PULL TAB FOR LOCK ZIPPER SLIDER AND LOCK ZIPPER SLIDER

Abstract

 A lock zipper slider (1) comprising a slider body (2) having a front member (2A) and a back member (2B) connected by a neck (2C) arranged to form paths (C1, C2) for toothed edges of a zipper, a pull tab (3) having an eye member (6), a movable locking element (4) arranged in the slider body (2) to lock the slider (1) on zipper toothed edges, an attachment member (7) for attaching the eye member (6) of the pull tab (3), the eye member (6) being arranged to unlock the locking element (4), characterized in that the eye member (6) is arranged movable in relation to the body (9) of the pull tab (3) and is connected to a release mechanism (11) situated in the pull tab (3), the release mechanism (11) comprising a release confirmation element (16), the release mechanism (11) being arranged to lock the eye member (6) after pushing the pull tab (3) towards the attachment member (7) or unlock the eye member (6) after activation of the release confirmation element (16), whereas in a lock position the eye member (6) forms an opening (8) of a first area and in the unlock position the eye member (6) forms an opening (8) of a second area, the second area being bigger than the first area, in the unlock position of the eye member (6) the pull tab (3) being angularly movable with relation to the attachment member (7) having varied cross-section so that the eye member (6) pushes the locking element (4) away from the toothed edges of a zipper to unlock the locking element (4).

Description

[0001] The object of the present invention is a pull tab for a lock zipper slider and a lock zipper slide.

[0002] A zipper is a commonly used device in clothes industry, it is used for binding together two edges of fabric, leather or other flexible material. Two rows of teeth attached along edges of two pieces of material are joined by specially shaped channels typically forming a letter Y. It is used in clothes, luggage, bags, tents, sleeping bags, etc.. Zippers come in a wide range of sizes, shapes, and colors. Zippers are more and more widely used in luggage, women's bags, men's suitcases and there is a demand to have a zipper slider which is protected against unwelcome access to the interior of the above mentioned. In other words it is world wide expected to have user protected zipper sliders.

[0003] In the state of the art there are known zipper sliders which are provided with locking eyes or similar element through which is led a steel thin rope or is locked with a padlock, for example US2012/0180271A1, US2003/0145636A1. Patent US4422220A discloses a zipper slider provided with a specially shaped locking member automatically closed on zipper teeth by a pull tab. Document US2008/0052880A1 discloses a safe locking slider with a rotary coupling element to lock on teeth of a zipper.

[0004] There is demand to keep safe one's own belongings in luggage or any other bag or sack and have fast access to them. A lock zipper slider must comprise a locking element to lock it at any point on a zipper i.e. along joined toothed zipper edges and maintain a pull tab in a lowered position until the owner/user opens it again. There is a demand that it comprise a mechanism for safe locking the slider on a zipper e.g. by the owner/user which may be unlocked only by the owner in a very simple manner.

[0005] The object of the invention is a pull tab for a lock zipper slider comprising a body and an eye member. The pull tab is characterized in that the eye member of the pull tab is arranged movable in relation to the body of the pull tab and is attached to a release mechanism situated in the pull tab, the release mechanism comprises a release confirmation element and is arranged to lock the eye member after pushing the pull tab towards an attachment member of a lock zipper slider or unlock the eye member after activation of the release confirmation element, whereas in a lock position the eye member forms an opening of a first area and in the unlock position the eye member forms an opening of a second area, the second area being bigger than the first area.

[0006] In a preferred embodiment the eye member may be provided with a hook-type element and inside the body there may be provided a catch element having catches arranged to stop the hook-type element and a spring arranged to push the eye member.

[0007] The release confirmation element may be a biometric sensor, a NFC tag/chip or a combination lock.

[0008] The object of the invention is also a lock zipper slider comprising a slider body having a front member and a back member connected by a neck arranged to form paths for toothed edges of a zipper, a pull tab having an eye member, a movable locking element arranged in the slider body to lock the slider on zipper toothed edges, an attachment member for attaching the eye member of the pull tab, the eye member being arranged to unlock the locking element. The zipper is characterized in that the eye member is arranged movable in relation to the body of the pull tab and is connected to a release mechanism situated in the pull tab, the release mechanism comprising a release confirmation element, the release mechanism being arranged to lock the eye member after pushing the pull tab towards the attachment member or unlock the eye member after activation of the release confirmation element, whereas in a lock position the eye member forms an opening of a first area and in an unlock position the eye member forms an opening of a second area, the second area being bigger than the first area, in the unlock position of the eye member the pull tab being angularly movable with relation to the attachment member having varied cross-section so that the eye member pushes the locking element away from the toothed edges of a zipper to unlock the locking element.

