Patent Publication Number: US-2023157424-A1

Title: Zipper locking device

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/282,751, filed on Nov. 24, 2021, which is expressly incorporated herein in its entirety by reference thereto. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to latching and locking devices for zippers and more particularly to zippers commonly used in association with luggage, baggage, and backpacks. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The prior art reveals many locking devices for zippers to improve the security of inline zippers commonly found on baggage and, especially, zippers made for soft-sided luggage and backpacks. Many of those locking devices for zippers are adapted to hold the loosely attached pull tabs on the zipper “sliders” or “carriages”, A more secure approach uses a mechanical capture technique which limits movement of a zipper slider. In most cases the zipper slider must be modified to accommodate the mechanical mechanism limiting movement of each slider. A combination lock or a key lock may be combined with the mechanism limiting slider movement as the lock is designed to be relatively unobtrusive. Another security approach is to hide or surround the zipper sliders beneath a cover of some sort restricting physical access to the zipper pull tabs. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The current invention is a form of hasp which adapts to most conventional zippers without any modification of the zipper or of the movable slider parts of a zipper. The hasp is comprised of a plate component centrally aligned and pivotally joined to fit within a channel component. The plate component can rotate with respect to the channel component around the pivot. The plate component is fabricated having narrow prongs which are designed to fit through the conventional loop-shaped aperture present on most zipper sliders. In normal operation, when a zipper is closed, a pair of sliders are brought together along the zipper chain. When the hasp is open, the prongs on the plate can be inserted through the apertures on each slider which inhibits movement of the slider relative to one another. Holes are provided in the plate and channel assembly which are fully aligned when the hasp is closed. A shackle of a padlock, or similarly device, inserted through the aligned holes keeps the plate and channel components mated when the lock is closed fixedly limiting movement of the zipper sliders. 
     A primary object of the invention is to safeguard the contents of a compartment maintained closed by means of an inline zipper. 
     An object of the invention is to provide an improved zipper latching device compatible with a wide variety of zippers and padlocks or other retaining devices. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a more visibly rugged and effective mechanism to restrict movement of one or more sliders of a zipper that ride along a zipper chain. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    depicts a side elevation of plate component  12  of the current invention. 
         FIG.  2    depicts a side elevation of channel component  14  of the current invention. 
         FIG.  3   , in a perspective view, depicts plate component  12  in  FIG.  1    positioned within the channel component  14  shown in  FIG.  2    and a pivot component fastener  18  used to join the plate and channel components. 
         FIG.  4    is a side elevation of plate  12  and channel  14  components of the current invention  110  shown in relation to one another in an “open” configuration (with the pivot fastener  18  absent). 
         FIG.  5    is a side elevation of plate  12  and channel  14  components of the current invention  110  in a “closed” configuration (with the pivot fastener  18  absent). 
         FIG.  6    is a perspective view of the plate and channel components relative to one another of the current invention  110  showing the pivot axis in an “open” jaw configuration (with the pivot fastener  18  absent). 
         FIG.  7    is a perspective view of the plate and channel components of the current invention  110  in a “closed” jaw configuration without pivot fastener  18 . 
         FIG.  8    is a perspective depiction of the assembled zipper latching hasp in an “open” condition showing the component prongs penetrating a pair of apertures on the zipper chain sliders (interlocking elements of the zipper chain normally adjacent to the zipper sliders not shown). 
         FIG.  9    is a depiction of the zipper latching invention  110  in a closed and locked condition with an external padlock of rugged construction requiring the largest hole to accommodate the shackle component of the padlock. 
         FIG.  10    is a depiction of the zipper latching invention  110  in a closed and locked condition with an external padlock of rugged construction requiring the mid-size hole to accommodate the shackle component of the padlock. 
