Patent Publication Number: US-4547006-A

Title: Luggage closing device

Description:
REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATION 
     This application is a Continuation-in-Part of application Ser. No. 192,502, filed Feb. 20, 1980 now abandoned; which claims priority of French application No. 78 20084 filed June 22, 1978 and PCT EP79/00040 filed May 25, 1979. 
    
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a device for closing a piece of luggage comprising two parts connected by a hinge, one of the parts being a bottom and the other a cover. The closing device comprises a keeper extending along a side of one luggage part opposite the hinge and having a plurality of spaced hasps; and an elongage case extending along a side of the other luggage part opposite the hinge and having apertures to receive the hasps of the keeper and containing push-button controlled mechanism for releasably engaging the hasps of the keeper to retain them in the apertures. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Most luggage is provided either with quick action slide fasteners when the luggage is flexible or with several locks spaced along the frame when the luggage is rigid. 
     Except on expensive luggage, locks do not properly withstand a prolonged use due to excessive strains to which they are subjected. Usually, there is a single central lock with two lateral folding hooks disposed on either side of, and equally spaced from, the central lock. However, these accessory fastening devices cannot be locked and if they yield because the luggage is over-filled, or for any other cause, the cover frame is liable to undergo a distortion so that the luggage gaps open. 
     Among known devices, those disclosed in the three patents summarized hereinafter may be cited. 
     German Pat. No. 1,902,360 to Schmale describes a closing device comprising a closing member (38) provided with lateral apertures (37) and an angle-bar (35) with closing hooks (36) provided with a shoulder and a bevelled face, but this device does not comprise a single and central opening and locking control system controlling the hasp assembly. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 1,455,069 to Launder describes a lock formed from a pair of tubes (1, 3) sliding in each other and responsive to a spring (9). Each one of the tubes comprises apertures (2, 12) adapted to receive closing hooks (8, 13). In such a lock, the risk of jamming two concentric tubes slidably fitted in each other is rather substantial and it is necessary to provide a relatively strong spring leading to a considerable opening pressure. 
     British Pat. No. 556,115 to Drescher and Kiefer relates to a lady&#39;s handbag clasp in which a finger (14) provided with an oblique surface (15) acts only upon the lock member, but its action must be conjugated with a tractive effort exerted on the lower edge (6) of the lock frame (1), hence the necessity of using both hands for opening the lock. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a closing device which is easily adaptable to the majority of luggage and which reinforces the rigidity of the cover by providing several locking points rendered operative by the actuation of a single mechanism. 
     In accordance with the present invention, a device for closing a piece of luggage comprising two parts connected by a hinge, one of the parts being a bottom and the other a cover, comprising an elongate case extending along a side of one luggage part opposite the hinge and an elongate keeper extending along a side of the other luggage part opposite the hinge and facing the case. The keeper has a plurality of spaced hook-like hasps projecting toward the case while the case has a like plurality of apertures to receive the hasps and contains a closing mechanism operable by a single central push-button for releasably engaging the hasps to retain them in the apertures and thereby securing the luggage closed. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the case comprises a pair of parallel flat plates and means for maintaining the relative spacing between the plates, one of the plates having spaced apertures positioned to receive the hasps of the keeper. 
     An essential advantage of the closing device in accordance with the present invention is that the keeper extending along a side of one luggage part and the case extending along a side of the other luggage part add to the stiffness of the luggage parts and distributes the forces holding the luggage closed while being controlled by a central push-button which can be provided with a lock. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     Other advantages will appear from the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a luggage closing device in accordance with the invention comprising a keeper on one luggage part and an elongate case containing locking mechanism on the other. 
     FIG. 1a is a perspective view illustrating a modification of the keeper. 
     FIG. 2 is a schematic side elevation illustrating one form of the locking mechanism. 
     FIG. 3 is a schematic side elevation illustrating another form of the locking mechanism. 
     FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the mechanism shown in FIG. 3. 
     FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view showing on a larger scale one of the hasp ejection devices shown in FIG. 4. 
