An anti-theft zipper head includes a head member and a handle. The head member includes a zipper groove for engaging a zipper. The handle is connected with the head member. The head member further includes an elastic piece. The elastic piece is configured for engaging the zipper and thereby confining the movement of the head member on the zipper. The handle includes a push switch. The push switch is configured to control the elastic piece to extend into the zipper groove so as to engage the zipper, or to withdraw from the zipper groove so as to be disengaged with the zipper.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of Chinese Patent Application No. 200910106185.3, filed on Mar. 25, 2009; the contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE PATENT APPLICATION

The present invention generally relates to a zipper and more particularly to a zipper head that is secure and convenient to use.

BACKGROUND

Zippers have been widely used today while the zipper heads of most zippers do not have any anti-theft capabilities. For these zippers, external locks have to be added to prevent items enclosed by the zippers from being stolen. For example, suit cases usually need a password lock or an external lock to be installed thereto. As for regular handbags, waist-bags, and backpacks installed with conventional zippers, they all have such disadvantage so that almost anyone can easily open the zippers and steal the items inside.

SUMMARY

The present patent application is directed to an anti-theft zipper head. In one aspect, the anti-theft zipper head includes a head member, the head member including a zipper groove for engaging a zipper; and a handle connected with the head member. The head member further includes an elastic piece, the elastic piece being configured for engaging the zipper and thereby confining the movement of the head member on the zipper. The handle includes a push switch, the push switch being configured to control the elastic piece to extend into the zipper groove so as to engage the zipper, or to withdraw from the zipper groove so as to be disengaged with the zipper.

The push switch may be connected with the elastic piece through a cord. The elastic piece may be rotatably disposed in the head member and having a first position of extending into the zipper groove or a second position of being outside of the zipper groove. The push switch may be a sliding block elastically disposed on the handle and an end of the elastic piece may have an inclined surface. The handle may further include a password lock, the password lock being configured to lock or unlock the push switch.

The anti-theft zipper head may further include a subordinate head detachably connected with the handle, a mount member being configured on the subordinate head, a through hole being formed in the mounting member, a bolt unit compatible with the through hole being configured in the handle, an actuator being formed on the push switch, the actuator being connected with the bolt unit and configured for drive the bolt unit to move in or out of the through hole so as to lock or unlock the subordinate head.

The bolt unit may include a bolt member and a push member. The bolt member is elastically connected to the handle. A bolt compatible with the through hole is formed on the bolt member. The push member is installed on and covering the bolt. The actuator is pushed against the push member.

A spring may be disposed at the bottom of the bolt member. The spring is configured to elastically connect the bolt member to the handle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to a preferred embodiment of the anti-theft zipper head disclosed in the present patent application, examples of which are also provided in the following description. Exemplary embodiments of the anti-theft zipper head disclosed in the present patent application are described in detail, although it will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art that some features that are not particularly important to an understanding of the anti-theft zipper head may not be shown for the sake of clarity.

Furthermore, it should be understood that the anti-theft zipper head disclosed in the present patent application is not limited to the precise embodiments described below and that various changes and modifications thereof may be effected by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit or scope of the protection. For example, elements and/or features of different illustrative embodiments may be combined with each other and/or substituted for each other within the scope of this disclosure.

FIG. 1Ais top view of an anti-theft zipper head according to an embodiment of the present patent application.FIG. 1Bis a front view of the anti-theft zipper head.FIG. 1Cis a bottom view of the anti-theft zipper head.FIG. 1Dis a rear view of the anti-theft zipper head.FIG. 1Eis a side view of the anti-theft zipper head. Referring toFIGS. 1A-1E, the anti-theft zipper head includes a head member1and a handle12connected to the head member1through a connection121.FIG. 1Fillustrates a connection between the head member1and a handle12.FIG. 1Gillustrates an alternative connection between the head member1and a handle12.FIG. 1Hillustrates a handbag, a waist bag and a backpack having the anti-theft zipper head. Referring toFIG. 1F, two sleeves123and125are respectively disposed on the two ends of the flexible hose121A. Another sleeve123A (as shown inFIG. 2M) is disposed on the top of the head member1and configured to be compatible with the sleeve123at one end of the flexible hose121A. Yet another sleeve125A (as shown inFIG. 2M) is disposed on an end of the handle12and configured to be compatible with the sleeve125at the other end of the flexible hose121A. Referring toFIG. 1G, as an alternative way of connecting the head member1and the handle12, a connecting head126is disposed on the top of the head member1and connected to the sleeve123at the end of the flexible hose121A.

Referring toFIG. 1B, a zipper groove114is configured on the head member1and for engaging a zipper. A push switch2is configured on the handle12and for confining the position of the head member1on the zipper so that the head member1can only move toward the direction to close the zipper and can not move toward the direction to open the zipper. Referring toFIG. 1CandFIG. 1D, the push switch2is further configured to be locked by at least a password lock so as to in turn lock the zipper head. In this embodiment, there are two password locks.

