Combined luggage tag and locking system

• US 6,408,660 B1
• Filed: 12/29/2000
• Issued: 06/25/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Sun Lock Company Ltd.
• Original Assignee: The Sun Lock Company Ltd.
• Inventors: Lai, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): BARRETT, SUZANNE LALE DINO
• Application Number:
  US09/752,363
• Publication Number:
  US 20020083744A1
• Time in Patent Office: 543 Days
• Field of Search: 70/30, 70/49, 70/14, 70/18, 70/38.A, 70/38.B, 70/38.C, 702/33, 704/56.R, 70/64, 70/69
• US Class Current: 70/30
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/0329 having electronic sealing means
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/0352 using cable lock
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/0358 using a rigid hasp lock
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/409 Shackles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/435 Flexible shackle
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/8676 Key holders

Abstract

By providing a housing having an enlarged indicia receiving zone formed thereon along with combination defining rotatable dials associated therewith which controls lock means cooperatingly associated with the housing, a combined luggage tag and locking system is achieved. By employing this system, a single product is realized which is capable of identifying the owner of any suitcase or luggage with external indicia, while also effectively locking the suitcase or luggage to prevent unwanted entry. In addition, the combined luggage tag and locking system incorporates two separate and independent locking members, preferably a conventional shackle in combination with an elongated/flexible cable member or locking wire, for further enhancing the locked securement thereof to any desired product.

Claims

1. A combination luggage tag and locking system constructed to provide user identification and secure, locked engagement of any desired product, said system comprising

A. a housing comprising an outer surface on which an enlarged indicia receiving and displaying zone is formed;

B. a plate member pivotally mounted to the housing and movable between a first position in overlying protective relationship with the indicia receiving/displaying zone and a second position wherein said plate member is arcuately pivoted relative to the housing to provide access to the indicia receiving/displaying zone;

C. a shackle mounted to the housing and movable between a first locked position and a second unlocked position, said shackle comprising a generally J-shape incorporating

a. a short length having a terminating end constructed for cooperative locking and unlocking interengagement with the housing, and

b. a long leg having a terminating end portion journaled in a slider block for enabling rotational movement of the long leg about a central axis while preventing axial removal of the long leg from the slider block;

D. an elongated, substantially continuous cable member constructed for cooperating locking engagement with the housing and disengagement from the housing;

E. a plurality of dials each of said dials being rotationally mounted to the housing for ease of access and rotational movement relative to the housing;

F. a plurality of clutch rings each being rotationally mounted to the housing in overlying engagement with one of said dials and constructed for rotational movement with the rotational movement of the associated dial during the normal operation, and comprising a slot constructed for cooperative engagement with a locking finger; and

G. a locking plate mounted in the housing and movable between a first position cooperatively associative with the slider block of the shackle and the elongated flexible cable member to maintain the shackle and the cable member in secure, locked interengagement with the housing and a second position wherein the shackle and the cable member are unlocked and removable from the housing, said second position only being attainable by positioning the slots of each clutch ring in a precisely required orientation;

whereby a combination luggage tag and locking system is attained which is capable of enabling the user to provide identifying indicia on the surface thereof while also being able to securely lock a wide variety of products using either the shackle or the cable member.

2. The combination luggage tag and locking system defined in claim 1, wherein said plate member incorporates a transparent window zone for enabling the indicia to be easily viewable when the plate member is in a first position.

3. The combination luggage tag and locking system defined in claim 1, wherein said locking plate comprises a plurality of finger members positioned for engagement in the slots of the clutch rings whenever the clutch rings are rotated to position said slots in juxtaposed, facing relationship with the fingers, allowing said locking plate to move from a first position to a second position.

4. The combination luggage tag and locking system defined in claim 3 and further comprising a spring member mounted under compression between the housing and the locking plate for maintaining the locking plate in a first position.

5. The combination luggage tag and locking system defined in claim 4 and further comprising a plurality of spring members mounted to each clutch ring to assure biased engagement of the clutch ring to the dial, assuring simultaneous rotational movement of the clutch ring with the dial.

6. The combination luggage tag and locking system defined in claim 5, wherein each of said dials comprise a plurality of indicia formed on an outer, readily visible surface thereof for establishing a combination defining position wherein the slot of the clutch ring is positioned for receipt of the finger of the locking plate.

7. The combination luggage tag and locking system defined in claim 6, wherein the locking plate is movable from a first locked position to a second unlocked position whenever the indicia of each dial is positioned in the selected location for placing each slot of each clutch ring in juxtaposed aligned relationship with the fingers of the locking plate.

8. The combination luggage tag and locking system defined in claim 7, wherein the locking plate comprises an interlocking post for engaging the slider block of the shackle and controlling the movement of the shackle thereby.

9. The combination luggage tag and locking system defined in claim 8, wherein the locking plate cooperates with a movable post for controlling entry to the cable member receiving slot by blocking entry and enabling entry in response to the movement of the locking post.

10. The combination luggage tag and locking system defined in claim 1, wherein said housing comprises an elongated slot formed in one edge thereof and the cable member comprises

a. an elongated, substantially continuous length of cable having a first end and a second, and

b. said first end and said second end being removably mountable to the housing in cooperating relationship with the elongated slot of said housing.

11. The combination luggage tag and locking system defined in claim 10, wherein the locking plate is constructed for blocking entry into the slot when in a first position and enabling entry into the slot when in a second position, enabling entry and removal of the first end and second end of the cable member when desired.

12. The combination luggage tag and locking system defined in claim 11, wherein the slot comprises an elongated narrow portion and an enlarged cable member receiving portion associated therewith for enabling the first and second end portions to be inserted in and withdrawn from said slot.

13. The combination luggage tag and locking system defined in claim 10, wherein said cable member is further defined as comprising material resistant to being broken or severed.

14. The combination luggage tag and locking system defined in claim 13, wherein said cable member is further defined as being formed from braided or woven wire fibers.

15. The combination luggage tag and locking system defined in claim 14, wherein both the first end and the second end of the flexible cable assembly are slidably engaged and lockingly retained in elongated slots of the housing in response to movement of the locking plate between two alternate positions.