Abstract:
A slide fastener apparatus which includes a first and second slide with a releasable locking latch integral to the slides and a keyed, rotating cam as a locking mechanism.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to Provisional Application No. 60/152,040, filed Sep. 2, 1999, incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to slide fasteners or zippers, and more particularly to slide fasteners in which the slides can be locked to one another with a lock integral to the slide fastener. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     Luggage, briefcases, backpacks, bags and the like, usually employ slide fasteners for closing their compartments. There are usually two slides which can be moved along the tracks. When they are moved into a butting relationship, the luggage, briefcase or the like is closed. The luggage or briefcase can be locked by inserting a lock through holes formed in the slide pulls. The slide pulls can incorporate mating links to provide a more effective point from which to secure a lock. 
     A lock is affixed through either the holes in the slide pulls or the mating links. Inserting a lock through the holes in the slide pulls is not always effective, however, especially if the item is loose and soft (i.e., a backpack or duffel bag). The matting links can prevent the slides from moving away from one another, however, locks are easily lost and may not be handy at a desirable time. 
     In view of the foregoing, it would be desirable to provide a slide mechanism with an integrated lock. This solution eliminates the need for a separate lock and prevents the slides from separating, even with loose and soft containers. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The prior art includes links with intersecting clasps, whereby a lock is inserted through the clasps and the links are held together by the lock. This art differs from the present invention because the lock in the prior art is separate from the links, whereas it is integral in the present invention. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is a general object of the present invention to provide a slide fastener in which the slides can be locked to one another. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a slide fastener with parallel tracks which are locked to one another by two independently movable slides which include means for locking the slides to one another when they are brought into a butting relationship. 
     There is provided a slide fastener including a first and a second slides with slide surfaces. A releasable locking latch supported by the first slide, wherein the releasable locking latch comprises two opposing, hooked prongs, laterally mobile to one another. The releasable locking latch is contained within the first slide and protrudes out from the first slide and towards the second slide, and attaches with a crossed configuration to a pair of opposed handles in the first slide. The second slide includes a ledge that engages the locking latch to fasten and secure the first and second slide together, and a keyed, rotating shaft as a locking mechanism for the releasable locking latch. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The foregoing and other objects of the invention will be more clearly understood by reading the accompanying description together with the drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a slide fastener in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the slide fastener of FIG. 1, with the slides locked to one another; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the internal operating mechanism for locking the slides to one another; 
     FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the cooperating slide fasteners showing the parts; and 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a combination lock in a slide fastener in accordance with the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     FIG. 1 is a view of a slide fastener apparatus  10  in accordance with the present invention. The slide fastener  10  includes a female slide  17  and a male slide  18  which operate on a pair of tracks  11  and  12 , with mating teeth  13  and  14 . The tracks  11  and  12  are attached to a surface such as nylon, leather, canvas, etc., typically with stitching (not shown). The mating teeth  13  and  14  engage one another to join the tracks  11  and  12  to one another as shown at  16 . The teeth  13  and  14  are locked to one another by moving the female and male slides  17  and  18  towards one another along the tracks  11  and  12 , whereby to urge the teeth  13  and  14  into interlocking relationship, as a result of camming by the slide surfaces  21  and  22 , shown in FIG.  4 . The female and male slides  17  and  18  include pulls  23  and  24 , respectively, which can be grasped by the user to move the female and male slides  17  and  18  along the tracks  11  and  12 . The pulls  23  and  24  are rotatably attached to the female and male slides  17  and  18 , and are able to rotate through a 180° arc. 
     The male slide  18  includes protruding, spring-loaded, latching members  26  and  27  which enter a pair of spaced ledges  28  and  29  at the end of the female slide  17 , shown in FIG.  4 . The latching members  26  and  27  are operated through the compression of handles  32  and  33 . Compression of the handles  32  and  33  cause the latching members  26  and  27  to move towards one another and allows the female and male slides  17  and  18  to separate. The keyhole  38  provides a slot for the insertion of a key (not shown) to lock or unlock the latching members  26  and  27 . 
     FIG. 2 shows a top view of a slide fastener apparatus  10  in accordance with the present invention. The mating teeth  13  and  14  on the tracks  11  and  12  are linked  5  together, shown at  16 . The female and male slides  17  and  18  are linked with the latching members  26  and  27  actively engaged and maintaining the connection. 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the slide fastener apparatus  10  showing the latching members  26  and  27  actively engaging the female slide  17 . In order to close the slide fastener  10 , the female and male slides  17  and  18  are pushed together and the  10  latching members  26  and  27  engage the spaced ledges  28  and  29  on the female slide  17 . 
     In order to release the female and male slides  17  and  18 , the handles  32  and  33  are compressed together forcing the latching members  26  and  27  to rotate about the pivot point  40  and move toward one another. A spring  31  coiled about the pivot point  40  maintains the latching members  26  and  27  as well as the handles  32  and  33  in an open position. 
     A rotatable locking cam  36  is provided which engages the ends of the latching members  26  and  27  and locks them into position preventing any movement until the locking cam  36  is rotated to bring the area  37  opposite the latching members  26 , whereby they can be moved. The locking cam  36  can be keyed to securely lock the female and male slides  17  and  18  into place. 
     FIG. 4 shows a an exploded view of the slide fastener apparatus  10 . The female and male slides  17  and  18  have base components  44  and  42  with slide surfaces  21  and  22 . The slide surfaces  21  and  22  engage the mating teeth  13  and  14 . The female and male housings  46  and  48  form the top of the female and male slides  17  and  18 . Underneath the male housing  48  is the coiled spring  31 , the handles  32  and  33  with the latching members  26  and  27 , and the pull  24  for the male slide  18 . The pivot point  40  is either attached to the male housing  48  or formed with it, but cannot be seen in this view. The pivot point  40  is a cylindrical rod over which the coiled spring  31  and the latching members  26  and  27  rest. 
     The female housing  46  contains the pair of spaced ledges  28  and  29 . Underneath the female housing  46  is the locking cam  36 , which is contained by brackets (not shown) within the female housing  46 . 
     The pulls  23  and  24  fit into a groove  50  formed by the housings  46  and  48  and the base components  44  and  42 . The housings  46  and  48  and the base components  44  and  42  can be attached to one another by glue, clips, attachment points, or any means known in the art. 
     FIG. 5 shows an embodiment where a combination lock replaces the keyed lock. A dial  55  on each side of slide fastener apparatus  10  rotates to show different numbers in a display hole  54 . When the numbers reflect the correct position for the dials  55  then pressure on handles  32  and  33  release latching members  26  and  27 . 
     The foregoing description, for purposes of explanation, used scientific nomenclature to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the specific details are not required in order to practice the invention. The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention are presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, obviously many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications, to thereby enable others skilled the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the following claims and their equivalents.