FIG. 2Ais a cross-sectional view of the zipper head depicted inFIG. 1Ataken along the line A-A inFIG. 1Awhen an elastic piece is locked.FIG. 2Bis a cross-sectional view of the zipper head depicted inFIG. 1Ataken along the line A-A inFIG. 1Awhen the elastic piece is unlocked.FIG. 2Cis a cross-sectional view of the zipper head depicted inFIG. 2Ataken along the line B-B inFIG. 2Awhen a password lock is unlocked.FIG. 2Dis a cross-sectional view of the zipper head depicted inFIG. 2Ataken along the line B-B inFIG. 2Awhen a password lock locks a push switch.FIG. 2Eis a cross-sectional view of the zipper head depicted inFIG. 2Ataken along the line B-B inFIG. 2Awhen a password lock unlocks a push switch.FIG. 2Fis a cross-sectional view of the zipper head depicted inFIG. 2Btaken along the line C-C inFIG. 2B.FIG. 2Gis a cross-sectional view of the zipper head depicted inFIG. 2Btaken along the line D-D inFIG. 2B.FIG. 2His a cross-sectional view of the zipper head depicted inFIG. 2Btaken along the line E-E inFIG. 2B.FIG. 2Iis a partial magnified view of the zipper head depicted inFIG. 2B.FIG. 2Jis a cross-sectional view of the zipper head depicted inFIG. 2Itaken along the line I-I inFIG. 2I.FIG. 2Kis a cross-sectional view of the zipper head depicted inFIG. 2Itaken along the line J-J inFIG. 2I.FIG. 2Lillustrates the zipper head depicted inFIG. 2Iwhen another type of elastic piece assembly is used, wherein the elastic piece assembly includes a spring and a claw.FIG. 2Mis a cross-sectional view of the zipper head depicted inFIG. 1F.FIG. 2Nis a cross-sectional view of the zipper head depicted inFIG. 1G.FIG. 2Oillustrates a password lock of the zipper head depicted inFIG. 2Awhen the password lock is working properly.FIG. 2Pillustrates the password lock depicted inFIG. 2Owhen a new password is set for the password lock.FIG. 2Qis an exploded view of the elastic piece assembly depicted inFIG. 2I.FIG. 2Ris a cross-sectional view of the zipper head depicted inFIG. 2Ltaken along the line K-K inFIG. 2L.FIG. 3is an exploded view of the zipper head depicted inFIG. 1A. Referring toFIGS. 2A-2RandFIG. 3, the elastic piece10is disposed inside the head member1. The elastic piece10may stay in a first position and a second position in the head member1. The first position is inside the zipper groove114and the second position is outside of the zipper groove114. When the elastic piece10is at the first position and inside the zipper groove114, the elastic piece10is inserted into the zipper teeth so as to confine the movement of the head member1. In this embodiment, an end of the elastic piece10is designed to have an inclined surface. In the direction to close the zipper, the inclined end is parallel with the zipper so that the head member1can be moved in this direction. In the direction to open the zipper, however, the inclined end will go up, insert into the zipper teeth and become stuck therewith so that the head member1can not move in this direction. When the elastic piece10is at the second position and outside of the zipper groove114, the head member1can move on the zipper freely. In this embodiment, the push switch2is configured to set the elastic piece10to be at the first position or the second position so as to lock or unlock the elastic piece10. To realize the control of the elastic piece10with the push switch2, the push switch2is connected with the elastic piece10through a cord9. When the push switch2moves on the handle12, the elastic piece10is pulled by the cord9. In this embodiment, the cord9may be a stainless steel wire or a nylon cord.

Referring toFIG. 3, in this embodiment, the push switch2is simply a sliding block. The elastic piece10is a curved spring piece. The elastic piece10is disposed in the head member1and a tablet16is disposed on the elastic piece10so as to stabilize the periphery of the elastic piece10and prevent the elastic piece from turning up or being dislocated when applied with force. The push switch2is configured to drive the elastic piece10through the cord9. To generate a spring force when the push switch2is pushed, a spring202is configured in the push switch2so that the push switch2and the handle12are elastically connected. The password lock includes a dial wheel4, a gear8, a spring19, a washer20, a locking rod6, a T-shaped sliding rod7, a spring5, and an unlocking switch3. The washer20, the spring19, the gear8, and the dial wheel4are coaxially installed on an installation board204inside the handle12. The locking rod6, the T-shaped sliding rod7, the spring5and the unlocking switch3are also installed on the installation board204. The dial wheel4, the gear8, the spring19, the washer20, the locking rod6, the T-shaped sliding rod7, the spring5, and the unlocking switch3are mechanically connected and configured to actuate one another. A protruding portion is extended downwards under the bottom of the push switch2. The T-shaped sliding rod7is configured to drive the gear set formed by the washer20, the spring19, the gear8and the dial wheel4to actuate the locking rod6to obstruct the displacement of the protruding portion21at the bottom of the push switch2or to give free way for the displacement of the protruding portion21so that the push switch2can be blocked or unblocked and the password lock can be unlocked or locked. In operation, if two correct codes are input through the dial wheel4, the password lock will be unlocked; if any one of the two codes is wrong, the password lock will be locked.

