EP0411983A1 - Device for locking a slide fastener - Google Patents

Abstract

Suitcase lock, of the type in which two slides (32) serve to lock the pull devices of the sliders (9) of two slide fasteners (6, 7) ending on either side of the lock (1). According to the invention, the lock (1), which is especially a combination lock, has roller wheels (20) associated with immobilizing bushes and with a tipper device immobilizing the slides (32) in the locking position by means of the front faces of its fingers; the lock (1) also comprises two series of hooks, some being mounted on the edge of one half (3) of the suitcase and the others being mounted on the edge of the other half (4) of the suitcase, these hooks being locked together by the tipper device until the slides are brought back, after a first outward movement to release the pull devices, in the direction of the handle (19) of the suitcase mounted in the middle of the half-bracket unit (12) of the lock, so as to actuate the tipper device in order to disengage the hooks from one another and thus to open the lock. <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to a zipper locking device which is more particularly, but not limited to, for flexible luggage, whether it be suitcases, travel bags or the like.

It is known, in particular from US Pat. No. 3,319,743, to lock two zipper sliders by placing an orifice on the pulls of said sliders which engages on a lug, this lug then being covered by a flap , mounted on a hinge, which is folded over the post and can be locked in this position by means of a lock.

This gives the possibility of locking a zipper; but the fact remains that when the baggage or the like is completely filled, the forces which tend to open it are collected exclusively by the zipper. These forces are even greater when the object is lifted with a handle which is in the vicinity of the zipper.

The object of the present invention is to eliminate these drawbacks. It relates to a closure device which is constituted by a rigid casing in two parts, each part being arranged along one of the edges of the zipper, the two parts being provided with mechanisms making it possible to lock them one on the other and one of the two parts comprising means making it possible to block at least one cursor on a lug.

Preferably, a key or combination locking mechanism is placed on the housing.

Also preferably, there is the handle intended to lift the baggage or the like on one or the other of the two parts of the housing.

It is thus obtained: that the forces which act transversely on the zipper and which tend to open it are no longer collected by said zipper but by the rigid housing and its closing mechanisms; that if the zipper is open either because its hooks drop or because a thief cuts the zippers, it is still not possible to open the luggage or the like without opening the case; finally, that when lifting the baggage or the like the force resulting from the weight of said baggage is collected by the housing which itself distributes the forces over a large area without requesting the zipper.

Preferably, at least one slide is used to cover the lug in which the slider zipper is engaged and this same slide is used to act on a member controlling the opening of the mechanism locking the two parts one on the other. of the rigid housing.

One can use a key or combination lock to prohibit or authorize the movement of the slide, but one can just as easily use another locking mechanism of the two parts of the housing which is controlled by a key or combination lock.

In addition, it is preferable to use a zipper comprising two sliders which are moved towards one another during the closure; in this case, there are two slides so that the two sliders can be locked on two lugs, the latter being placed at each end of the housing. In this case also by sliding the two slides inwards, the two sliders are released and then sliding them in the opposite direction, the locking mechanism of the two parts of the housing is released.

The invention will be described in detail below in its application to the particular case of a suitcase in two symmetrical parts, but it is obvious that the invention is not not limited to this particular case which is given only by way of example.

Preferably, the slides are biased by springs which tend to keep them in the locked position. Cleats provided on the slides are positioned so that they can be actuated ergonomically. The closing stability is further increased by the fact that the combination lock is located halfway along the lock housing, which is in the form of a console, so that it is advantageously possible to arrange, between the terminal regions of this housing and the pins provided therein, four locking points of the counter-closing element. The two halves of the case are thus firmly attached to each other in the locked position. The two middle counter-closing elements cooperate directly with the blocking element, and the two outer counter-closing elements cooperate with the slides. The two middle elements can be released by releasing the locking element, by adjusting the combination of the lock to the open position, and the two external elements are then released by sliding the sliders. However, this last movement is carried out in the opposite direction to that which releases the sliders of the sliders. It is therefore necessary to always respect the order of succession of maneuvers to open the bag. First choose the combination to open. We can then slide the sliders to release the sliders of the sliders. Only then can the slides be slid in the other direction, to release the counter-closing elements. The operation of each slide has the effect of tensioning a spring for ejecting the counter-closing elements, which facilitates the opening of the case, thanks to the action of the ejecting spring on the counter-closing element. This ejector spring plays a double role, because it constitutes at the same time a stop spring for a closing element coming into engagement with the counter element. closing. By sliding the slide in the release position, it comes, via the closure element, to tension the ejector spring as well as the stop spring, and thus brings the closure element into position allowing it to separate from the counter-closing element, so that then the ejector springs can come into action and initiate and then help the opening of the bag. When closing the halves of the case, the ejector spring is tensioned by the counter-closing element, and therefore the closing element is stretched in the locking direction, so that when the case is completely closed, the closing element engages behind the counter-closing element. The position of the slides is blocked by lugs on the handle of the case, projecting from the upper face of one of the halves of the console. Thus, it fulfills a double function, on the one hand by holding the handle of the suitcase and on the other hand by being used for guiding the slides.

