Patent Publication Number: US-2020281330-A1

Title: Device and method for securing a zippered compartment

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/560,338, filed Sep. 19, 2017, entitled “Device and Method for Securing a Zippered Compartment”, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     The present application relates to a device and method for securing a zippered compartment, and in particular, relates to a device which is releasably attachable to a zippered compartment for securing the compartment against unauthorized access. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Children are curious beings who may frequently get into things they shouldn&#39;t. For example, various zippered bags or luggage having zippered closures, such as handbags, purses, diaper bags, backpacks, and travel bags, referred to herein collectively as zippered compartments, may contain potentially valuable and delicate goods or hazardous goods. If a zippered compartment does not have a lock or some other type of device for securing the compartment from unauthorized access, small children or other vulnerable persons may open the zippered closure and thereby gain access to the contents which may be hazardous, delicate, valuable, and/or difficult to replace. Similarly, valuables stored within zippered compartments which are unlocked, or otherwise unsecured, may be vulnerable to thieves or pick pockets who may attempt to steal the valuables contained within zippered compartments, such as purses or backpacks, carried by a person in public. 
     In the prior art of which the Applicant is aware, locking devices for securing zippered closures of compartments may require that the zippered compartment, for example, a purse or bag, be modified in some manner so as to attach the locking device to the zippered compartment. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,681,115 (the &#39;115 patent) discloses a locking device that can be mounted to a zippered bag using threaded studs inserted through two holes in the zippered bag. The instalment of the device disclosed in the &#39;115 patent would result in permanent modification to the bag or purse, for example. Furthermore, the installation of this device to a zippered compartment may require significant time and effort. 
     In other prior art of which the Applicant is aware, some locking devices require modification of the zipper slider or the zipper stop, and therefore require that a customized zipper closure arrangement be used during the manufacture of the zippered compartment. For example, in German Patent nos. 10 2010 021 631 B4 (the &#39;631 patent) and 10 2013 106 341 B3 (the &#39;341 patent) each disclose a modified zipper slider including a tongue portion which is received and engaged by the zipper stop. Additionally, German Patent no. 1 211 834 (the &#39;834 patent) discloses a locking device with a modified pull tab on a zipper slider having a pair of slots, and a modified stopper device which has a corresponding pair of slots. 
     US Patent Publication no. 2014/0060988 A1 (the &#39;988 publication) discloses a locking device that does not require modification to the zippered compartment, zipper slider or zipper stop. The locking device disclosed in the &#39;988 patent is designed to prevent the breach of a closed zipper and the subsequent concealment of the breach, for example on a piece of locked luggage travelling through an airport. The device is secured to the zippered closure by means of a pair of plates held together by fasteners, for example screws, with access to the fasteners being further secured underneath an outer cover, and then the pull tabs of the one or more zipper sliders are secured to the device by means of inserting the shackle of a padlock or other lock through apertures of the pull tabs and apertures of the device. Thus, once the device is installed to the zippered compartment, the zippered compartment is not easily accessible to children or adults, which may include for example adults who are attempting to steal valuables from unattended luggage in an airport. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one aspect of the present disclosure, a device is provided for preventing access to a zippered compartment having a zippered closure. In particular, the device is designed so as to prevent or deter access to the zippered compartment by small children or other persons who may have difficulty manipulating the device, while still allowing relatively easy access to the zippered compartment by someone with greater dexterity, such as an adult. Such a device may be particularly useful, for example, in childproofing zippered bags or other zippered compartments, so as to prevent small children from gaining access to the contents held within the bag. 
     Advantageously, the device may be designed to secure a zippered closure, without having to modify the zippered closure itself or the zippered compartment to which the device is being mounted. Therefore, a person wishing to have a childproof zippered compartment, such as a purse or handbag, is not required to purchase a specially modified zipper or zippered compartment having a locking feature. Instead, the person may separately acquire the zipper locking device and attach it to an existing bag or purse having a zippered closure. Furthermore, the zipper locking device disclosed herein may be simply removed from the zippered compartment once childproofing is no longer required, thereby leaving the purse, handbag or other zippered compartment in its original, unmodified condition. 
