阅读说明：本技术 具有互锁的拉链拉片的行李 (Luggage with interlocking zipper pull tabs ) 是由 赖因哈德·梅尔斯查尔特 埃里克·赛蒙斯 迭戈·雷基亚 于 2015-04-03 设计创作，主要内容包括：具有互锁的拉链拉片的行李物品可以包括一个或多个开口线,所述一个或多个开口线具有沿着所述开口线的周边定位的拉链。每个拉链可以包括两个具有相关联的拉链拉片的拉链滑块。所述拉链拉片中的至少一个拉链拉片可以包括接合特征,并且所述拉链拉片中的至少另一个拉链拉片可以包括孔口,所述孔口的尺寸大小被设置为贯穿该孔口地收纳所述接合特征。所述接合特征可以穿过所述孔口定位在附装至所述行李物品的锁上的拉链拉片收纳部中,以将所述拉链拉片二者都固定至所述锁。在一些行李物品中,可以使用所述锁上的两个拉链拉片收纳部同时将四个拉链拉片固定至所述锁。(An article of luggage having interlocking zipper pulls may include one or more opening lines having a zipper positioned along a perimeter of the opening line. Each zipper may include two zipper sliders with associated zipper tabs. At least one of the zipper tabs may include an engagement feature, and at least another of the zipper tabs may include an aperture sized to receive the engagement feature therethrough. The engagement feature may be positioned through the aperture in a zipper pull tab receptacle attached to a lock of the luggage item to secure both of the zipper pull tabs to the lock. In some luggage articles, four zipper tabs may be secured to the lock simultaneously using two zipper tab receptacles on the lock.)

1. An item of luggage, comprising:

at least two zipper sliders;

a lock comprising at least one zipper pull tab receptacle; and is

Wherein one of the at least two zipper sliders is connected to a first zipper pull tab that includes an engagement feature connected to the elongate body and is part of a first zipper positioned along a first opening line;

wherein the first opening line is parallel to a major face of the item of luggage, divides the item of luggage along a generally vertical plane, and divides the item of luggage into a lid and a base to allow access to an enclosed space within the item of luggage;

another of the at least two zipper sliders is connected to a second zipper pull tab, the second zipper pull tab including an elongated body having an aperture sized to receive the engagement feature therethrough, and the second zipper pull tab is part of a second zipper positioned along a second line of opening that provides access to a bag of the luggage case;

the at least one zipper pull tab receptacle is sized to receive the engagement feature; and is

Securing the second zipper pull tab to the lock by superposing the first zipper pull tab on the second zipper pull tab and positioning the engagement feature in the at least one zipper pull tab receptacle through the aperture.

2. An item of luggage, comprising:

at least two zipper sliders;

a lock comprising at least one zipper pull tab receptacle; and is

Wherein one of the at least two zipper sliders is connected to a first zipper pull tab that includes an engagement feature connected to the elongate body and is part of a first zipper positioned along a first opening line;

wherein the first opening line is parallel to a major face of the item of luggage, divides the item of luggage along a generally vertical plane, and divides the item of luggage into a lid and a base to allow access to an enclosed space within the item of luggage;

another of the at least two zipper sliders is connected to a second zipper pull tab, the second zipper pull tab including an elongate body having an aperture sized to receive the engagement feature therethrough, and the second zipper pull tab is part of a second zipper positioned along a second opening line parallel to the major face and separating the luggage item along a second generally vertical plane to provide access to the enclosed space;

the at least one zipper pull tab receptacle is sized to receive the engagement feature; and is

Securing the second zipper pull tab to the lock by superposing the first zipper pull tab on the second zipper pull tab and positioning the engagement feature in the at least one zipper pull tab receptacle through the aperture.

3. The item of luggage of claim 2, wherein the first line of openings divides the item of luggage into a base portion and a central portion to allow access to the enclosed space within the item of luggage, and the second line of openings divides the item of luggage into the central portion and a lid to allow access to the enclosed space within the item of luggage.

