FI95993C - Safety closing mechanism - Google Patents

Description

1 95993

The present invention relates to a zipper safety closing mechanism according to the type definition of claims 1 and 2. Such a security closure mechanism 5 can be used mounted on a zipper attached to a bag in which valuables are placed when living in hotels, motels, inns and the like, or in a envelope containing confidential letters and inter-office messages and which circulates between the branch offices of a particular organization.

The present invention has been made in view of the difficulties encountered in the safety closure mechanism for zippers disclosed in Applicant's own Japanese Utility Model Application No. 15. 62-155080. As shown in FIG. having a puller D hingedly mounted thereon, the closure body A having a locking means B on its upper side for locking the tail portion E thereon so that it cannot be detached or permanently extending in one piece from the puller D so that it is easy to see from the outside whether the bag containing the zipper is still securely closed or has been subjected to theft, pickpocket or the like during carriage.

30

However, since in this safety closure mechanism the puller D itself is detachably connected directly to the body of the slider, the slider C must be provided with a special mounting lug, the structure of which is complex, thus making the cost of the slider C more expensive and making the slider C. the installation of the puller D in Chapter 1 C is more time consuming and laborious.

Furthermore, although the tail portion E of the puller D is locked to the locking means B, there is no means for supporting the puller body D 'itself 2 95993. And it has a weak thinned part F between the tail part E and the puller body D '. Thus, the tail portion E is susceptible to rupture from the puller body D 'during lateral stresses applied to the puller body D'.

5

Still further, the safety closure mechanism can only be reused by replacing the broken puller D with new Ds made in bulk for replacement. Under these conditions, another person opens the bag very easily by breaking the pull-10 men D and re-closes it by replacing it with a new pull D when the bag is transported. In this case, the recipient of the bag could not say whether the bag has been opened or not so that there is a problem with the security of the conventional closing mechanism.

15

In view of the above drawbacks, the object of the present invention is to provide a safety closing mechanism which allows discardable pulls which can be easily replaced even with the ubiquitous reader 1, thus completely eliminating the need for a special slider provided with a special mounting lug of complex construction.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a safety closure mechanism in which the body of the puller is firmly supported on the closure body, thus being free of the tail portion. poismurtamiseksi.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a security locking mechanism that allows the recipient of a bag to easily tell if the bag has been opened before he has received it.

The safety closure mechanism of the present invention is characterized by what is set forth in the characterizing parts of claims 1 and 2.

Many other advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent from those of the prior art with reference to the detailed description of the 3,9993 and accompanying drawings, which illustrate preferred structural embodiments incorporating the principles of the present invention as illustrative examples.

5

Figure 1 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of a safety closure mechanism in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the safety closure mechanism of Figure 1;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing another embodiment; Fig. 4 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the top plate of the closure body of the safety closure mechanism of yet another embodiment;

Fig. 5 is similar to Fig. 1, but shows yet another embodiment; 20

Fig. 6 is also similar to Fig. 1, but shows still another embodiment;

Fig. 7 (a) is a partial side view of a puller and a loop connected to each other; Fig. 7 (b) is a view similar to Fig. 7 (a), but showing yet another embodiment; Fig. 8 (a) is a partial plan view of a puller and a loop connected to each other; * Fig. 8 (b) is a view similar to Fig. 7 (a), but showing yet another embodiment;

Fig. 9 is a front elevational view of a bag to which a safety closure mechanism according to the present invention is attached; and 35 4 95993

Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view of a safety closure mechanism according to the prior art.

Figure 1 shows a safety closure mechanism S according to the present invention mounted at one end of a zipper Z. Since the closing mechanism S is already mounted on the zipper Z, it is preferably very easy to mount on the bag 40, i. the closing mechanism S can be mounted on the bag 40 simply by attaching the zipper Z to the opening of the bag 40, as shown in Fig. 9. The zipper Z comprises a pair of zipper halves 4, 4 each containing a zipper strip T, T and a row of connecting elements 5, 5 mounted along its inner longitudinal edge Τ ', T' and 1 of the reading piece 6 are mounted reciprocally mounted on the rows of connecting elements 5, 5 and 15 along them. The slider 6 comprises a slider body 6 'having a mounting lug 18 on its upper surface and a puller P articulated to the mounting lug 18 by a loop 19 for handling the slider 6, the puller P including a puller body 10 connected to the loop 19 and a tail-20 portion 11 extending therefrom for a locking engagement with the locking means 12 which cannot be removed, as described in more detail below.