     In another aspect of the present disclosure, a method of using the zipper locking device to childproof a compartment and/or inhibit access to the compartment, the compartment having a zippered closure, is also provided. 
     Accordingly, in one aspect a device for securing a compartment having a cavity and zippered closure is provided. The zippered closure includes a zipper track which has a zipper tape and zipper teeth. The zippered closure further includes at least one slider head operatively coupled to the zipper teeth so as to selectively open and close the zippered closure. The device comprises an anchor configured to be releasably mounted on to a portion of the zipper track. The device further includes at least one releasable latch coupled to the anchor. The latch is adapted to receive and releasably lock a slider head of the at least one slider head. 
     Accordingly, in another aspect a method for releasably securing a compartment having a zippered closure is provided. The zippered closure includes a zipper track which has a zipper tape and zipper teeth. The zippered closure further includes at least one slider head operatively coupled to the zipper teeth so as to selectively open and close the zipper closure. The method comprises the steps of releasably anchoring the device described in the foregoing paragraph to a portion of the zipper track, and engaging the slider head of the at least one slider with the releasable lock of the device. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         FIG. 1  is a side perspective view of the zipper locking device from a first direction; 
         FIG. 2  is a side perspective view of the zipper locking device of  FIG. 1  with a zipper slider head engaged; 
         FIG. 3  is a top perspective view of the zipper locking device of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a top perspective view of the zipper locking device of  FIG. 1  with a zipper slider head engaged; 
         FIG. 5  is a top perspective view of the zipper locking device of  FIG. 1 , anchored to a zippered closure; 
         FIG. 6  is a side perspective view of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a side perspective view of the zipper locking device of  FIG. 1  from another direction; 
         FIG. 8  is a bottom perspective view of the zipper locking device of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present disclosure relates to a zipper locking device  10  having an anchor  12  and a releasable lock  21 . The device  10  is adapted to secure a zippered closure  4 , for example, a bag having a zippered compartment with a cavity C. 
     The anchor  12  is configured to be releasably mounted onto at least the zippered closure  4 . In one embodiment, the anchor  12  includes a clamp  14 . The clamp  14  may be a U-shaped clamp, as seen in  FIG. 1 , having an upper portion  18  and a lower portion  16 . The clamp  14  includes an opening or gap G, defined between the upper portion  18  and lower portion  16  of the clamp  14 , sized so as to snugly receive and frictionally engage a portion of a zippered track  6  of the zippered closure  4 , so as to mount the anchor  12  to the zippered closure  4 , as best seen in  FIG. 6 . The zipper track  6  includes a zipper tape  7  and zipper teeth  8 , as seen in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . The anchor  12  may engage the zipper tape  7  and zipper teeth  8 , and portions of the zippered compartment  5  adjacent the zipper tape  7 , as seen in  FIG. 5 . 
     In one embodiment, the clamp may include contact surfaces so as to increase the frictional engagement of a portion of the zipper track  6  of the zippered closure  4  by the clamp  14 . For example, the clamp may include an upper contact surface  18   a  and a lower contact surface  16   a , both surfaces adjacent to the portion of the zipper track  6  being engaged. The upper  18   a  and lower contact surfaces  16   a  may be interlocking, as seen in  FIG. 1 . Although not shown in the drawings, it will be appreciated that the contact surfaces  16   a ,  18   a  of the lower and upper portions  16 ,  18  of clamp  14  may be provided with roughened surfaces so as to increase the friction between clamp  14  and zippered closure  4  when device  10  is installed on a zippered compartment. In some embodiments, it will be appreciated that a combination of roughened surface and resilient coating may be applied to the contact surfaces of the lower and upper portions  16 ,  18  of clamp  14  which engage the surfaces of the zippered closure  4  when the anchor  12  is in use. In a preferred embodiment, the contact surface may be manufactured from a rubbery polyethylene. 