4. An item of luggage according to any of claims 1-3, in which:

the at least two zipper sliders comprise four zipper sliders;

a third zipper slider of the four zipper sliders is connected to another first zipper pull tab that includes an engagement feature connected to the elongate body;

a fourth zipper slider of the four zipper sliders is connected to another second zipper pull tab, the another second zipper pull tab including an elongate body having an aperture sized to receive the engagement feature of the another first zipper pull tab therethrough;

the at least one zipper pull tab receptacle comprises two zipper pull tab receptacles; and is

Securing the other second zipper pull tab to the lock by superposing the other first zipper pull tab on the other second zipper pull tab and positioning the engagement feature of the other first zipper pull tab in one of the two zipper pull tab receptacles through the aperture of the other second zipper pull tab.

5. The article of luggage of claim 4, wherein the another first zipper pull tab is part of the first zipper and the another second zipper pull tab is part of the second zipper.

6. An item of luggage according to any of claims 1-5, in which the engagement feature comprises a loop, and preferably the loop is generally U-shaped or arcuate defining a lock opening.

7. The luggage item of claim 6, wherein one of the at least one zipper pull tab receptacles includes a slot, and preferably a pin or hook is operatively associated with the slot and positioned through the lock opening when the loop is located within the slot so as to secure the first and optionally the second zipper pull tabs to the lock.

8. The article of luggage of any of claims 1-7, wherein the lock includes at least one of a combination dial and a keyhole.

9. The article of luggage of any of claims 1-8, wherein each first zipper pull tab comprises an elongated body having generally planar upper and lower surfaces connected by a sidewall of the elongated body extending between the upper and lower surfaces, and preferably each first zipper pull tab further comprises a slot formed in the elongated body of each first zipper pull tab and extending generally parallel to the length of the elongated body.

10. An article of luggage as claimed in any of claims 1 to 9, comprising a hard-shell luggage case, wherein the front, rear, side, top and bottom walls of the luggage case are all rigid and self-supporting.

11. An article of luggage as claimed in any of claims 1 to 10, comprising a soft shell luggage case, wherein at least some portions of at least some of the front, rear, side, top and bottom end walls of the luggage case are of a flexible material.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to luggage items, and more particularly to interlocking zipper pulls for luggage items.

Background

An item of luggage, in particular a luggage case (suitcase), defines an inner enclosed space. Often, the interior enclosure is accessed from the exterior of the case through the use of zippers. The zipper provides a convenient mechanism for accessing the interior of the luggage case, but also makes it relatively easy to gain unauthorized access to the items contained within the enclosure. To protect against such unauthorized access, various zipper locking systems for luggage have been developed to prevent the zipper from being operated by an unauthorized user.

A zipper locking system involves locking zipper sliders to each other. Examples of such systems are shown in U.S. patent nos. 4,395,891, 2005/0109072, 4,350,375 and chinese patent No. CN 201403621. In U.S.4,395,891 and U.S.2005/0109072, the zipper slider incorporates a locking device that allows the two zipper sliders to be secured to each other along a line of opening. However, this configuration is unsatisfactory in that the zipper slider is required to be larger than a conventional zipper slider. In addition, these systems have undesirably required highly specialized zipper sliders. In U.S.4,350,375, a lock plate is connected to one of the zipper tabs of the zipper and is configured to allow the lock plate to be connected to a protrusion of the other zipper tab. The result of this construction is that the locking plate attached to one zipper is unreasonably large and the protrusion on the other zipper pull tab presents a potential risk of injury to the user when the user grasps the pull tab to move the link slider. Moreover, such an arrangement is undesirably limited to locking zipper sliders located on the same line of opening together. In CN201403621, a conventional padlock is required to secure the zipper sliders to each other. This locking system is undesirable because the user needs to know the trajectory of the mortise lock when the padlock is not attached to the pull tab of the zipper slider. Additionally, if the user forgets where to place the padlock, the user cannot secure the zipper sliders to each other.