The safety sealing mechanism S is made of synthetic resin-25 materials and generally includes a pair of upper and lower rectangular plates 2, 3. The upper and lower plates 2, 3 are fastened to the end of the coupling element rows 5, 5 to which the slider 6 enters to completely close the zipper Z, in such a way that the upper and lower plates 2, 3 are fastened to each other at their respective four corners by fastening means such as rivets 7. zippers-train strips T, T between them, as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

The upper plate is substantially rectangular and has a groove 35 in the position 8 at the end adjacent to the rows of coupling elements 5, 5 to thus provide a concave abutment surface 9 corresponding to the shape of the front of the slider 6 for leaning and tight coupling therewith. The locking means 12 is provided protrudingly on the upper surface of the upper plate 95993 le at its distal end and is arranged parallel to the rows of elements 5, 5 for locking so that it cannot be detached or permanently at the end 11 of the puller P. where the locking means 5 12 is mounted, is referred to as the front end, while the end with the concave strapping surface 9 is hereinafter referred to as the rear end for convenience only. The locking means 12 is a trapezoidal prism and has a tunnel 14 formed through it for positioning the tail portion 11 of the puller P.

The resilient tongue 15 is provided at the inlet end 13 and the upper edge of the locking means 12, which partially defines the tunnel 14 in such a way that it slopes downwards towards the outlet end 13 'of the locking means 12, as better shown in Fig. 2. The resilient tongue 15 is provided at its distal end teeth 16 for locking engagement with a series of protrusions 17 provided in the tail portion 11 of the puller P when inserted through the tunnel 14, as described in more detail below. A pair of retaining walls 20, 20 protrude substantially centrally on the upper surface of the upper plate 220 and are spaced parallel to each other, thus spacing the loop 19 and the puller body 10 to prevent them from moving laterally when the puller tail 11 is locked to the locking means 12. more reliable close-25 operation. The transverse depression 22 is formed on the upper surface forward of the support walls 20, 20 of the upper plate 2 and is located at a weak, thinned portion 21 formed between the puller body 10 and the tail portion 11 transverse to the general plane of the closure body 1 when the tail portion 11 is locked to the locking means. 12 so as to at the same time facilitate the intentional breaking of the frangible thinned part 21 to open the bag 40.

The lower plate 3 is also rectangular and substantially identical in shape to the upper plate 2. At its distal end, the lower plate 3 has a groove 23 formed therein to allow the slider 6 to rest stably against its bottom when the slider 6 comes into abutting contact with the concave abutment surface 9 of the upper plate 2. The lower plate 3 has 6 95993

A rectangular through hole 37 formed in the middle, formed therefrom, in a fastening connection with a protruding protrusion 24 provided on the lower surface and in the middle of the upper plate 2.

5

As shown in Figure 1, the loop 19 comprises an annular portion 26 having a circular opening 25 and a coupling portion 27 extending in one piece from one end of the annular portion 26. The annular part 26 has a hinge part 26 'formed at one end for articulating engagement with the fastening lug 18 of the slider 6. The coupling part 27 has a substantially U-shaped cross-section and comprises a pair of parallel spaced strips 28, 28 defining a groove 27 'therebetween. A pair of coupling flanges 28 ', 28' are provided on and along the respective leading edges of the coupling strips 28, 28 in such a way that they extend towards each other. The fitting edge 29 is provided on the proximal edge of the puller body 10. The fitting edge 29 is brought into engaging connection with the coupling strips 28, 28 20 only by sliding the fitting edge 29 laterally into the groove 27 'of the zipper Z and along it, thus easily connecting the puller P to the loop 19. Since the puller P is thus connected to the mounting lug 18 of the slider 6 through the loop 19, the slider 6 may be of any ubiquitous type or it is not necessary to use a special slider provided with a special mounting lug * complex, which preferably makes the slider 6 easier, makes it less costly to manufacture and easier to install the puller P on the slider 6 30.

