Patent ID: 6408660
Filing Date: 2002-06-25
Classification: G09F,Y10T

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