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US 9,629,423 B2Granted
Zip fastener and luggage
AssigneeMRM HK Limited
InventorRobert Wesley Schlipper
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A zip fastener includes two sliders for connecting elongate stringers, each slider having a pull tab. For improved security of the zip fastener the pull tabs can be interlocked with one another by a slide-and-turn action, turning one pull tab relative to the other about an axis extending in the longitudinal direction of the stringers. A luggage item includes a fastening device for locking the pull tabs together.
Claims20
A zip fastener, comprising:
- first and second sliders disposed to slide lengthwise along a pair of stringers, the sliders being moveable relative to one another between a closed position wherein the sliders are adjacent one another, and an open position in which the sliders are spaced apart to open the zip fastener;
- first and second pull tabs, each on a respective one of the first and second sliders;
- a first coupling connecting the first pull tab to the first slider for rotation about a pivot axis extending substantially in the lengthwise direction of the stringers;
- and
- a second coupling connecting the second pull tab to the second slider for rotation about the pivot axis;
- the first pull tab having a female locking feature, and the second pull tab having a male locking feature that is complementary to the female locking feature such that with the sliders in the closed position, rotation of the first pull tab about the pivot axis engages the male and female locking features to interlock the first and second pull tabs in an interlocked position that prevents movement of the sliders to the open position, and
- wherein the first and second pull tabs each have a body elongated between opposing proximal and distal ends, openings are provided in each distal end, and the openings in the distal ends are in registration with one another in the interlocked position.
4 more elements
A zip fastener comprising:
- first and second sliders disposed to slide lengthwise along a pair of stringers, the sliders being moveable relative to one another between a closed position wherein the sliders are adjacent one another, and an open position in which the sliders are spaced apart to open the zip fastener;
- first and second pull tabs, each on a respective one of the first and second sliders;
- a first coupling connecting the first pull tab to the first slider for rotation about a pivot axis extending substantially in the lengthwise direction of the stringers;
- a second coupling connecting the second pull tab to the second slider for rotation about the pivot axis;
- a first opening formed at a proximal end of the first pull tab;
- a second opening formed at a proximal end of the second pull tab;
- a first loop on the first slider extending substantially in the lengthwise direction and through the first opening to form the first coupling;
- and
- a second loop on the second slider extending substantially in the lengthwise direction and through the second opening to form the second coupling,
- the first pull tab having a female locking feature, and the second pull tab having a male locking feature that is complementary to the female locking feature such that with the sliders in the closed position, rotation of the first pull tab about the pivot axis engages the male and female locking features to interlock the first and second pull tabs in an interlocked position that prevents movement of the sliders to the open position.
7 more elements
A zip fastener comprising:
- first and second sliders disposed to slide lengthwise along a pair of stringers, the sliders being moveable relative to one another between a closed position wherein the sliders are adjacent one another, and an open position in which the sliders are spaced apart to open the zip fastener;
- first and second pull tabs, each on a respective one of the first and second sliders, the first pull tab having a female locking feature and the second pull tab having a male locking feature that is complementary to the female locking feature;
- a first coupling connecting the first pull tab to the first slider for rotation about a pivot axis extending substantially in the lengthwise direction of the stringers;
- a second coupling connecting the second pull tab to the second slider for rotation about the pivot axis;
- and
- a detent for holding the male and female locking features in mutual engagement, the detent comprising a magnet received in an aperture in the male locking feature,
- wherein when the sliders are in the closed position, rotation of the first pull tab about the pivot axis engages the male and female locking features to interlock the first and second pull tabs in an interlocked position that prevents movement of the sliders to the open position.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.