Another zipper locking system involves fixedly attaching a lock to the luggage case. In such systems, the zipper pulls are then secured to the lock to prevent the zipper sliders associated with the secured zipper pulls from being moved along their respective zipper tracks. Conventionally, zipper pulls are secured to a lock by providing each zipper pull with a slot in the lock. The end of the zipper pull tab that includes the hole or slot is then positioned within the slot and a pin, hook or the like received within the lock is positioned within the hole or slot of the zipper pull tab. Once the pin or hook is positioned within the hole or slot of the zipper pull tab, the pin or hook is prevented from moving out of the hole unless the user enters the correct combination or code on the lock or uses a key to unlock the lock. The lock and zipper pull tab are further configured such that the zipper pull tab cannot be removed from the slot in the lock prior to removing the pin or hook from the hole or slot in the zipper pull tab, thereby effectively securing the zipper pull tab to the lock. The detailed construction and operation of various types of such locking devices is described in more detail in the following patents and patent applications: U.S.5,557,954, U.S.6,807,832, EP 1914369 and WO 2008/34006.

One problem with this locking system is that each zipper pull tab secured to the lock requires a slot and a pin or hook. Thus, for example, when it is desired to simultaneously secure four zipper tabs to a lock, four slots and pins or hooks are required. In addition, as the number of tabs that are simultaneously secured increases, the complexity of the lock and the number of parts required for the lock also undesirably increase. In addition, the size of the lock must also be increased to accommodate the securing of all of the zipper tabs to the lock, which undesirably increases the weight of the lock. While this weight increase may seem less important, every item on the luggage case is unnecessarily heavier than necessary, which, in aggregate, increases the overall weight of the luggage case, thereby reducing the weight of items that a user can place in the luggage case in order to meet various important requirements (e.g., airline weight restrictions).

Accordingly, it is desirable to provide an improved luggage case, and more particularly, an improved zipper locking system for a luggage case that addresses the above-described problems and/or more generally provides an improvement or alternative to existing devices.

Disclosure of Invention

Thus, according to the present invention, there is provided an item of luggage as described in the accompanying claims.

In one embodiment of the invention, an article of luggage may include a lock and at least two zipper sliders. The lock may be attached to the luggage item, and the lock may include at least one zipper pull tab receptacle. One of the at least two zipper sliders may be connected to a first zipper pull tab that includes an engagement feature connected to the elongate body. Another of the at least two zipper sliders may be connected to a second zipper pull tab including an elongated body having an aperture sized to receive the engagement feature therethrough. The at least one zipper pull tab receptacle may be sized to receive the engagement feature. The second zipper pull tab may be secured to the lock by overlaying the first zipper pull tab on the second zipper pull tab and positioning the engagement feature in the at least one zipper pull tab receptacle through the aperture.

In some embodiments, the first zipper pull tab is a portion of a first zipper positioned along a first opening line. Optionally, the first opening line is parallel to a major face of the item of luggage, divides the item of luggage along a generally vertical plane, and divides the item of luggage into a lid and a base to allow access to an enclosed space within the item of luggage.

In some embodiments, the luggage article further comprises a pocket, the second zipper pull tab is part of a second zipper positioned along a second opening line, and the second opening line provides access to the pocket.

In some embodiments, the second zipper pull tab is part of a second zipper positioned along a second opening line, and the second opening line (234) is parallel to the major face and separates the luggage items along a second generally vertical plane. Preferably, in such an embodiment, the first line of openings divides the item of luggage into a base portion and a central portion to allow access to the enclosed space within the item of luggage, and the second line of openings divides the item of luggage into the central portion and a lid to allow access to the enclosed space within the item of luggage.

In some embodiments, there may be four zipper sliders and two zipper pull tab receptacles. A third zipper slider of the four zipper sliders may be connected to another first zipper pull tab that includes an engagement feature connected to the elongate body. A fourth one of the four zipper sliders may be connected to another second zipper pull tab including an elongated body having an aperture sized to receive the engagement feature of the other first zipper pull tab therethrough. The other second zipper pull tab may be secured to the lock by overlaying the other first zipper pull tab on the other second zipper pull tab and positioning the engagement feature of the other first zipper pull tab in one of the two zipper pull tab receptacles through the aperture of the other second zipper pull tab. Preferably, the further first zipper pull tab is part of the first zipper and the further second zipper pull tab is part of the second zipper.

In some embodiments, the second zipper pull tab is also part of the first zipper.

Preferably, the engagement feature comprises a loop. The loop may be generally U-shaped or arcuate defining a lock opening. Optionally, one of the at least one zipper pull tab receptacles is a slot. Preferably, a pin or hook is operatively associated with the slot and is positioned through the lock opening when the loop is positioned within the slot to secure the first and optionally the second zipper tabs to the lock.