Pull P is disposable and can be made of synthetic resin material, hard rubber, metal and the like. The puller P includes a puller body 10, 35 articulated to the loop 19, a tail portion 11 adapted for locking engagement with the locking means 12, and a weak thinned portion 21 located between the puller body 10 and the loop 19 to facilitate intentional breakage of the puller P. between. Instead of having a weak, thinned portion 21, the puller P can be made narrower between the puller body 10 and the tail portion 11 to make the gap breakable. The body 10 of the puller is so wide that it is tightly gripped by the opposite walls 20, 20. At its distal end, the puller body 10 has a fitting edge 29 for fitting coupling of the connection strips 28, 28 of the loop 19. The tail portion 11 can be inserted through the tunnel 14 and has in its central portion on its upper surface a series of protrusions 17 for locking engagement with a series of teeth 16 formed on the lower surface of the flexible tongue 15.

As better shown in Fig. 9, the safety closure mechanism S is attached to the opening formed in the bag 40 by sewing, seaming, or other suitable method.

15 To close the bag 40, the articulated portion 26 of the loop 18 is first attached to the mounting lug 18 of the reading piece 6 just as the ubiquitous puller is attached thereto. The fitting edge 29 of the puller P is then flagged into the groove 27 'of the coupling part 27 of the loop 18 and along it laterally with respect to the zipper Z, thus bringing it into engagement with the coupling part 27. Thereafter, to close the zipper Z, the puller P is pulled to move the slider 6 thus all the way to the closing mechanism S until the leading edge of the reading body 6 engages the concave striking surface 9 of the closing mechanism S. The puller is then lowered flat against the upper surface of the upper plate 2 by the tail portion 11 of the puller P inserted through the tunnel 14 of the locking means 12, the series of projections 17 of the locking portion 11 coming into locking engagement with the series of teeth 16 of the flexible tongue 15 so that the slider 6 , to the safety locking mechanism S very easily. Since the locking means 12 can be seen from the outside, it can be easily ensured that the closing * is reliably provided so that the safety closing mechanism S can as such realize the increased safety and security effects.

To open the bag 40, the weak thinned part 21 is broken, thus releasing the puller body 10 from the locked tail part 11 8 95993, so that the slider 6 thus released is flagged out of the safety closing mechanism S while opening the zipper Z.

Figure 3 shows a second embodiment of the present invention, which is substantially identical to the previous embodiment with the following exception. The locking means 12a has a transverse rod 30 in the tunnel 14 next to its outlet end 13 '. The tail portion 11a is first placed through the tunnel 14 under the transverse bar 30 and then folded around the transverse bar 30 10 onto itself and then placed back through the tunnel 14 again. A series of projections 17 formed on the upper surface of the portion of the folded tail portion 11a engages with a series of teeth 16 of the resilient tongue 15. This structure is intended to ensure that the tail part 11 can be locked to the locking means 12 more permanently. Moreover, unlike the loop 19 of the other embodiments, the loop 19 according to this embodiment comprises a hook-shaped loop body 31 fixed by a hook to the puller P and a resilient plate member 32 resiliently engaging the loop body 20 31, thus releasably connecting the puller P to the loop 19.

Figure 4 shows another embodiment of the present invention in which, instead of the upper edge of the tunnel 14, a resilient tongue 15 is provided at the lower edge of the tunnel 14 in such a way that it extends forward and is provided at its distal end with a series of teeth 16 which can be connected to a series of projections 17 which is formed on the lower surface of the tail portion 11 when the tail portion 11 is inserted through the tunnel 14. The locking connection between the teeth 16 and the projections 17 is made immediately below the tail part 11, so that it is less accessible by any tool for opening from the outside, thus making the safety locking mechanism S much more secure.

It should be noted that the pair of retaining walls 20, 20 can act to retain the puller P when it is attached directly to the attachment lug 18 of the reading body 6 as effectively as where the puller P is attached indirectly through the loop 19 to the attachment lug 18 of the reading body 6.

9 95993

Fig. 5 shows yet another embodiment in which the reinforcing bridge 33 connects the support walls 20, 20 to each other on their respective upper sides, thus retaining the puller body 10 between the support walls 20, 20 and the perpendicular displacement of the reinforcing bridge 33 while ensuring a more secure closure. Although the reinforcing bridge 33 is shown to connect the respective distal ends of the retaining walls 20, 20, the position and width of the reinforcing bridge 33 can be selected in a manner appropriate to its purpose. Instead of a single reinforcing bridge 33 extending between the retaining walls 20, 20 10, a pair of protrusions (not shown) may extend from the retaining walls 20, 20 toward each other to retain the upper surface of the puller body 10.