     FIG. 6 is a schematic side elevation of another embodiment of the locking mechanism. 
     FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 6. 
     FIGS. 7a and 7b are enlarged sectional views showing details of the mechanism of FIG. 6. 
     FIG. 8 is a partial top plan view of the case of another embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG. 9 is a side elevation of the case shown in FIG. 8. 
     FIG. 10 is a side elevation with one side of the case removed to show internal closing mechanism. 
     FIG. 11 is a bottom view with the bottom of the case removed. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     As illustrated in FIG. 1, a luggage closing device in accordance with the invention comprises an elongate case 1 extending along a side of one luggage part opposite the hinge and enclosing mechanism of which only the control button 2 is visible. The case comprises two parallel sides 1a and 1b in the latter of which there are apertures 3 disposed at spaced intervals on either side of the push-button 2. The device also comprises a keeper 4 provided with hook-like hasps 5 which are positioned to register with the apertures 3 of the case 1. The case 1 and keeper 4 are secured respectively to the luggage shells (not shown) connected by a hinge opposite the closing device. These two component portions of the closing device have a length consistent with that of the luggage and through their inherent rigidity help to improve the rigidity of the shells or of the frame inside which they are fixed by known means for example rivets, screws, welding, etc. The case 1 and keeper 4 have a length at least half that of the luggage and preferably extend substantially the full length of the luggage. There are preferably at least four hasps 5 on the keeper 4, the hasps being spaced symmetrically with respect to the central push-button 2. 
     The case 1 is provided with a notch or recess 6 to receive a folding handle for carrying the luggage. Pivot points 7 of the handle are located on the sidewalls of this notch. The strength of the pivot points 7 is due to the fact that the top face 8 of the case 1 provides a high tearing strength, the luggage weight being spread over a substantial area of its periphery. 
     The hasps 5 distributed along the length of the keeper 4 and positioned to register with the apertures 3 of the case 1 have bevelled ends 5a to facilitate their introduction into the apertures. The hasps comprise shoulders 5b engageable by closing mechanism contained in the case 1 to retain the hasps in the apertures of the case 1 and thereby secure the luggage in closed condition. 
     FIG. 2 illustrates the closing mechanism in the case 1 as comprising a pair of bent rods 9 sliding in bearings 10 in the case to facilitate their linear movement controlled by the push-button 2 suitably provided with a lock cylinder locked by a key. Substantially in front of each aperture 3 of the case 1, the rods 9 comprise ports 9b through which the hasps 5 of keeper 4 are adapted to penetrate. 
     The push-button 2 is tapered at its inner end to provide cam surfaces engaging end faces 9a of the rods 9, the latter being bevelled at such contact points so that pressure exerted on the push-button 2 produces a longitudinal movement of each rod 9 in the bearings 10 to disengage the ports 9b from the hasps 5 of the keeper 4. Means are provided for restoring the rods 9 to their initial positions, such means being shown as springs 11 attached at one end of the case 1 and at the other end to the rods 9 respectively so that the traction effort is exerted parallel to the axis of the rods. 
     When the hasps 5 of the keeper 4 are inserted in the apertures 3 of the case 1, the bevelled ends 5a of the hasps engage ends of the ports 9b of the rods 9 to move the rods outwardly from the push-button 2 against the resistance of the springs 11. When the hasps are fully inserted, the springs 11 move the rods 9 inwardly so that edges of the ports 9b engage the shoulders 5b of the respective hasps 5 to retain the hasps in the apertures and thereby hold the luggage closed. When it is desired to open the luggage, the push-button 2 is pushed inwardly and by means of its tapered inner end pushes the rods 9 outwardly so as to disengage the shoulders 5b of the hasps and thereby release the keeper. 
     As will be seen in FIG. 2, inner end portions of the rods 9 are offset from outer portions of the rods so as to pass under the recess 6 provided for the handle. 