In some embodiments of the item of luggage, the lock comprises at least one of a combination dial or combination dial and a keyway, and preferably comprises two formations.

In some embodiments of the article of luggage, each first zipper pull tab comprises an elongate body having generally planar upper and lower surfaces connected by a sidewall of the elongate body extending between the upper and lower surfaces, and preferably each first zipper pull tab further comprises a slot formed in the elongate body of each first zipper pull tab and extending generally parallel to the length of the elongate body.

The luggage item is preferably a hard shell luggage case wherein the front wall, rear wall, side walls, top end wall and bottom end wall are all rigid and self-supporting, or a soft shell luggage case wherein at least some portions of at least some of the front wall, rear wall, side walls, top end wall and bottom end wall are of a flexible material.

Drawings

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a luggage case having interlocking zipper pulls;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the top of the luggage case shown in FIG. 1, showing the interlocking zipper tabs prior to being connected to the lock;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the top of the luggage case shown in FIG. 1, showing the interlocking zipper tabs connected to the locks;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the top of the luggage case shown in FIG. 1, showing a single zipper connected to the lock;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the luggage case showing another form of interlocking zipper pull tabs;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the top of the luggage case showing yet another form of interlocking zipper pull tabs; and

figure 7 is another illustration of the top of the luggage case shown in figure 6, showing the interlocking zipper tabs connected to the locks.

Detailed Description

Referring to fig. 1, one embodiment of an article of luggage, such as a luggage case 100, having interlocking zipper pull tabs includes a generally cuboidal structure formed by a plurality of walls that define an enclosed interior volume of the luggage case 100 in which the user's belongings are contained. The luggage piece 100 may include opposing front and rear walls 102, 104 that form the front (front) and rear (back) of the luggage piece 100, opposing side walls 106, 108 that form the sides of the luggage piece 100, and opposing top and bottom end walls 110, 112 that form the top and bottom surfaces of the luggage piece 100. Together, these walls 102, 104, 106, 108, 110, 112 define an exterior structure of the luggage piece 100, which in turn defines an enclosed interior volume.

The luggage 100 may be of the type commonly referred to as a soft shell luggage, wherein the outer structure is typically formed of a flexible material (e.g., fabric, etc.). These flexible materials may be supported by a frame and/or a plate to maintain the shape of the luggage piece 100. The frame may be formed using plastic, composite metal, metal or other structural material, while the panels may be generally formed using plastic such as polypropylene (PP) or Polyethylene (PE). Although shown as a soft shell luggage case, the luggage case 100 may also be of the type commonly referred to as a hard shell luggage case, wherein the exterior structure and walls of the case are relatively rigid. For hard-shell luggage, the exterior structure of the luggage 100 may be, for example, plastic (e.g., composite plastic, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, polymer, thermoplastic, etc.) and manufactured by extrusion, molding, blow molding, etc. The luggage 100 may also be of a hybrid type, where features of a soft shell luggage and features of a hard shell luggage are combined to produce a luggage 100 that is hard in some areas and soft in other areas. Alternatively, the luggage case may also be a briefcase, computer bag or other similar case type having an opening secured by a zipper. Preferably, however, the luggage 100 is a zipper-closed suitcase.

The luggage piece 100 may be divided along a generally vertical plane having a first opening line 114 parallel to the major face. The luggage item 100 may include: a lid 116, the lid 116 comprising a front wall 102; and a base 118, the base 118 including the rear wall 104. In the embodiment shown in fig. 1, the first opening line 114 may be positioned closer to the rear wall than the front wall, such that the base 118 includes less than half of the side walls 106, 108, top end wall 110, and bottom end wall 112 and the rear wall 104, while the lid 116 includes more than half of the side walls 106, 108, top end wall 110, and bottom end wall 112 and the front wall 102. In other embodiments, the first line of openings 114 may be located at other desired locations, such as closer to the middle or closer to the front. When the first opening line 114 is positioned approximately midway, the base 118 includes the side walls 106, 108, approximately one half of the top end wall 110 and the bottom end wall 112, and the back wall 104, while the lid 116 includes the side walls 106, 108, approximately one half of the top end wall 110 and the bottom end wall 112, and the front wall 102. When the first line of opening 114 is positioned closer to the front, the lid 116 primarily includes the front wall 102, while the base 118 includes most of the side walls 106, 108, top end wall 110 and bottom end wall 112, and the rear wall 104.