• La figure 1 est une vue en perspective d'une valise en deux moitiés symétriques, munie du dispositif selon l'invention;
• La figure 2 est une vue partielle en plan de la valise de la figure 1 ;
• La figure 3 est une coupe selon la ligne III-III de la figure 2;
• La figure 4 est une vue analogue à la figure 3, mais dans laquelle la combinaison secrète est brouillée et l'élément basculant de blocage est en position de blocage;
• La figure 5 est une vue latérale de la serrure en position de verrouillage;
• La figure 6 est une coupe selon la ligne VI-VI de la figure 2;
• La figure 7 est une coupe selon la ligne VII-VII de la figure 2;
• La figure 8 est une coupe selon la ligne VIII-VIII de la figure 2;
• La figure 9 est une coupe selon la ligne IX-IX de la figure 2;
• La figure 10 est une coupe selon la ligne X-X de la figure 5;
• La figure 11 est une vue correspondant à la figure 4, dans laquelle la combinaison de la serrure est en position d'ouverture, le coulisseau étant poussé hors de sa position de blocage en direction de la serrure, ce qui permet d'amener la tirette du curseur en position de dégagement;
• La figure 12 fait suite à la figure 11, montrant la manoeuvre du coulisseau en sens opposé, vers la position libérant l'élément de contre-fermeture ;
• La figure 13 est une coupe se rapportant à la figure précédente, similaire à celle de la figure 10;
• La figure 14 représente la serrure ouverte, dans la position correspondant à la figure 13, et
• La figure 15 est une vue en perspective du coulisseau.

An exemplary embodiment of the invention will be explained below, using the drawings in which:

• Figure 1 is a perspective view of a suitcase in two symmetrical halves, provided with the device according to the invention;
• Figure 2 is a partial plan view of the bag of Figure 1;
• Figure 3 is a section along line III-III of Figure 2;
• FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, but in which the secret combination is scrambled and the tilting blocking element is in the blocking position;
• Figure 5 is a side view of the lock in the locked position;
• Figure 6 is a section along line VI-VI of Figure 2;
• Figure 7 is a section along the line VII-VII of Figure 2;
• Figure 8 is a section along line VIII-VIII of Figure 2;
• Figure 9 is a section along the line IX-IX of Figure 2;
• Figure 10 is a section along line XX of Figure 5;
• FIG. 11 is a view corresponding to FIG. 4, in which the combination of the lock is in the open position, the slide being pushed out of its blocking position in the direction of the lock, which makes it possible to bring the zipper the cursor in the release position;
• Figure 12 follows Figure 11, showing the operation of the slide in the opposite direction, towards the position releasing the counter-closing element;
• Figure 13 is a section referring to the previous figure, similar to that of Figure 10;
• FIG. 14 represents the open lock, in the position corresponding to FIG. 13, and
• Figure 15 is a perspective view of the slide.

The suitcase 2 shown in Figure 1, equipped with the lock 1 according to the invention, has two suitcase halves 3 and 4, hinged together around an axis, not shown, located opposite the lock. Both the lock and this axis are on the two narrow longitudinal walls. On the side wall on which the hinge pin is located, rollers are not shown, allowing the case 2 to roll the bag 2 by means of an auxiliary handle 5 fixed on the front wall of the bag.

The two halves 3, 4 of the suitcase can be connected to each other, on the one hand by means of two zippers 6, 7 and on the other hand by means of lock 1. The lock 1 comprises a console-shaped lock box 8.

Each slide fastener 6, 7 is provided with a slider 9 on which a pull tab 10 is articulated. This has an orifice 11.

The console-shaped lock housing 8 consists of two console halves 12, 13. The half-console 12 is associated with half 3 of the bag and the half-console 13 is associated with half 4 of the bag. For fixing the half-consoles 12, 13, these are provided with recessed grooves 14, 15 (see FIG. 5), so that they can be fixed to the edge of the halves 3, 4 of the case by means of fixing slats 16 , 17 arranged opposite these grooves.

The lock housing 8 is designed in such a way that it blocks the two sliders 10 of the sliders by means of its end regions, while it retains, by means of its middle section, two counter-closing elements 18 of 4 half of the suitcase. These two elements 18 are hook-shaped and start from the narrow edge of the half-console 13 facing the half-console 12.