     FIG. 3 illustrates another embodiment of the closing mechanism located inside the case 1 wherein the two rods 9 of the embodiment of FIG. 2 are replaced by a rod 9&#39; which is a unitary member in which an elongated aperture 9&#39;a is formed in front of the push-button 2&#39;. The rod 9&#39; is slidable in bearings 10&#39; in the case and carries lugs 9&#39;c located in front of each aperture 3 of the case 1 and having ports 9&#39;b through which hasps 5&#39; of a keeper 4&#39; as shown in FIG. 1a are adapted to penetrate. 
     The end 2&#39;a of the push-button 2&#39; constitutes an isosceles rectangular triangle of which the hypotenuse is in frictional engagement with one wall of the aperture 9&#39;a so that pressure P exerted on the push-button 2&#39; moves the rod 9&#39; and thereby the lugs 9&#39;c in which apertures 9b are formed so as to release the hasps 5&#39;. Since the lugs 9&#39;c all move in the same direction, the shoulders 9b of the hasps 5&#39; of the keeper 4&#39; all face in the same direction as shown in FIG. 1a. A spring 11a acting between the rod 9&#39; and the case biases the rod 9&#39; in the opposite direction. 
     In order to facilitate the ejection of hasps 5&#39; from apertures 3 of the case 1, a spring blade 100 is secured to the case wall across from each aperture 3 as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. This spring blade 100 is compressed when the luggage is closed and exerts pressure against the ends of the hasps to eject the hasps from the aperture when the movement of rod 9&#39; by the push-button 2&#39; causes the apertures 9&#39;b to register with apertures 3 of the case and thereby release the shoulders 9&#39;b of the hasps. 
     FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate another modified form of the closing mechanism located inside the case 1. The case 1 consists essentially of a pair of flat plates 12, 13 of which one is provided with apertures to receive hasps 5 of a keeper 4. The relative spacing between the plates is maintained by bridge members 14 acting as support means for rods 15 formed with openings 15a adapted to be engaged by hasps 5 of the keeper. One end 15b of each rod 15 is bent and penetrates into a corresponding receiving orifice of a plate 16. The other end 15c is engaged by a compression spring urging the complete mechanism to locking position after the hasps of the keeper have been introduced into the openings 15a. 
     The plate 16 is suspended at its middle by a double square 17 forming a control button which is slidable in a slide 19 fixed on the side of the case 1 constituting an element of the periphery of the luggage. The push-button 17 is provided with a lock cylinder 18 provided at its inner end with a transverse slot engageable with a fixed pin 20. When the locking cylinder is in the position shown in FIG. 7a, the push-button 17 is movable to move plate 16 and rods 15 to the left to release the hasps. When the locking cylinder is in the position shown in FIG. 7b, the pin 20 holds the lock cylinder and hence the push-button 17 in locking position. This type of cylinder, currently used for example for automobile doors, constitutes a low-cost safety lock utilizing multiple-combination keys. It is also possible to use digital or letter combination locks. 
     Another embodiment of the invention comprising an elongate case 31 is illustrated in FIGS. 8 to 11 which show only slightly more than half of the case and enclosed mechanism, the other half being symmetrical with that shown. The case has a top 31a opposite parallel sides 31b and a bottom 31c. The top 31a and sides 31b are preferably formed integrally as a molding of high strength plastic material. The bottom 31c can likewise be molded of plastic and is formed as a separate piece which snaps into place to close the close. 
     The case 31 is provided at its center with an opening to receive a push-button 32 for operating latch mechanism contained in the case. One side of the case is provided with spaced apertures 33 to receive hasps 5 of a keeper 4 of the kind shown in FIG. 1. By way of example the case has four such apertures of which two are seen in FIG. 9. 
     The case 31 is also provided with a pair of recesses 34 to receive opposite ends of a U-shaped carrying handle (not shown). These recesses are reinforced by metal plates 35 secured to the plastic molding of the case. The handle is pivotally retained in the recesses 34 by spring pressed pivot pins 36 which are biased by spring 37 to the position shown in FIG. 10 in which the pins engage aligned holes provided in end portions of the handle. The pins 36 are retractable to release the handle. 