[0009] In a preferred embodiment the cross-section of the attachment member varies such that the area of the cross-section of a first leg of the attachment member corresponds to the first area of the opening of the eye member and the area of the cross-section of the link of the attachment member corresponds to the second area of the opening of the eye member.

[0010] In a preferred embodiment the area of the cross-section of the link of the attachment member increases from the first leg to the second leg.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment in the unlock position the dimension between an inner part of the eye member and the body is bigger than the thickness dimension of the link.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment the attachment member may be cone-shaped.

[0013] In the attachment member there may be located a spring element which pushes the locking element towards the back member.

[0014] In the attachment member there may be located a locking element being C-shaped and a spring.

[0015] The release confirmation element may be a biometric sensor, a NFC tag/chip or a combination lock.

[0016] A lock zipper slider according to the invention is compact and easily operated by a user. Its pull tab does not raise by itself so that there is no risk that a bag or luggage is opened accidentally i.e. not intentionally by the owner/user.

[0017] The lock zipper slider and its pull tab is described hereunder on basis of an advantageous embodiment with reference to the drawing in which:

Fig. 1 presents a front view of a lock zipper slider,

Fig. 2a presents a side view cross-section of the lock zipper slider of Fig. 1,

Fig. 2b presents a cross-section of the lock zipper slider of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 presents the lock zipper slider of Fig. 1 with a pull tab angularly raised,

Fig. 4a presents the lock zipper slider of Fig. 1 with a pull tab completely raised,

Fig. 4b presents a cross section of the lock zipper slider of Fig. 4a,

Fig. 5a presents the pull tab of the lock zipper slider of Fig. 1 in side view,

Fig. 5b presents a cross section of the pull tab of Fig. 5a, and

Fig. 6 presents an isometric view of a release mechanism.

[0018] An embodiment of a lock zipper slider 1 presented in Fig. 1 comprises a slider body 2 and an attached pull tab 3. The slider body 2 comprises a front member 2A which is visible on a closed luggage, a back member 2B and a neck 2C, the neck 2C connects the front member 2A and the back member 2B. The pull tab 3 is arranged on the front member 2A of the slider body 2. Between the front member 2A and the back member 2B there are two channels C1, C2 for two rows of teeth of zipper edges (zipper edges are not presented in the drawing), the channels are formed as a letter Y, typically they are joined at a joining cavity 2D of the slider body 2, the teeth are completely separated at a separation cavity 2E of the slider body 2. The lock zipper slider 1 according to the invention is of a locking type, the lock zipper slider 1 is provided with at least one locking element 4 which protrudes into the joining cavity 2D so that it can enter between teeth of the edges of the zipper. The locking element 4 may also protrude into separation cavity 2D. The locking element 4 may have the form of a pin. The locking element 4 may have the form of two pins connected with each other. The lock zipper slider 1 does not move when the locking element 4 is placed between the teeth of a zipper. In an embodiment presented in Fig. 2a in the slider body 2 there is located a locking element 4 which is provided with two pins, one pin 4A can enter the joining cavity 2D the other pin 4B can enter the separation cavity 2D. The pins 4A and 4B are movably located in holes 2F and 2G in the front member 2A. The locking element 4 may be made of as a spring. In the embodiment presented in Fig. 2 the locking element 4 is C-shaped, above the locking element 4 there is located a spring 5 which pushes the locking element 4 between the teeth of a zipper. Any type of a locking element may be applied. There may be applied a locking element which is a spring itself and is maintained by its own in locking position i.e. it is pushed towards the teeth of a zipper.