Lock 1 has a combination lock. This has adjustment knobs 20 arranged on a continuous axis 19 and locking sockets 21 associated with these knobs, these sockets being provided with a flat 22. On the periphery of the knobs 20 are symbols, for example under the form of numbers from 0 to 9. By means of a ratchet spring not shown, the rollers can be engaged in ten angular positions, to prevent them from turning on their own. The knobs 20 are coupled, in known manner, to the locking sockets 21. The latter cooperate with a tilting locking element 23. This locking mechanism is mounted inside the half-console 12 so that the knobs 20 pass through the windows 24 of the half-console 12. A compression spring 25 situated near the axis of the tilting blocking element 23 biases this element 23 in the tending direction to press it against the sockets 21. The tilting element 23, mounted in the lock, is covered and retained pr a profile 26 in the form of U oriented towards the inside of the suitcase. There is further provided a lever 27 on the axis 19 of the knobs to allow disengaging the coupling of the sockets 21 with the knobs 20 when it is desired to change the secret combination.

The tilting blocking element 23 has, opposite its articulation axis, blocking protrusions 28 which cooperate with the two counter-closing elements 18, in the form of hooks (see FIG. 9). If the knobs are not on the combination allowing the opening, the tilting blocking element 23 is held by the sockets 21 in a position such that the protrusions 28 of this element are engaged behind the counter-closing elements 18. It would then be impossible to open the suitcase.

The tilting blocking element 23 also has, at the level of its protuberances 28, fingers 29 directed towards the outside, the front faces 30 of which are, when the secret combination is scrambled, on the path of angular protuberances 31 formed on two slides 32 which can slide in the end regions of the half-console 12. Each slide 32 has a base plate 33 sliding on the wide outside face of the half-console 12, provided with a longitudinal opening 34, in the form of bleachers according to its cross section. This opening 34 is crossed by a fixing foot 35 of a clip 36 for the handle. This foot (FIG. 8) is immobilized by a fixing screw 37 which passes through the covering profile 26. A handle 39 in the shape of a U and articulated on the axes 38 of the two fasteners 36.

Each slider 32 also has, near its outwardly facing end, a projecting gripping surface 40 which extends transversely to the sliding direction of the slider 32. Another other end of the slider 32 can also be provided. operating tongue 41. The end of the base plate 33 directed towards the zipper is in the form of a swan neck and is engaged, by its shape, with the half-console 12 (see in particular FIG. 5) . This therefore prevents the base plate 33 from being lifted, thanks to the attachment 36 of the handle and thanks to the above-mentioned swan neck connection.

The slide 32 carries an extension 31 which extends near a longitudinal edge of the slide 32. On the other longitudinal edge is provided another support tongue 42 (FIG. 15) which is urged by a compression spring 44 housed in a groove 43 of the half-console 12 (FIG. 7). This gives rise to a displacement of the slide 32 in the direction of a locking, and in this position the end of the slide 32, facing outwards, engages on a lug 45 forming part of the half-console 12, which hooks into the hole 11 of the pull tab 10 of the cursor 9, to immobilize the cursor (see FIG. 3).

The slide 32 acts, by its extension 31, on a closing tab 46 guided in the half-console 12 in the direction of movement of the slide. A spring 47 folded into a U acts by its branch 47 ′ on the cleat 46 in the direction of the extension 31 of the slide. But the force of the spring 47 is greater than that of the compression spring 44, so that, when the suitcase is closed, the cleat 46 engages behind a closing counter cleat 48, also in the form of a hook, located at the same height (see Figure 3). This hook 48 leaves, like the hook 18, from the half-console 13, so that the spouts of two neighboring hooks 18, 48 are directed in opposite directions. When the suitcase is closed, the other branch 47˝ of the U-shaped spring 47 is stretched by the hook 48. Thus, the spring 47 also plays the role of an ejector spring (see FIG. 13).

In its middle part, the spring 47 is engaged on a pin 49 having a shape somewhat similar to that of a keyhole and intended to hold the spring 47.

The operation of the lock is as follows:

After closing the halves 3, 4 of the suitcase, the sliders 32 can be pushed towards one another by means of the tabs 40 which release them from their locking position and thus release the pins 45. We can then bring the pull tabs 10 of the sliders 9 so that the pins 45 engage in the holes 11 of the pull tabs 10. Next, the slides 32 are left to return by themselves, under the action of their return springs, to their positions respective locks. This means that the slides now cover the lugs 45 with the pulls 10. To lock the lock 1, which is of the combination type, the secret combination is scrambled by means of the knobs 20. This rotates the locking sleeves 21 which act at their turn on the tilting element 23 so that the projections 28 of this element engage behind the spouts of the hooks 18 located in the middle position. In addition, the fingers 29 of the tilting element 23 are placed on the path of the extensions 31 of the slides. If one then tries to drive the slides 32 out of their locking position for the slide fasteners, the extensions 31 meet the front faces 30 of the fingers 29 of the tilting element 23. This position is shown in FIG. 4. If the slides 32 are pushed outwards, this only has the effect of displacing the closing lugs 46, so that, if necessary, they can be released from the closing lugs 48. But in in all cases, the hooks 18 located in the middle position remain hooked (see FIG. 10). Thus, the suitcase cannot be opened. The sliders 9 can be shaped so as to however prevent movement of the slides 32 outward.

