Anti-zipper puller sliding device

• US 9,194,158 B2
• Filed: 02/25/2013
• Issued: 11/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Sun Lock Company Ltd.
• Original Assignee: The Sun Lock Company Ltd.
• Inventors: Lai, Karl
• Primary Examiner(s): BOSWELL, CHRISTOPHER J
• Application Number:
  US13/775,370
• Publication Number:
  US 20140060988A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,002 Days
• Field of Search: 70 68- 76, 70/21
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 19/30 with means for locking in position
• 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 5/00 Rigid or semi-rigid luggage collapsible or extensible luggage, bags or the like A45C7/00
• 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

Abstract

The present invention is directed to embodiments of an anti-zipper sliding device that may include at least one body, a gripping surface affixed onto the body, a fastener to removably attach the body and the gripping surface onto a piece of luggage having a zipper with a zipper track and a zipper puller so as to prevent the anti-zipper sliding device from moving along the zipper track of the luggage. The anti-zipper sliding device may also include at least one locking mechanism or be configured for engagement with at least one locking mechanism in order to lock at least one zipper puller to the anti-zipper sliding device in order to prevent the zipper from being re-zipped after a zipper breach.

Claims

1. An anti-zipper sliding device, comprising:

a first body portion and a second body portion configured for removable attachment to each other by a fastener;

at least one gripping surface positioned on at least one of the first body portion or the second body portion; and

a cover configured to cover at least a part of the first body portion and at least a part of the fastener;

wherein the first body portion and the second body portion are configured for attachment to a piece of luggage having a zipper track with at least one zipper so as to prevent movement of the anti-zipper sliding device along the zipper track of the luggage;

wherein the cover is further configured to be secured to the first body portion by a locking mechanism when the cover covers at least a part of the first body portion; and

wherein the first body portion comprises a fastener hole configured to receive the fastener to allow the fastener to pass through the first body portion, and wherein the second body portion comprises a threaded hole configured for alignment with the fastener hole and configured to threadenly engage with the fastener in order to secure the first body portion to the second body portion.

2. The anti-zipper sliding device according to claim 1, further comprising the fastener, and wherein the fastener is configured to position the anti-zipper sliding device between a clamped mode in which movement of the anti-zipper sliding device along the zipper track of the luggage is prevented, and a separated mode in which the anti-zipper sliding device is disengaged from the luggage or slidable along the zipper track of the luggage.

3. The anti-zipper sliding device according to claim 2, wherein when the anti-zipper sliding device is in the clamped mode the at least one gripping surface is engaged with at least a portion of the zipper track, and the at least one gripping surface and the zipper track are positioned between the first body portion and the second body portion.

4. The anti-zipper sliding device according to claim 2, further comprising at least one locking post extending from the second body portion, and at least one post receiving chamber formed in the first body portion, wherein each of the at least one post receiving chambers are positioned in the first body portion to at least partially receive one of the at least one locking post when the anti-zipper sliding device is in the clamped mode.

5. The anti-zipper sliding device according to claim 4, wherein when the at least one locking post is received within one of the at least one post receiving chambers, the at least one locking post is configured to secure to one of the at least one zippers of the zipper track so that when the anti-zipper sliding device is in the clamped mode movement of the zipper relative to the anti-zipper sliding device is restricted.

6. The anti-zipper sliding device according to claim 2, wherein the threaded hole is configured for alignment with the fastener hole when the anti-zipper sliding device is in the clamped mode.

7. The anti-zipper sliding device according to claim 2, wherein at least one gripping surface is positioned on the first body portion and at least one gripping surface is positioned on the second body portion so that each of the at least one gripping surfaces substantially face each and are engaged with the zipper track when the anti-zipper sliding device is in the clamped mode.

8. The anti-zipper sliding device according to claim 2, wherein the first body portion comprises a locking extension and a hole formed therein, and wherein the cover comprises an extended tab and a tab hole formed therein and dimensioned to receive the locking extension of the first body portion when the cover covers at least a part of the first body portion.

9. The anti-zipper sliding device according to claim 8, wherein the locking mechanism is a padlock having a securing mechanism, and wherein the padlock is configured to secure the locking extension to one of the at least one zippers by passing the securing mechanism through the hole formed in the locking extension and the zipper so that when the anti-zipper sliding device is in the clamped mode movement of the zipper relative to the anti-zipper sliding device is restricted.

10. The anti-zipper sliding device according to claim 9, wherein when the securing mechanism of the padlock is locked onto the locking extension the cover is secured to the first body portion.

11. The anti-zipper sliding device according to claim 9, wherein the securing mechanism is selected from one of a shackle, a cable or a chain.

12. The anti-zipper sliding device according to claim 2, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a combination locking mechanism operable between a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration, and wherein the cover is releasable from the first body portion when the combination locking mechanism is in the unlocked configuration.

13. The anti-zipper sliding device according to claim 12, wherein the locking mechanism further comprises a key locking mechanism operable between a locked orientation and an unlocked orientation, and wherein the cover is releasable from the first body portion when the key locking mechanism is in the unlocked orientation.

14. The anti-zipper sliding device according to claim 12, further comprising a pair of locking posts extending from the second body portion and positioned at opposite ends of the second body portions, and a pair of post receiving chambers formed in the first body portion, wherein each the pair of post receiving chambers are positioned in the first body portion to at least partially receive one of the pair of locking posts when the anti-zipper sliding device is in the clamped mode.

15. The anti-zipper sliding device according to claim 2, wherein the first body portion comprises an extension and a hole formed therein, and wherein the cover comprises a shackle hole formed therein and positioned for alignment with the hole when the cover covers at least a part of the first body portion.

16. The anti-zipper sliding device according to claim 15, wherein the locking mechanism is a padlock having a securing mechanism, and wherein the padlock is configured to secure the extension to one of the at least one zippers by passing the securing mechanism through the hole formed in the locking extension and the zipper so that when the anti-zipper sliding device is in the clamped mode movement of the zipper relative to the anti-zipper sliding device is restricted.

17. The anti-zipper sliding device according to claim 16, wherein when the securing mechanism of the padlock is locked onto the extension the cover is secured to the first body portion.

18. The anti-zipper sliding device according to claim 16, wherein the securing mechanism is selected from one of a shackle, a cable or a chain.

19. The anti-zipper sliding device according to claim 2, wherein the second body portion comprises a protection ring extending from a surface of the second body opposite a surface from which the at least one gripping member extends from, and wherein the protection ring is configured to protect the fastener from being released from the ant-zipper sliding device when the anti-zipper sliding device is in the clamped mode.

20. The anti-zipper sliding device according to claim 1, further comprising at least one projection extending from the first body portion, and at least one slot formed in the cover and each of the at least one slot are positioned to receive one of the at least one projection when the cover covers at least a part of the first body portion.