     The anchor  12  may also include a clip  20  such as a spring clip. Clip  20  is adapted to compress clamp  14 , so as to increase the engagement between the clamp  14  and the portion of at least the zipper track  6 . In one embodiment, the clip  20  may be a U-shaped clip. Clip  20  is slidably mounted on to clamp  14  and is slideable between a locked position and an unlocked position. In the unlocked position, the clamp  14  is not compressed by clip  20 , so as to allow a widened gap G. In the locked position, clip  20  is compressing the clamp  14 , so as to compress said clamp  14 , narrowing gap G, and further securing the device  10  to the zippered compartment. Clip  20  slides between the unlocked and locked positions along a track  28 , in direction A and B respectively. For example, without intending to be limiting, as seen in  FIG. 8 , track  28  may include two pins  28   a ,  28   b  on the lower portion  16  of the clamp, and two corresponding slots  29  on the clip  20  wherein rotation of clip  20  is limited by pins  28   a ,  28   b . Further, clamp  14  may include at least one protrusion  30 , adapted to limit movement of clip  20  in directions A and B, only, and so as to ensure clip  20  remains coupled to clamp  14 . 
     In a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, clip  20  is spring loaded, adapted to exert a downward force on clamp  14  when in the locked position. 
     The zipper track  6  includes an exterior surface E and an interior surface I, wherein the exterior surface E and the interior surface I are in opposed facing relation and the interior surface I is adjacent the cavity C of the compartment. 
     The releasable lock  21  of the zipper locking device  10  is adapted to engage the zipper slider  1  of a zippered closure  4 , as shown for example in  FIGS. 2, 4, 5, and 6 . In one aspect of the present disclosure, the releasable lock  21  may include a flexible tongue  22 , the flexible tongue extending cantilevered from the lower portion  16  of the clamp  14 . The flexible tongue  22  includes a distal end  22   a , distal from the anchor  12  of the device  10 , the distal end  22   a  including a latch  24 . In a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, the latch  24  includes a smooth outer ramp portion  24   a  and an upwardly extending, vertical wall  24   b  opposite the smooth ramp portion  24   a , as shown in  FIG. 1 . The releasable lock  21  extends along the interior surface I of the zippered track  6 , below the exterior surface E, when the anchor is mounted to the zippered closure  4 . In other words, the releasable lock  21  extends within cavity C of the zippered compartment. 
     The device  10  may further include at least one release arm  26 , the release arm  26  extending cantilevered from the upper portion  18  of the clamp and in opposed facing relation to the flexible tongue  22 . The release arm  26  extends along the exterior surface E of the zippered track  6 , so as to abut at least the zipper tape. In some cases, the release arm  26  may abut portions of the zippered compartment  5  adjacent the zipper tape  7 . The release arm  26  exerts a downward pressure on zipper tape  7  and/or fabric  5 . When slider head  2  is engaged by releasable lock  21 , the downward pressure exerted on the zipper tape  7  and/or fabric  5  assists in maintaining said engagement. 
     In use, the zipper locking device  10  may be installed on a zippered compartment by, firstly, anchoring the device  10  to the zippered closure  4 , and then engaging the slider  1  of the zippered closure with the releasable lock  21 . To install the anchor  12  of the device  10  illustrated in  FIGS. 1-8 , clip  20  is configured to the unlocked position by sliding the clip  20  along track  28  in direction A, as seen in  FIG. 3 . Then a portion of the zipper tape  7 , zipper teeth  8  and/or portions of the zippered compartment adjacent the zipper tape  9  is inserted into the widened gap G of the clamp  14 , whereby the lower portion  16  of clamp  14  is adjacent the cavity of the zippered compartment and the upper portion  18  is protruding outwardly of, and positioned proximate to, the zippered closure  4 . Then, clip  20  may be pivoted into its locked position along track  28  in direction B, so that the downward force of clip  20  compresses clamp  14  and urges lower portion  16  towards upper plate  18  so as to narrow gap G and reduce the distance between the upper and lower portions  16 ,  18 . As the lower portion  16  is urged towards the upper portion  18 , the zipper tape  7  (shown in  FIG. 6 ) and/or adjacent portions of the zippered closure  5  become compressed between lower portion  16  and upper portion  18  of clamp  14 , thereby anchoring the device  10  in place on the zippered closure  4 . Once the anchor  12  of device  10  is installed on the zippered closure  4 , the device may be securely held in its position along the zipper tape  7  and/or zipper teeth  8  of the zippered closure  4 . Preferably, the device  10 , once anchored, may not slide along the zippered closure  4  when a force is applied to the device. The device is then ready for releasably locking one or more sliders  1  of the zippered closure  4 . Preferably, the device  10  may be installed on the zippered closure  4  at a position which is substantially adjacent the top stop  9  of the zippered closure, which is typically positioned at the end of the zipper tape  7  where the zipper slider  1  is positioned when the zippered closure  4  is closed, as may be seen for example in  FIG. 5 . 
