Fastener for a suitcase

A fastener for a suitcase, said suitcase having a cover and a case which is formed with a peripheral wall, said fastener comprising a retaining member which is adapted to be mounted securely on said cover, and a fastening assembly which is adapted to be mounted on said peripheral wall of said case to engage said retaining member for holding said case and said cover together, said fastening assembly including:

• a base block fixed on said peripheral wall of said case, said base block having a first end portion adjacent to said retaining member, a second end portion opposite to said first end portion, and a receiving space defined between said first and second end portions;
• a first swing member having a first end portion mounted pivotally on said first end portion of said base block, and a second end portion opposite to said first end portion of said first swing member;
• first biasing means for biasing said first swing member to move said second end portion of said first swing member away from said receiving space of said base block;
• a clasp member having a hook element formed on one end portion thereof, and an engagement element formed on the other end portion thereof, said clasp member being mounted pivotally on said second end portion of said first swing member adjacent to said engagement element;
• second biasing means for biasing said clasp member to an unfolded position relative to said first swing member when said second end portion of said first swing member is biased away from said receiving space of said base block;
• said first swing member and said clasp member being operable to be moved against said first and second biasing means to a folded position of said first swing member and said clasp member in which said hook element of said clasp member is depressed to engage said retaining member, and in which said second end portion of said first swing member and said engagement element of said clasp member are depressed into said receiving space of said base block;
• a second swing member fulcrumed at a location inside said receiving space of said base block between said first and second end portions of said base block, said second swing member having a beak portion extending toward said first end portion of said base block, and a tail portion extending toward said second end portion of said base block, said second swing member being turnable between a first position, in which said beak portion engages said engagement element of said clasp member when said engagement element is moved inward of said receiving space, and a second position in which said tail portion is depressed to release said beak portion from said engagement element, thereby permitting said first swing member to be biased away from said receiving space and thereby disengaging said hook element from said retaining member;
• third biasing means for biasing said second swing member to said first position;
• and
• a press plate mounted pivotally on said second end portion of said base block and operable to depress said tail portion.