[0019] An eye member 6 of the pull tab 3 is attached to an attachment member 7 which is situated on the front member 2A of the slider body 2. The attachment member 7 is formed as a bridge of variable cross-section. The attachment member 7 has two legs, namely a first leg 7A above the separation cavity 2D and a second leg 7B above the joining cavity 2C, in the presented embodiment the area Y2 of the cross-section of the rear leg 7B of the attach member 7 is bigger than the area Y1 of the cross-section of the front leg 7A. the cross sections will be referred to further in the description. The first leg 7A and the second leg 7B are connected by a link 7C, whereas the cross section of the link 7C varies. The link 7C may have the form of a cone, the connection points of the link 7C and the first leg 7A and the second leg 7B are rounded. The eye member 6 forms an opening 8, the border of the opening 8 is formed by the eye member 6 and the body 9 of the pull tab 3. The eye member 3 is arranged movable in relation to the body 9 of the pull tab 3, in the presented embodiment the eye member 6 is movable along the body 9, i.e. parallel to its length dimension. The eye member 6 may as well be rotated or movable crosswise in relation to the pull tab 3. Within the pull tab 3 there is located a release mechanism 11 which is arranged to lock the eye member 6 or unlock the eye member 6. In Fig. 5b the eye member 6 is presented in a lock position, the eye member 6 in an unlock position is presented with a dash line. As it is presented in Fig. 5b in the lock position the opening 8 has a first area X1, in the unlock position the opening 8 has a second area X2. In Fig. 5b there is also presented a cross section of the first leg 7A (marked with a dot line) having the area Y1. There is also presented a cross section of the link 7C (marked with a dot line) having the area Y2. The area X1 of the opening 8 corresponds to the area Y1 of the cross section of the first leg 7A. The area X2 of the opening 8 corresponds to the area Y2 of the cross section of the link 7C. The presented oval cross sections of the first leg 7A and the link 7C are exemplary, the opening 8 may be rectangular as presented in Fig. 5b or may be partly rounded, a rounded eye member 6 is presented in Fig. 1. In the lock position of the eye member 6 presented in Fig. 2b and 5b the dimension between the inner part 6A of the eye member 6 and the body 9 is marked as e1. In the unlock position presented in Fig. 4b the dimension e2 between the inner part 6A of the eye member 6 and the body 9 is bigger than the dimension e1. The dimension e1 corresponds to the thickness dimension g1 of the first leg 7A and the dimension e2 corresponds to the thickness dimension g2 of the link 7C which are presented in Fig. 3. The dimension e1 corresponds to the area X1 of the opening 8 and the dimension e2 corresponds to the area X2 of the opening 8.

[0020] The release mechanism 11 comprises a pin 12, a spring 13, a catch element 14, an activation element 15 and a release confirmation button 16. The pin 11 is provided with hook-type element 17, in the presented embodiment it is an annular element. The pin 12 is attached to or connected with the eye member 6. In the presented embodiment the pin 12 and the eye member 6 constitute one element. The release mechanism 11 is activated i.e. released by a release confirmation button 16. The activation element 15 may be an electromagnet powered by a battery and controlled by means of a chip (not presented in the drawing). The activation element 15, when powered, causes the catches 14A and 14B to move aside. After moving catches 14A and 14B aside of the pin 12 the eye member 6 may be displaced namely the pull tab 3 may be pulled so that the opening 8 increases its area bordered by the inner part 6A of the eye member 6 and the body 9 of the pull tab 3, then the person who uses the slider 1 can pull, move and rotate the pull tab 3 from a lowered position to a raised position as it presented by arrows in Fig. 3, the pull tab 3 becomes angularly raised or moved away from the front member 2A of the slider body 2, the pull tab 3 is rotated with relation to the attachment member 7. The dimension e1 is slightly bigger than the dimension g1 of the first leg 7A but is smaller than the dimension g2 of the link 7C, the dimension e2 is bigger than the dimension g2. After raising the pull tab 3 the area X2 of the opening 8 is bigger than the area Y2 of the cross section of the link 7C. As it is presented in Fig. 3b the locking member 4 is pushed upwards by the eye member 6 so that pins 4A and 4B are withdrawn from the joining cavity 2C and separation cavity 2D. After opening the zipper and placing the pull tab 3 in lowered position the spring 5 pushes the pin 4 back so that it locks on the zipper. In lowered position the spring 13 will push the eye member 6 and the pin 12 so that the catches 14A and 14B are maintained in lock position by the hook-type element 17. Locking of the catches 14A and 14B on the hook-type element 17 may be effected by pushing the pull tab 3 towards the attachment member with a finger.