     To lock the zippered closure, the releasable lock  21  releasably engages with slider head  2  of the slider  1  of the zippered closure  4 . In use, the slider  1  is moved along the zipper tape  7  in direction D towards the slider guide  22  of the zipper locking device  10 . As the slider  1  approaches the releasable lock  21 , the front edge  3  of the slider  1  encounters the smooth ramp portion  24   a  of latch  24 , thereby allowing the slider head  2  to travel over the latch  24 . As slider  1  continues to travel in direction D along the flexible tongue  22 , the head  2  of the slider is fully engaged when the rear edge  5  of the slider  1  passes over latch  24  of flexible tongue  22 . Once slider head  2  has passed over latch  24 , flexible tongue  22  urges latch  24  upwardly behind head  2  to form a stop. In a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, the distal end  22   a  of the releasable lock  21  includes a wide surface so as to abut the interior surface I of the zipper tape  7  and prevent tongue  22  from flicking upwards upon making contact with slider head  2 . 
     Thus, once the slider  1  is fully received by the releasable lock  21 , the slider  1  cannot easily be removed from the lock  21  by moving the slider in direction E, because the rear edge  5  of the slider abuts against the vertical wall portion  24   b  of the latch  24 . Therefore, in order to enable removal of the slider head  2  from releasable lock  21 , a downward force must be exerted on the release arm  26 . A downward force exerted on the upper portion  18  of the clamp  14  will also be exerted on the release arm  26 . Imparting a force pushing downward on the release arm  26 , causes the flexible tongue  22  to deflect downwardly, thereby moving latch  24  downwardly and away from the rear edge  5  of the slider  1 . Once the latch  24  is no longer hooked behind the rear edge  5  of the slider, the slider  1  may then be disengaged from the releasable lock  21  by sliding the slider in direction E away from lock  21 . 
     Advantageously, this slider release operation requires some level of dexterity, for example by typically requiring depression of the release arm  26  with one hand while using the other hand to slide the slider  1  in direction E. While such an operation may be easily performed by a person with sufficient dexterity and coordination, such as a typical adult, most small children would not have sufficient strength in their hands or the coordination and dexterity required to perform this operation. As such, this device may prevent a small child from accessing the zippered compartment, while not hindering an adult from doing so. 
     It will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that other variations of the anchor  12  and releasable locking mechanisms of the device disclosed herein, which have the respective functions of anchoring the device to the zippered closure  4  of the zippered compartment and releasably engaging the head  2  of the slider portion of a zipper, are intended to be included within the scope of the present disclosure and that the invention disclosed herein is not intended to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed. 
     It will further be appreciated that different configurations of the zipper locking device may be used so as to effectively lock zippered compartments having different configurations of zippered closures. For example, it may be the case that a zippered compartment includes a zippered closure having two sliders which are brought so as to be adjacent to one another when the zippered closure is in a closed position. For such a zipper configuration, the zipper locking device disclosed herein may be modified so as to include an anchor, such as anchor  12 , in the middle of the device flanked by releasable locks  21  on each side of the anchor. In such a configuration, use of the device may include anchoring the device to a portion of the zippered closure which is somewhere in-between the two ends of the zippered closure  4 , and then engaging each of the two zipper sliders  1  with each of the two respective releasable locks  21  on the device. Other possible variations of the zipper locking device are intended to be included in the scope of the present disclosure. 
     In a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, the device  10  may be manufactured of polyethylene.