The luggage piece 100 may include a telescoping handle that may extend above the top end wall 110 of the luggage piece 100 to an extended position at a height that is convenient for a user to grasp. The telescoping handle may be used to pull, guide and rotate the luggage piece 100. In this embodiment of the luggage piece 100, the telescoping handle is oriented to have a grip portion that is parallel to the rear (back) of the luggage piece 100, where the user uses the handle to push or pull the luggage piece 100. In this embodiment, the telescoping handle extends from the luggage piece 100 in a telescoping manner adjacent the rear face (back face) at the center of the rear face (back face) of the luggage piece 100 and includes two parallel tubes interconnected at one top end by a gripping portion. The telescoping handle may be moved to a retracted position in which the telescoping handle does not extend substantially beyond the top end wall 110 of the luggage piece 100 and the gripping portion is substantially flush with the top end wall 110 and/or proximate to the top end wall 110. The luggage piece 100 may also include one or more stationary carrying handles to facilitate carrying or lifting of the luggage piece 100. The top stationary handle 120 may be located on the top end wall 110 as shown. Alternatively or additionally, one or more stationary handles may be located on the right side wall 108, the left side wall 106, and/or the bottom end wall 112 of the luggage piece 100.

The swivel wheel assembly 122 may be mounted to at least one of the walls, often the bottom end wall 112, near the bottom end of the luggage 100. Each swivel wheel assembly 122 may be positioned proximate a corner of the luggage piece 100. Each rotating wheel assembly 122 may include one or more rotating wheels 124, the one or more rotating wheels 124 rotatably mounted to a rotating fork carriage 126 for rotation about a wheel axis. The wheel axis may be generally horizontal and parallel to the bottom end wall 112 of the luggage piece 100, while the swivel fork bracket 126 may be rotatably mounted to the bottom end wall 112 of the luggage piece 100 to rotate about a generally vertical axis of rotation that is perpendicular to the bottom end wall 112 of the luggage piece 100. This arrangement allows the rotary wheel 124 to rotate about two orthogonal axes: a horizontal wheel axis and a vertical axis of rotation.

In an alternative embodiment, the rotating wheel assembly 122 may be replaced by a pair of fixed axis wheels that are each mounted near the rear wall 104 of the luggage piece 100. The fixed-axis wheels rotate about a common, generally horizontal fixed axis that is generally parallel to the rear wall 104. Each of the fixed-axis wheels may be located at a bottom corner of the luggage piece 100. In other words, each fixed axis wheel may be located near the bottom end and one of the side walls 106, 108 of the luggage piece 100. The peripheral rim and edges of the fixed axis wheels protrude a predetermined distance beyond the bottom end wall 112 of the luggage piece 100 to allow the luggage piece 100 to be supported in an upright manner on the fixed axis wheels and on one or more feet extending from the bottom end of the luggage piece 100 near the front of the luggage piece 100 on the ground.

The lid 116 may be connected to the base 118 along the sidewalls via a hinge 128 in a conventional manner, and the luggage piece 100 may be opened at the first opening line 114 to access the interior volume. The hinge 128 may be formed from a strip of fabric with or without a zipper or in any other known manner. In some examples, the luggage piece 100 may be hinged along the left or right side walls 106, 108, while in other examples, the luggage piece 100 may be hinged along the bottom of the luggage piece 100 or along any other face of the luggage piece 100. A first zipper 130 positioned along the perimeter of the first opening line 114 secures the lid 116 to the base 118 to open and close the luggage piece 100.

The luggage piece 100 may further include a pocket 132 to divide the enclosed interior of the luggage piece into smaller spaces. The bag 132 is accessible through the exterior surface of the luggage piece 110 via a second line of opening 134. The second opening line 134 may be selectively opened and closed using a second zipper 136 positioned along the second opening line 134.

