US 5,507,161 AGranted

Device for locking a closure mechanism for luggage

AssigneeSamsonite Corporation

InventorsDirk Broekaert, Willy Van Hoye, Erik Wijnen

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Abstract

The invention is a device for locking the closure mechanism on an item of luggage. The device includes a movable rod which drives a movable clasp bolt on one part of the luggage. The clasp bolt interacts with an opening in another part of the luggage, which opening serves as the strike for the clasp bolt. A movable latch may be interposed in the path of the rod, so that in an active position the latch blocks the movement of the rod, thus locking the case, but when the latch is in a retracted position the rod is released. The latch is moved by an electric motor connected to the latch by a gear reduction unit which amplifies the output torque of the motor. The latch may remain in its blocking position when motor torque is not supplied. A control signal generator actuates the motor in response to the reception of an access code input by the user.

Claims11

Dependent claims

A device for locking a closure mechanism for luggage, the luggage having a first part, a second part, a strike defined by an opening in the second part, and a clasp bolt movably mounted in the first part and interengageable with the strike, the device comprising:

at least one driving rod, axially moveable along a longitudinal path, for driving the clasp bolt;
a latch interposable on the path of the driving rod;
and
a mechanism for moving the latch between an active position of blocking the movements of the drive rod and a retracted position of releasing the drive rod, the mechanism comprising:
an electric motor;
a gear reduction unit for amplifying the output torque of the electric motor and for blocking the latch in position when the electric motor is not activated;
means for connecting the gear reduction unit to the latch, comprising:
an output gear on the gear reduction unit;
an actuation arm coupled to the output gear;
and
means, comprising an elastic member, for coupling the actuation arm with the output gear, wherein the latch and the actuation arm are angularly displaceable, with elastic return, relative to the output gear;
and
means for generating electrical control signals for the electric motor in response to the reception of an access code.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.