The opening of the bag always requires that the lock be adjusted to the secret combination by means of the knobs 20. This has the effect of bringing the flats 22 of the locking sleeves 21 into a position such that they allow the tilting of the 'tilting element 23, biased by a spring. The fingers 29 retreat out of the way of the extensions 31 of the slides. In addition, the protrusions 28 of the tilting element 23 release the counter hooks 18. This makes it possible to maneuver the slides 32 inwards, overcoming the force of their springs, so that they no longer cover the pins. 45. The drawbars 10 can then be tilted into the free position, as shown in FIG. 11, and the slide fasteners 6, 7 can be opened. The counter hooks 48 are then still engaged with the hooks 46. To release them , it is necessary to maneuver the slides 32 outwards. Their extensions 31 then meet the hooks 46 and push them into the release position, overcoming the force of the springs 47, while the latter then play the role of ejector springs by initiating, by means of their branches 47˝, the movement of opening of the case, by pushing the counter hooks 48 out of their coupling position with the hooks 46. An intermediate opening position is shown in FIG. 14. Then, the slide 32 is pushed back by its compression spring 44 towards its other end-of-travel position, in which the hook 46 causes the spring 47 to tilt so that the branch 47˝ of this spring engages in the opening 50 (FIG. 13) of the half-console 12 and is thus places on the closing path of the counter-hook 48, so that when the case is closed, the hook 46, biased by the spring, engages behind the counter-hook 48, in the locked position.

It should also be mentioned that there are a total of four locking locations for the counter hooks, between the two lugs 45, which provides great locking security, even if the slide fasteners 6, 7 were open.

Claims (14)

1. Locking device for a zipper of the type comprising means for immobilizing at least one slider (9) by means of a lug (45), characterized in that it is constituted by a rigid housing (8) in two parts (12, 13) one on each edge of the closure, said two parts being able to be locked one on the other by any suitable mechanism; one of the two parts comprising locking means (32) of at least one slider (9) on a lug (45). 2. Locking device according to claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism of the two parts of the housing as well as the locking mechanism of the (or) slider are actuated by the same control member (32). 3. Locking device according to claim 2, wherein the control member (32) is a slide. 4. Locking device according to claim 3, wherein the slide (32) can occupy three positions: a first position in which it covers the pull tab (10) of the cursor (9) keeping it thus locked on a lug (45); a second position in which it uncovers said pull tab (10) and releases it; a third position in which it releases the locking mechanism of the two parts (12, 13) of the housing. 5. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises an additional locking mechanism to keep the two parts of the housing locked one on the other, this mechanism possibly being a lock actuated by a key or combination lock. 6. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the zipper is in two parts (6, 7) and comprises two sliders (9) located each side of the closure housing (8), one of the elements (12) of said housing (8) comprising at each of its two ends a lug (45) on which engages each orifice (11) of each pull tab ( 10) sliders (9). 7. Locking device according to any one of the preceding claims, in which one of the two elements (13) of the closure housing carries a grip handle (39). 8. Locking device according to claim 5, characterized in that the combination lock comprises a tilting element (23) which can be moved by means of knobs (20) to lock an opposite closing element (18), this tilting element ( 23) which can be moved, with the front faces (30) of fingers (29) directed outwards, out of the path of two sliders (32) associated with the terminal regions, these sliders (32) covering, in their position locking, lugs (45) for hooking the pullers (10) of the sliders (9). 9. Locking device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the slides (32) are biased by springs in the locking direction and are provided with catches (40) allowing them to be operated. 10. Locking device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the combination lock is located mid-length of the housing (8) of the lock, which is in the form of a console, and in that between the two lugs (45) are provided with four locking points for the opposite closing element (18), two of these points located in the middle position and cooperating directly with the tilting locking element (23) being able to be released by bringing the said tilting element (23) on the secret combination, and the two other locking points located outside which can be released by displacement of the slides (32). 11. Locking device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the movement of the sliders (32) to open the lock takes place in the opposite direction to the movement of said sliders intended to release the pull tabs (10). 12. Locking device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least one ejection spring (47) of the opposite closure element (18). 13. Locking device according to claim 12, characterized in that the ejection spring (47) simultaneously constitutes the stop spring of a closing element (46) retaining the opposite closing element (48). 14. Locking device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the slides (32) are guided by supports (36) of the handle (39) of the suitcase, these supports projecting from the upper face. a half-console (12) of the housing (8) of the lock.

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