaging from the associated pull tab of the zipper upon manual pressing on the first end of the push member;

whereby when the number wheels of the number lock assembly are not in correct code number for unlocking, engagement of the legs of the follower member with the engaging notches of the slide plate as well as pivotal movement of the push members are prevented to retain the locking pieces in the compartments for retaining the pull tabs in place,

whereby when the number wheels of the number lock assembly are in the correct code number for unlocking, the lugs of the push members urge the legs of the follower member to engage with the engaging notches of the slide plate upon pivotal movement of the push members by manually pressing the first ends of the push members, thereby disengaging the locking pieces from the pull tabs and thus allowing removal of the pull tabs.

5. The zipper lock assembly as claimed in claim 4, further comprising a resilient member mounted in each said compartment, the resilient member being compressed by the associated pull tab when the associated pull tab is locked in the compartment such that the pull tab is ejected out of the casing when an associated said locking piece is disengaged from the pull tab.

6. A zipper lock assembly for an article with a zipper having two pull tabs, comprising:

a casing including two compartments, the casing further including two slots for intercommunicating the compartments with outside to allow respective passing of the pull tabs into the compartments;

a number lock assembly including a plurality of number wheels rotatably mounted in the casing, a plurality of retaining wheels respectively and releasably engaging with the number wheels to rotate therewith, and a slide plate mounted in the casing and movable in a lateral direction in response to rotational movement of the retaining wheels, the slide plate including two engaging notches;

a follower member including two legs releasably engaged with the engaging notches of the slide plate; and

two push members pivotally mounted in the casing and each including a first end for manual operation and a second end with a locking piece and a lug, the lug being operably connected to the follower member, the locking piece being movable between a first position in an associated said compartment for engaging with an associated said pull tab of the zipper and a second position disengaging from the associated pull tab of the zipper upon manual pressing on the first end of the push member;

whereby when the number wheels of the number lock assembly are not in correct code number for unlocking, engagement of the legs of the follower member with the engaging notches of the slide plate as well as pivotal movement of the push members are prevented to retain the locking pieces in the compartments for retaining the pull tabs in place,

whereby when the number wheels of the number lock assembly are in the correct code number for unlocking, the lugs of the push members urge the legs of the follower member to engage with the engaging notches of the slide plate upon pivotal movement of the push members by manually pressing the first ends of the push members, thereby disengaging the locking pieces from the pull tabs and thus allowing removal of the pull tabs.

7. The zipper lock assembly as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a resilient member mounted in each said compartment, the resilient member being compressed by the associated pull tab when the associated pull tab is locked in the compartment such that the pull tab is ejected out of the casing when an associated said locking piece is disengaged from the pull tab.

8. The zipper lock assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein the slide plate includes three openings for rotatably receiving the retaining wheels, respectively, an inner periphery defining each said opening including a protrusion, each said retaining wheel including a notch releasably engaged with the protrusion of an associated said opening of the slide plate, whereby when the number wheels are in the correct code number position, the notch of each said retaining wheel is engaged with the protrusion with the associated opening of the slide plate while the engaging notches of the slide plate being aligned with the legs of the follower member, and when the number wheels are not in the correct code number position, the notch of each said retaining wheel is not engaged with the protrusion with the associated opening of the slide plate while the engaging notches of the slide plate being not aligned with the legs of the follower member.

9. The zipper lock assembly as claimed in claim 8, wherein the casing includes a plurality of axles each for mounting an associated said number wheel and an associated said retaining wheel thereon, each said number wheel including a plurality of depressions in a side thereof, each said retaining wheel being rotatably mounted on an associated said number wheel, each said retaining wheel including a corresponding number of knurls formed on a side thereof for releasably engaging with depressions of the associated number wheel to provide a retaining effect.

10. The zipper lock assembly as claimed in claim 9, further comprising an elastic member mounted on each said axle for biasing the associated retaining wheel to engage with the associated number wheel to rotate therewith.

11. The zipper lock assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein the casing includes three number wheel compartments for rotatably receiving the number wheels, respectively, the casing further including three second slots that are respectively communicated with the number wheel compartments such that each said number wheel is partially exposed for manual turning.

12. The zipper lock assembly as claimed in claim 6, further comprising means for biasing the slide plate in the sliding direction of the slide plate.

13. The zipper lock assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein the follower member includes a peg, the casing including two guide grooves for receiving the legs of the follower member, the guide grooves being separated by a separation member, further comprising an elastic member attached between the peg of the follower member and the separation member for biasing the legs of the follower member away from the engaging notches of the slide plate.

14. The zipper lock assembly as claimed in claim 13, wherein the slide plate includes three openings for receiving the retaining wheels, respectively, an inner periphery defining each said opening including a protrusion, each said retaining wheel including a notch releasably engaged with the protrusion of an associated said opening of the slide plate, whereby when the number wheels are in the correct code number position, the notch of each said retaining wheel is engaged with the protrusion with the associated opening of the slide plate while the engaging notches of the slide plate being aligned with the legs of the follower member, and when the number wheels are not in the correct code number position, the notch of each said retaining wheel is not engaged with the protrusion with the associated opening of the slide plate while the engaging notches of the slide plate being not aligned with the legs of the follower member.

15. The zipper lock assembly as claimed in claim 14, wherein each said number wheel includes a plurality of depressions in a side thereof, each said retaining wheel being rotatably mounted on an associated said number wheel, each said retaining wheel including a corresponding number of knurls formed on a side thereof for releasably engaging with the depressions of the associated number wheel to provide a retaining effect.

16. The zipper lock assembly as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a resilient plate having two resilient legs extended into the compartments, respectively, each said resilient leg being compressed by an associated said pull tab when the associated pull tab is locked in the compartment such that the pull tab is ejected out of the casing when an associated said locking piece is disengaged from the pull tab.

17. The zipper lock assembly as claimed in claim 16, wherein the casing includes two pegs to which the push members are pivotally mounted, respectively, the resilient plate including two holes through which the pegs of the casing are extended.