# US 2019/0166958 A1 · Locking or self-closing zipper

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- Number: US 2019/0166958 A1
- Document ID: US20190166958A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 16/323,961
- Filed: 2018-06-20
- Published: 2019-06-06
- Earliest claimed: 2017-04-20
- Inventors: Rafael RODRIGUEZ
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190166958A1

## CPC

- A44B 19/301: {at the end of their upward travel with any suitable device, e.g. pull member combined with a press-button, a hook, a key-operated lock}
- A45C 13/103: {Arrangement of zip-fasteners}
- A45C 13/24: Devices for sound-producing, piercing, gas-discharging, or the like
- G07C 9/00563: {using personal physical data of the operator, e.g. finger prints, retinal images, voicepatterns}
- G08B 13/1427: {with transmitter-receiver for distance detection}
- H04W 4/023: {using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds}
- H04W 4/029: Location-based management or tracking services
- H04W 4/80: Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
- G08B 13/1445: {with detection of interference with a cable tethering an article, e.g. alarm activated by detecting detachment of article, breaking or stretching of cable (furniture, e.g. shelves for displaying merchandise, incorporating tethers to prevent theft A47F7/024, A47F5/0861)}
- G08B 21/0269: {System arrangements wherein the object is to detect the exact location of child or item using a navigation satellite system, e.g. GPS}
- G08B 21/0277: {Communication between units on a local network, e.g. Bluetooth®, piconet, Zigbee®, Wireless Personal Area Networks [WPAN]}
- A44B: BUTTONS, PINS, BUCKLES, SLIDE FASTENERS, OR THE LIKE (fastenings specially adapted for footwear A43C)
- A45C: PURSES; LUGGAGE; HAND CARRIED BAGS
- G07C: TIME OR ATTENDANCE REGISTERS; REGISTERING OR INDICATING THE WORKING OF MACHINES; GENERATING RANDOM NUMBERS; VOTING OR LOTTERY APPARATUS; ARRANGEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS FOR CHECKING NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
- G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
- H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72)

## Abstract

A zipper locking device, where the zipper locking device can include a lock portion and a pull tab portion. The zipper latch mechanism of the pull tab portion may fit into the lock portion, creating a locked zipper. The zipper locking device may be opened via a combination and/or a key. The zipper locking device can include a geo-location feature where the bag on which the zipper locking device is attached may be tracked. The zipper locking device may further include an alarm feature, where, when the zipper locking device is separated from the user by a pre-defined distance, an alarm may alert the user. In some embodiments, the zipper locking device may be self-closing.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A zipper lock comprising:
a zipper portion having a zipper pull tab attached to a zipper crown;
a lock portion having an opening for receiving and holding the zipper crown therein; and
a lock release mechanism for releasing the zipper crown from the opening.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The zipper lock of claim 1, wherein the lock portion is fixed at one end of the zipper teeth.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The zipper lock of claim 1, wherein the lock portion is movable along the zipper teeth.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The zipper lock of claim 1, wherein the zipper portion is movable along the zipper teeth to open and close a zipper connection.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The zipper lock of claim 1, wherein the lock portion includes at least one of a combination lock and a keyed lock.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The zipper lock of claim 5, wherein the lock portion includes both a combination lock and a keyed lock.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The zipper lock of claim 1, further comprising a wireless transmitter disposed in the lock portion.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The zipper lock of claim 7, wherein the wireless transmitter sends a signal to a wireless device to provide information related to the zipper lock.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The zipper lock of claim 8, wherein the information includes a distance between the wireless device and the zipper lock.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The zipper lock of claim 9, wherein an alert is provided to a user when the distance between the wireless device and the zipper lock is beyond a predetermined distance.

### Claim 11 (depends on 7)

The zipper lock of claim 7, further comprising a geo-location device positioned in the lock portion, the geo-location device providing a location of the zipper lock to a wireless device via the wireless transmitter.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The zipper lock of claim 1, wherein the lock portion attaches to an existing zipper pull of a zipper.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The zipper lock of claim 1, further comprising a microphone for providing voice control to the lock.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The zipper lock of claim 1, further comprising a biometric scanner for receiving a biometric feature of a user for permitting access to control the zipper lock.