Referring to fig. 2-4, the first and second zippers 130 and 136 may include first and second zipper tracks 138 and 140, respectively. Each of first zipper track 138 and second zipper track 140 includes a pair of zipper strips having interlocking teeth that can be selectively interlocked using one or more zipper sliders (sliders) 142, 144. In the illustrated embodiment of the luggage piece 100, the first zipper 130 includes two first zipper sliders 142, and the second zipper 136 includes two second zipper sliders 144. In an alternative embodiment, the first zipper 130 and/or the second zipper 136 may include a single first zipper slider 142 and a single second zipper slider 144, respectively. For the first zipper 130, each first zipper slider 142 includes a first zipper pull tab 146 connected to the first zipper slider 142 to facilitate moving the first zipper slider 142 along the first zipper track 140. Similar to the first zipper 130, each second zipper slider 144 for the second zipper 136 includes a second zipper pull tab 148 connected to the second zipper slider 144 to facilitate moving the second zipper slider 144 along the second zipper runner 140.

For the first zipper 130, each first zipper pull tab 146 may include a body 150. The body 150 may be an elongate body having upper and lower surfaces 152 connected by a sidewall 154 of the body, the sidewall 154 extending between the upper and lower surfaces 152. The upper and lower surfaces 152 may be generally planar and parallel to each other as described in fig. 2, or take other forms, such as upper and lower surfaces 152 that are twisted or curved about the longitudinal axis of the body 150. The body 150 may include a length defined by the distance from the first zipper slider 142 to the free end 156 of the first zipper pull tab 146 and a width defined by the distance between the side walls 154 of the elongate body 150. The length may be greater than the width. This configuration for the bodies 150 provides a relatively easy-to-grasp object for a user when moving their respective first zipper sliders 142 along the first zipper track 138 using the first zipper tabs 146. At the free end of the body 150, the body 150 may optionally be curved to extend generally transversely relative to the longitudinal axis of the elongate body 150. Other configurations are possible so long as the body 150 provides an object for a user to grasp in order to move its respective first zipper slider 142 along the first opening line 114 using the first zipper pull tab 146.

Optionally, a slot 158 or the like may be formed in the body 150 of each first zipper pull tab 146 to reduce the weight of the first zipper pull tab 146. The slot 158 may extend substantially parallel to the length of the body 150, and the slot 158 may also pass through a slider loop 160 or the like on the first zipper slider 142 to connect the first zipper pull tab 146 to the corresponding first zipper slider 142.

Each first zipper pull tab 146 may further include an engagement feature 162 extending from the body 150. In some embodiments, the engagement feature may extend laterally from a planar lower surface of the body 150 and be substantially parallel to the sidewall 154 of the body 150. In other embodiments, the engagement feature 162 may extend laterally from the sidewall 154 of the body 150 and be generally parallel to at least one of the upper and lower surfaces 152 of the body 150. The engagement feature may define a lock opening 164 through which the lock opening 164 may receive a pin, hook, or the like attached to a lock 166 of the luggage piece 100 to secure the first zipper pull tab 146 to the lock 166.

The engagement feature may be a ring, a protrusion, or any other suitable structure. When the engagement feature 162 takes the form of a loop, the loop may be generally U-shaped, arcuate, or any other suitable shape, and is positioned proximate the free end 156 of the first zipper pull tab 146. The collar 162 may define the lock opening 164 either by itself or with the body 150.

The lock 166 may include a combination dial 168 and a key hole 170. The lock 166 may further include a zipper pull tab receptacle 172, the zipper pull tab receptacle 172 being defined in a housing 174 of the lock 166 and receiving at least a portion of the engagement feature 162 of the first zipper pull tab 146. The zipper pull tab receptacle may take the form of a slot, hole, or any other suitable structure capable of receiving at least a portion of the engagement feature 162.

In operation, once a sufficient portion of engagement feature 162 is positioned within zipper pull tab receptacle 172, a pin, hook, or the like received in housing 174 of lock 166 may be positioned through lock opening 164 to prevent removal of engagement feature 162 from zipper pull tab receptacle 172 and thereby secure first zipper pull tab 146 to lock 166. The lock 166 and the first zipper pull tab 146 are further configured such that the first zipper pull tab 146 cannot be removed from the zipper pull tab receptacle 172 in the lock 166 prior to removal of the pin, hook or the like from the lock opening 164, thus effectively securing the first zipper pull tab 146 to the lock 166. Further, once the pin, hook, or the like is positioned in the lock opening 164, the pin, hook, or the like is prevented from moving out of the lock opening 164 unless the user first enters the correct combination using the code dial 168 of the lock or unlocks the locking mechanism contained within the housing 174 of the lock 166 with a key inserted into the key hole 170.