     The case 31 contains latching mechanism which is shown as comprising two elongate members 40 extending longitudinally in the case in opposite directions from the central push-button 32. Each of the members 40 comprises a heat metal plate which is flat and parallel to the side walls of the casing except for a flange 40a which is bent at right angles so as to be parallel to the top of the casing. The elongate member 40 is guided for a longitudinal movement in the casing by tab portions 40b which are slidable in slots 31d in the top 31a of the case. 
     The flat plate portion of the elongate member 40 lies against the inside of the sidewall 31b having the apertures 33 and has openings 40c at locations corresponding to the apertures 33. The member 40 is biased by a tension spring 41 to a position as illustrated in FIG. 9 in which detent portions of the member 40 partially close the apertures 33 so as to engage shoulders 5b of hasps 5 inserted into the apertures. The spring 41 acts between an integral pin 42 provided in the casing and a transverse portion of the flange 40a of member 40 as illustrated in FIG. 11. 
     The members 40 are movable longitudinally in a direction to release the hasps by a cam 43 on the push-button 32. As seen in FIG. 10, the cam 43 has a wedge-shaped portion engaging cam-follower portions 40d of the members 40. The cam 43 is slidable on the push-button 32 and is controlled by a lock cylinder 44 having a keyhole 44a and spaced lugs 44b of which one is visible in FIG. 11. When the lock cylinder is in unlocked position, the lugs 44b engage the cam 43 so that it is constrained to move with the push-button 32 when the push button is depressed and engages cam follower portions 40d of the members 40 to move the members 40 longitudinally outwardly to release the hasps of the keeper 4. When the lock cylinder is in locked position, the lugs 44b are disengaged from the cam 43 so that the cam is not move downwardly when the push-button 32 is depressed. Hence the hasps are not released. The push-button 32 is provided with a recess 32a above the cam 43 to permit downward movement of the push-button relative to the cam when the lock cylinder is in locked position. A light coil spring 45 acts between the bottom of the case and the push-button 32 to hold the push-button normally in its upper position. 
     As seen in FIG. 10, inner end portions 40e of the members 40 are offset downwardly so as to pass under the recesses 34 for the handle. At the inner ends of the members 40, there are downwardly extending tabs 40f engageable with the bottom of the case to provide a sliding support for the inner ends of the members 40 when the cam 43 is moved inwardly by the push-button 32. 
     Inwardly of at least one aperture 33 on each side of the push-button 32, a small block 46 is slidably mounted inside the case and is pressed toward the aperture 33 by a spring 47. When the hasps are inserted in the apertures 33, the blocks 46 are depressed against the action of their springs 47. When the hasps are released by longitudinal outward movement of the members 40, the blocks 46 by the action of the springs 47 press the hasps out of the apertures thereby expediting release of the keeper from the case. 
     In another modified embodiment of the closing mechanism, the latter consists of a pair of slidably interfitting tubes, preferably of square or rectangular cross-section. One end of the outer tube is provided with an abutment member provided with an inner spring reacting against said member and against the corresponding end of the inner tube. 
     The end opposite the outer tube is provided with a push-button engaging the inner tube in order to bring into mutual alignment the hasp-receiving apertures formed in parallel and juxtaposed faces of these two tubes. 
     The push-button is provided with a cylinder device adapted to lock the mechanism when the luggage is closed. 
     The luggage handle is fixed by means of a pair of straps surrounding the outer tube. 
     The above-described closing device constitutes a unitary structure adapted to be manufactured in a few standardised dimensions to permit the fitting thereof to conventional luggage. 
     The case 1 and keeper 4 are secured inside the luggage and no part thereof projects to the outside. The simplicity of the locking mechanism ensures a long-lasting efficiency. The luggage is closed by simply exerting a pressure sufficient to bring the two shells together, without it being necessary to confirm the snap engagement of the hasps through any accessory manoeuver.