The password lock may also be unlocked by pushing the unlocking switch3. If the unlocking switch3is pushed for a long time and then the dial wheel is turned by a strong force, a new password code may be set, as illustrated inFIG. 2OandFIG. 2P.

The spring5pushes the unlocking switch3to be in touch with a housing of the handle12so as to avoid interfering with the working of the T-shaped sliding rod7. The locking rod6may swing left and right so as to obstruct the displacement of the protruding portion21at the bottom of the push switch2or to give free way for the displacement of the protruding portion21. A steel ball11is disposed in a spring and, along with the spring, disposed in the T-shaped sliding rod7to prevent the sliding rod7from shifting into a wrong position while under a strong shock. In this embodiment, through holes are formed on the installation board204so as to prevent sealed air interfering with the opening and closing of the push switch2.

FIG. 4Aillustrates a zipper head according to another embodiment of the present patent application.FIG. 4Billustrates the zipper head depicted inFIG. 4Awhen the subordinate head is connected to the handle.FIG. 4Cis a bottom view of the zipper head depicted inFIG. 4A.FIG. 4Dis a side view of the zipper head depicted inFIG. 4B.FIG. 5Ais a cross-sectional view of the zipper head depicted inFIG. 4A.FIG. 5Bis a cross-sectional view of the zipper head depicted inFIG. 5Ataken along the line G-G when the subordinate head is not connected to the handle.FIG. 5Cis a cross-sectional view of the zipper head depicted inFIG. 5Ataken along the line G-G when the subordinate head is connected to the handle and the password lock is locked.FIG. 5Dis a cross-sectional view of the zipper head depicted inFIG. 5Ataken along the line G-G when the subordinate head is unlocked through the push switch.FIG. 5Eis a cross-sectional view of the zipper head depicted inFIG. 5Ataken along the line F-F when the subordinate head is not connected to the handle.FIG. 5Fis a cross-sectional view of the zipper head depicted inFIG. 5Ataken along the line F-F when the subordinate head is connected to the handle and locked by the push switch.FIG. 5Gis a cross-sectional view of the zipper head depicted inFIG. 5Ataken along the line F-F when the subordinate head is connected to the handle and unlocked by the push switch.FIG. 5His a cross-sectional view of the zipper head depicted inFIG. 5Ataken along the line F-F when the subordinate head is separated from the handle.FIG. 6is an exploded view of the zipper head depicted inFIG. 4A. Referring toFIGS. 4A-4D,5A-5H and6, compared to the previous embodiment, in this embodiment, a subordinate head111is added. The subordinate head111may be detachably connected with the handle12. More specifically, a mount member112is configured on the subordinate head111and a through hole113is formed in the mounting member112. A bolt unit compatible with the through hole113is configured in the handle12. An actuator22is formed at the bottom of the push switch2extending and protruding downwardly. The actuator22is connected with and pushed against the bolt unit, and configured for drive the bolt unit to move in or out of the through hole113so as to lock or unlock the subordinate head111.

The bolt unit includes a bolt member14and a push member15. The bolt member14may be designed to have a “W” shape and elastically connected to the installation board in the handle12. The push member15may be designed to have an “L” shape. A bolt compatible with the through hole113is formed on the W-shaped bolt member14. The L-shaped push member15is installed on and covering the bolt. The actuator22is pushed against an inclined surface of the bottom of the push member15so as to push the L-shaped push member15in the process of pushing the push switch2, to further push the W-shaped bolt member14and to drive the bolt to move in or out of the through hole113.

The W-shaped bolt member14may be elastically connected to the installation board through two springs disposed at the bottom of the W-shaped bolt member14. The claw18in this embodiment may be a strengthened metal piece, which is hard and not easy to be broken. In this embodiment, the tablet16, the spring17and the claw18are sequentially placed one on top of another.

In the above embodiments, by turning one or two dial wheels4, the push switch2can be locked. Then, when the dial wheels4are turned to the correct codes, a push at the unlocking switch3may trigger the push switch2. When the password lock is unlocked, a long push at the unlocking switch3will make the T-shaped sliding rod7push the gear8so that the gear8is not movable. Afterwards, turning the dial wheel4by strong force will disengage the gear8and the dial wheels4so that the dial wheels4may be moved freely, as illustrated byFIG. 2OandFIG. 2P, and a new password code may be set. After the new password is set, the unlocking switch3may be released so that the gear8and the dial wheel4are engaged with each other and may turn together as one unit.

While the present patent application has been shown and described with particular references to a number of embodiments thereof, it should be noted that various other changes or modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.