There may be a zipper pull tab receptacle 172 for each first zipper pull tab 146 having an engagement feature 162. Thus, for the embodiment of the luggage piece 100 shown in fig. 1, the lock 166 includes two zipper pull tab receptacles 172 because there are two first zipper pull tabs 146 having engagement features 162. Each zipper pull tab receptacle 172 may include a pin, hook, or the like to secure the respective engagement feature 162 received with each zipper pull tab receptacle 172 to lock 166.

For the second zipper 136, each second zipper pull tab 148 may be substantially similar to the first zipper pull tab 146, except that each second zipper pull tab 148 does not include an engagement feature 162. Thus, each second zipper pull tab 148 may take the form of a body 176 (such as an elongated body) having an aperture 178 such as a slot or the like, the body 176. However, for each second zipper pull tab 148, the aperture 178 is sized large enough to receive the loop 162 of the first zipper pull tab 148 therethrough. In addition, the length of the bodies 150, 176 of the first and second zipper tabs 146, 148 are sized to be sufficiently long and the engagement feature 162 of the first zipper tab 146 and the aperture 178 of the second zipper tab 148 are located on their respective bodies 150, 176 such that the engagement feature 162 extending from the body 150 of the first zipper tab 146 passes through the aperture 178 of the second zipper tab 148 when the first zipper tab 146 overlaps the second zipper tab 148. This allows each second zipper pull tab 148 to be secured to the lock 166 using a corresponding first zipper pull tab 146, since the second zipper pull tabs 148 essentially function as hasps.

Specifically, the second zipper pull tab 148 may be positioned between the lock 166 and its corresponding first zipper pull tab 146 such that the first zipper pull tab 146 overlaps the second zipper pull tab 148. The engagement feature 162 of the first zipper pull tab 146 may pass through an aperture 178 in the second zipper pull tab 148 into the zipper pull tab receptacle 172 of the lock 166 to secure the first zipper pull tab 146 to the lock 166. This in turn secures the second zipper pull tab 148 to the lock 166 because the engagement feature 162 cannot be removed from the aperture 178 of the second zipper pull tab 148 without first disengaging the first zipper pull tab 146 from the lock 166. An advantage of such a system is that both zipper tabs 146, 148 can be secured to the lock 166 of the luggage 100 with a single zipper tab receptacle 172 fixedly attached into the lock 166. Thus, for the embodiment of the luggage 100 shown in fig. 1-4, four zipper tabs 146, 148 may be simultaneously secured to the lock 166 using two zipper tab receptacles 172 on the lock 166, with two of the zipper tabs 146 associated with the first zipper slider 142 and two of the zipper tabs 148 associated with the second zipper slider 144.

Referring to fig. 4, the user can also secure only the first zipper pull tab 146 to the lock 146, if desired. Specifically, rather than passing the engagement feature 162 of the first zipper pull tab 146 through the aperture 178 of the second zipper pull tab 148, the engagement feature 162 of the first zipper pull tab may simply be inserted into the zipper pull tab receptacle 172 of the lock 166. This arrangement then secures the first zipper pull tab 146 to the lock 166 without also securing the associated second zipper pull tab 148 to the lock 166, thus allowing the user to secure only the first zipper pull tab 146 to the lock 166, as shown in FIG. 4.

While the first zipper pull tab 146 has been described and depicted as having the engagement feature 162 and the second zipper pull tab 148 has been described and depicted as having an aperture 178 sized to receive the engagement feature 162, any combination of the first zipper pull tab 146 and the second zipper pull tab 148 may have the engagement feature 162 and the aperture 178 sized to engage the feature 162 so long as there is a zipper pull tab 146, 148 having the engagement feature 162 and another aperture 178 sized appropriately for each set of corresponding first and second zipper pull tabs 146, 148. For example, both of the second zipper tabs 146 may have engagement features 162, while both of the first zipper tabs 146 may have an aperture 178, the aperture 178 being sized to receive the engagement features 162 therethrough. As another example, one first zipper pull tab 146 may have an engagement feature 162 while its corresponding second zipper pull tab 148 may have an appropriately sized aperture 178, and another first zipper pull tab 148 may have an appropriately sized aperture 178 while its corresponding second zipper pull tab 148 has an engagement feature 162.