         FIG.  11    is a depiction of the zipper latching invention  110  in a closed and locked condition with an external ISA style padlock using the smallest diameter hole to accommodate the shackle component of the combination padlock. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Zippers are normally comprised of a “tape” which is the name given to the flexible portion of a zipper which is usually fabric or flexible material. The tape is affixed along one border to the backing material and along a parallel border to the zipper “chain”. The zipper chain is comprised of a row of teeth which form individual elements of the chain. The toothlike elements intermesh to close the zipper. A “slider”, or “carriage”, is selectively moved along the chain urging the elements to intermesh closing the zipper or, selectively and oppositely, moved along the chain separating the elements to open the zipper. For definitional clarity, the words contained between quotation marks are commonly used in the zipper industry. 
     A “pull tab” to facilitate manual movement of the slider is provided on most zippers. The pull tab is loosely connected through an aperture provided as an integral part of the slider. Commonly, a conventional zipper lock is connected to the slider through a hole or opening on the pull tab which is loosely fastened to the slider. 
     Visible examples of pull tabs are shown vertically oriented in the perspective drawings of the preferred embodiment of the current inventive assemblies  110  shown in  FIGS.  8 - 11   . 
     In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a latching hasp device is provided with rigid projections—prongs  16 —which are inserted through an aperture integral to each zipper slider. This design effectively prevents movement of the sliders and is more secure than connections to loosely attached zipper pull tabs. 
     With reference to  FIGS.  1 - 7    of the Drawing, a preferred embodiment of the zipper latching device is comprised of plate component  12  shown in  FIG.  1   , and channel component  14 , shown in  FIG.  2   . 
     In  FIGS.  4 - 7    the components  12 , 14  are combined and shown pivotally oriented and rotatable around pivot axis  21 . The pivot axis  21  extends perpendicular to plate  12  through the hole near a corner of plate  12 . Pivot fastener  18  holds components  12  and  14  together keeping component  12  contained within channel  14 . When plate component  12  is rotated in the direction of the open channel component  14  it is received within the channel without interference from the surfaces, upright walls or flanges defining channel  14 . 
     The plate  12  fastened to channel component  14  by fastener  18  is rotatable around pivot axis  21  and each prong  16  is dimensionally adapted for insertion through a wide variety of apertures in zipper sliders. 
     In a typical application, a pair of zipper sliders are brought together from opposing directions to close a zipper chain. Plate component  12  is rotated away from channel component  14  permitting access to the narrow distal ends of prongs  16 . Prongs  16  are then inserted through the aperture on each slider. Subsequently, channel component  14  is rotated until the interior floor of channel  14  engages the plate component prongs  16  preventing further rotation and the hasp component jaws are fully closed. 
     The shackle of a padlock, such as those shown in  FIG.  9 ,  10  or  11   , can then be selectively inserted through holes  23 A,  23 B or  23 C, and through holes  25 A,  25 B or  25 C, as each hole is aligned through both components of the zipper hasp  110  when the pivotally connected plate component jaw is fully closed. Zipper security is positively established when the padlock is locked. 
     This embodiment of the zipper latch  110  as shown is fabricated from 1/16″ thick stainless steel sheet material for toughness and rust resistance. The size, composition and configuration reinforce the impression that this is an effective security enhancement. 
     The zipper latch device is designed to be readily portable and pocketable. When the jaw is closed, the device approximates the size of a standard credit card. The embodiment shown in the FIGS. is 2.79″ (79 mm) wide and 1.44″ (37 mm) tall and 0.187″ (90 mm) thick. 
     In another embodiment (not shown) the pivoted jaw components are mechanically attracted to one another when the jaws are nearly fully closed. This is readily accomplished magnetically by placing a permanent magnet within the channel component in the vicinity of the prongs. In this embodiment the material used to make the components is to some degree ferromagnetic, e. g. 400 series stainless steel or equivalent. Alternatively, spring biasing movement of the components toward closure can be provided. Magnetic attraction or spring biasing of the components keeps the zipper latching device jaws closed and confined to its smallest area dimension when not in service. 
     While the invention has been specifically described in connection with the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, it is understood that these are for illustration and not limitation and that modifications are possible without departing from the scope of the invention as described and presently disclosed.