Fig. 6 shows yet another embodiment in which a pair of protrusions 34, 34 are provided on opposite sides of the groove 8 in such a way that they extend towards each other, but the tips of the protrusions 34, 34 are spaced apart to allow the slider 6 mounting lug 18 to come in. between the tips of the projections 34, 34 when the leading edge of the slider 20 6 is in abutting contact with the concave abutment surface 9. The protrusions 34, 34 work together to hold the body 6 'of the liku body in a stable position against accidental transverse displacement of the slider 6, thus resulting in increased safety in closing. As shown above, the reinforcing bridge 33 (Fig. 5) and the projections 34, 34 (Fig. 6) are retained against accidental displacement of the puller body 10 and the slider body 6 ', respectively, thus resulting not only in increased safety closure but also in the accidental weak part 21. prevention of breakage.

: Figures 7 (a) and 7 (b) show another embodiment in which the connecting strips 28, 28 have a plurality of ridges 50, 35 51 formed on their respective inner opposite surfaces to extend longitudinally into the groove 27 ', while the fitting edge 29 has a plurality of cuts 50 ', 51' formed on opposite sides of the sections complementary to their ridges 50, 51 in their relative positions, size and shape. This arrangement ensures that the puller P provided with a fitting edge 29 with complementary cuts 50 ', 51' only runs with the loop 19 for the coupling connection so that the complementary ridges and cuts 50, 51; 50 ', 51' act as identification means for identifying the puller 10. Thus, it is guaranteed that if someone else secretly opens the bag 40 during transport, he can never close the bag 40 again unless he uses a puller P provided with a fitting edge 29 with complementary cuts 50 ', 51'. The various identification means 50, 51, 50 ', 51' can be provided simply by changing the complementary ridges and cuts 50, 51; 50 ', 51' number, shape, size, relative position, etc.

15

Figures 8 (a) and 8 (b) show another embodiment in which marks 52, 53 are used as identification means instead of a ridge and a cutting arrangement, i. the corresponding marks 52, 53 are drawn by pressing, stamping or otherwise on the lower surfaces of the puller body 10 and the loop 19, respectively, which are not visible, or on the sides of the puller body 10 and the loop 19, respectively, which are completely covered by the retaining walls 20, 20. Alternatively, instead of both the puller body 10 and the loop 19, only the puller 10 can be provided with an identification mark-25 if the user remembers the key mark. This helps the user of the bag 40 to check whether the bag 40 has been opened and closed. again during transport.

Various modifications and variations of this invention are obviously possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that the invention may be practiced within the scope of the appended claims other than as specifically described.

Claims (12)