[0021] The release confirmation element 16 in the pull 3 tab may be a biometric sensor which recognizes papillary ridges of the user. Instead of biometric sensors other sensors may be used e.g. NFC (near field communication) tags/chips, which are an application of radio frequency identification technology but they can operate on a limited distance. Such a confirmation element may be activated by a mobile phone, a smartwatch or a special chip hidden in a ring or another piece of jewelry, the chip may be stuck to a nail. In another embodiment there can be used a combination lock, for example a mechanical combination lock.

Claims

1. A pull tab (3) for a lock zipper slider (1) comprising a body (9) and an eye member (6), characterized in that the eye member (6) is arranged movable in relation to the body (9) of the pull tab (3) and is attached to a release mechanism (11) situated in the pull tab (3), the release mechanism (11) comprising a release confirmation element (16) and being arranged to lock the eye member (6) after pushing the pull tab (3) towards an attachment member (7) of a lock zipper slider (1) or unlock the eye member (6) after activation of the release confirmation element (16), whereas in a lock position the eye member (6) forms an opening (8) of a first area (X1) and in the unlock position the eye member (6) forms an opening (8) of a second area (X2), the second area (X2) being bigger than the first area (X1).

2. A pull tab according to claim 1, wherein the eye member (6) is provided with a hook-type element (17) and inside the body (9) there is provided a catch element (14) having catches (14A, 14B) arranged to stop the hook-type element (17) and a spring (13) arranged to push the eye member (6).

3. A pull tab according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the release confirmation element (16) is a biometric sensor.

4. A pull tab according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the release confirmation element (16) is a NFC tag/chip.

5. A pull tab according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the release confirmation element (16) is a combination lock.

6. A lock zipper slider (1) comprising a slider body (2) having a front member (2A) and a back member (2B) connected by a neck (2C) arranged to form paths (C1, C2) for toothed edges of a zipper, a pull tab (3) having an eye member (6), a movable locking element (4) arranged in the slider body (2) to lock the slider (1) on zipper toothed edges, an attachment member (7) for attaching the eye member (6) of the pull tab (3), the eye member (6) being arranged to unlock the locking element (4), characterized in that the eye member (6) is arranged movable in relation to the body (9) of the pull tab (3) and is connected to a release mechanism (11) situated in the pull tab (3), the release mechanism (11) comprising a release confirmation element (16), the release mechanism (11) being arranged to lock the eye member (6) after pushing the pull tab (3) towards the attachment member (7) or unlock the eye member (6) after activation of the release confirmation element (16), whereas in a lock position the eye member (6) forms an opening (8) of a first area (X1) and in an unlock position the eye member (6) forms an opening (8) of a second area (X2), the second area (X2) being bigger than the first area (X1), in the unlock position of the eye member (6) the pull tab (3) being angularly movable with relation to the attachment member (7) having varied cross-section so that the eye member (6) pushes the locking element (4) away from the toothed edges of a zipper to unlock the locking element (4).

7. A lock zipper slider according to claim 6, wherein the cross-section of the attachment member (7) varies such that the area (Y1) of the cross-section of a first leg (7A) of the attachment member (7) corresponds to the first area (X1) of the opening (8) of the eye member (6) and the area (Y2) of the cross-section of the link (7C) of the attachment member (7) corresponds to the second area (X2) of the opening (8) of the eye member (6).

8. A lock zipper slider according to claim 7, wherein the area (Y2) of the cross-section of the link (7C) of the attachment member (7) increases from the first leg (7A) to the second leg (7B).

9. A lock zipper slide according to claim 7 or 8, wherein in the unlock position the dimension (e2) between an inner part (6A) of the eye member (6) and the body (9) is bigger than the thickness dimension (g2) of the link (7C).

10. A lock zipper slider according to any claim 7 to 9, wherein the link (7C) of the attachment member (7) is cone-shaped.

11. A lock zipper slider according to any claim 7 to 10, wherein in the attachment member (7) there is located a spring element (5) which pushes the locking element (4) towards the back member (2B).

12. A lock zipper slider according to any claim 7 to 11, wherein in the attachment member (7) there is located a locking element (4) being C-shaped and a spring (5).

13. A zipper slider according to any claim 7 to 12, wherein the release confirmation element (16) is a biometric sensor.

14. A zipper slider according to any claim 7 to 12, wherein the release confirmation element (16) is a NFC tag/chip.

15. A zipper slider according to any claim 7 to 12, wherein the release confirmation element (16) is a combination lock.

Drawing