A safety closure mechanism (S) for a zipper (Z) comprising a pair of zipper halves (4, 4), each of which contains a zipper belt (T, T) and a coupling element row (5, 5) which is mounted along its inner longitudinal edge (Τ ', Τ') and a runner (6) mounted movably back and forth on the coupling element rows (5, 5), the runner (6) containing a runner body (6 ') at which a fastening ear (18) is provided at its upper surface, the safety closure mechanism (S) comprising a closure body (1) mounted at that end of the coupling element rows (5, 5) at which the runner (6) comes to close the drawbar (Z) and comprising a shaft surface (9) disposed at its end adjacent the coupling element rows (5, 5) for receiving the runner (6) and a reading means (12, 12a, 12b) disposed on the upper surface of the closure body (1) and a flap (P) whose end has been arranged for a non detachable reading coupling with the reading means (12, 12a, 12b), characterized in that the runner further comprises a loop (19) which is pivotally connected to the fastening ear (18) and that the other end of the drawbar (P) is removably connected to the the loop (19); and that the closure body (1) further comprises a pair of support walls (20, 20) which are mounted on its upper surface 25 and which are parallel and at a distance from each other to incline the loop (19) and the pull tab (P) between them. to prevent their lateral movement. 2. Safety closure mechanism (S) at the zipper (Z) comprising a pair of zipper halves (4, 4), each of which contains a zipper belt (T, T) and a coupling ·. an element row (5, 5) mounted along its inner longitudinal edge (Τ ', Τ') and a runner (6) mounted movably back and forth on the coupling element rows (5, 5), the runner (6) containing a runner body (6 ') at which a fastening ear (18) has been provided at its upper 95993 surface, the security closure mechanism (S) comprising a closure body (1) mounted at that end of the coupling element rows (5, 5) at which the runner (5) 6) for closing the zipper (Z) and comprising a shaft surface (9) arranged at its end next to the coupling element rows (5, 5) for receiving the runner (6) and a listing means (12, 12a, 12b) which has been provided above the upper surface of the closure body (1) and a flap (P), one end of which has been detachably coupled to the attachment ear 10 (18) and the other end has been provided for a non-detachable listing coupling with the listing means (12, 12a, 12b); characterized by that closure the body (1) further comprises a pair of support walls (20, 20) which are mounted on its upper surface and which are parallel and spaced apart from each other to hold the pull tab (P) between them to prevent its lateral movement; and the closure body (1) further comprises a reinforcing bridge (33) which connects the support walls (20, 20) to each other at their respective upper sides to prevent the perpendicular movement of the flap 20. Safety closure mechanism (S) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the closure body further comprises a means (34, 34) for retaining the runner body (6 ') in the runner (6) comes with the shaft surface (9) inclined connection. 4. A security closure mechanism (S) according to claim 3, characterized in that a shelf (35, 35) comprising a pair of projections (34, 34) has been arranged on opposite sides at the shaft surface (9) to hold the runner (6) together. ) in a stable position against an accidental occurrence; perpendicular movement. Safety closure mechanism (S) according to claim 1, characterized in that the pull tab (P) comprises a pull tab body (10) which is removably coupled to the loop (19), a tail part (11) which is arranged for a read-out coupling. with the unloadable reading means (12), and a slightly thinned portion (21) mounted between the pull tab body (10) and the tail portion (11) to facilitate a deliberate burst of the pull tab (P) between them. The safety closure mechanism (S) according to claim 2, characterized in that the pull tab (P) comprises a pull tab body (10) which is removably coupled to the fastening ear (18), a tail part (11) arranged for such a reading coupling with the reading means. (12) which cannot be loosened, and a slightly thinned portion (21) which is mounted between the drawbar body (10) and the tail portion (1i) to facilitate a deliberate bursting of the pull tab (P) between them. 15 A security closure mechanism (S) according to claim 5, characterized in that the loop (19) comprises an annular portion (25) and a coupling portion (27) extending integrally from one end of the annular portion (25). wherein the coupling member (27) has a substantially U-shaped cross-section and comprises a pair of parallel, spaced apart coupling strips (28, 28) defining a ferry (27 ') between them, the coupling strips (28, 28 ), a pair of coupling flanges (28 ', 28') have one at each of its leading edge 25 and along it, the flap body (10) at its further away end having an adjustment edge (29) for an alignment coupling with the coupling strips of the loop (19). (28, 28). A security closure mechanism (S) according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the reading means *. (12) has a tunnel (14) formed therefrom and a resilient tongue (15) provided protruding at its inner edge defining the tunnel (14), the resilient tongue (15) at its further away end and at Its lower surface has a series of teeth (16); whereby the tail portion (11) of the flap (P) can be placed through the barrel (14) and it has at its center and its upper part a series of outlets (17) for reading coupling with the tooth series (16) at the resilient tongue. (15). 5 Security closure mechanism (S) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pull valve (P) further comprises a means (50, 50 '; 51, 51'; 52, 53) for identifying the pull valve (P). The security closure mechanism (S) according to claim 9, characterized in that the identifying means (50, 50 '; 51, 51'; 52, 53) comprise a plurality of axes (50, 51) provided at the corresponding inner resistance surfaces. of the coupling strips (28, 28) and several recesses (50 ', 51') provided at the opposing sides of the fitting edge (29), these being complementary to the axes (50, 51) in proportionate positions, size and shape. Security closure mechanism (S) according to claim 9, characterized in that the identifying means 20 (50, 50 '; 51, 51'; 52, 53) is a mark (52, 53) arranged on the pull tab (P). Safety closure mechanism (S) according to claim 11, characterized in that the mark (52, 53) is arranged on the pull tab (P) in the cloud mouth. 25 I im »m im iB: i« ·