Fig. 5 depicts another embodiment of an article of luggage, such as luggage 200, having interlocking zipper tabs. The second embodiment of the luggage piece 200 may be generally similar to the first embodiment of the luggage piece 100, except that the luggage piece 200 includes a central portion 290 that extends around the perimeter of the luggage piece along the top, bottom, left and right side walls and separates the lid 216 from the base 218. Additionally, in this second embodiment, a first opening line 214 is located between the central portion and the base portion 218 to secure the base portion 218 to the central portion 290 to open and close the luggage case 200, and a second opening line 234 is located between the central portion 290 and the lid 216 to secure the lid 216 to the central portion 290 to open and close the luggage case 200. Thus, in this second embodiment, each of the first opening line 214 and the second opening line 234 may be parallel to a major face of the luggage case 200 and divide the luggage case 200 along a generally vertical plane. Further, the first line of opening 214 divides the luggage case 200 between the base 218 and the middle 290 to allow access to the enclosed space within the luggage case 200, while the second line of opening 234 divides the luggage case 200 between the middle 290 and the lid 216 to also allow access to the enclosed space within the luggage case 200.

Similar to the first embodiment of the luggage piece 200, the second embodiment of the luggage piece 200 may include a first zipper 230 and a second zipper 236 associated with the first opening 214 and the second opening 234, respectively. For the second embodiment of the luggage case 200, the first and second zippers 230 and 236 are substantially similar to the first and second zippers 130 and 136 of the first embodiment of the luggage case 200 and operate in substantially the same manner. Thus, similar to the first embodiment of the luggage 200, the two zipper pulls 246, 248 for each of the first and second zippers 230, 236 can be simultaneously secured to the lock 166 with a single zipper pull tab receptacle 172. Additionally, as with the first embodiment of the luggage 100, the lock 166 may include two zipper pull tab receivers 172 to simultaneously secure four zipper pull tabs 246, 248 to the lock 166, with two zipper pull tabs 246 associated with the first zipper 230 and two other zipper pull tabs 248 associated with the second zipper 236.

Fig. 6 and 7 depict another embodiment of an article of luggage, such as luggage 300, having interlocking zipper tabs. In this embodiment, the luggage case 300 may be of a hard-shell construction. The luggage piece 300 includes a first zipper 330 associated with the first opening line 314 to secure the lid 316 of the luggage piece 300 to the base 318 of the luggage piece 300. The first zipper 330 may include two first zipper sliders 342. Each zipper slider 342 may include an associated zipper pull tab 346a, 346b, and zipper pull tabs 346a, 346b may be referred to as a first zipper pull tab 346a and a second zipper pull tab 346 b. Each zipper pull tab 346a, 346b may comprise a generally elongate body 350, which body 350 is bent about an associated first zipper slider 342 of the zipper pull tabs 346a, 346b such that the first zipper pull tab 346a may overlap a second zipper pull tab 346b when the first zipper sliders 342 are positioned next to each other. Additionally, similar to the previously described embodiments, the first zipper pull tab 346a may include an engagement feature 362, the engagement feature 362 may define a lock opening 364, the lock opening 364 may be received within a zipper pull tab receptacle 372 of the lock 366, and the second zipper pull tab 346b may include an aperture 378 sized to receive the engagement feature 362 therethrough. Thus, in this embodiment, a single zipper pull tab receptacle 372 is used to connect both zipper pull tabs 346a, 346b associated with first zipper 330 to lock 366.

More specifically, second zipper pull tab 346b may be positioned between first zipper pull tabs 346 a. As described above for the previous embodiments, the engagement feature 362 may then be passed through the aperture 378 in the second zipper pull tab 346b and positioned in the zipper pull tab receptacle 372 of the lock 366 to secure the first zipper pull tab 346a to the lock 366, which in turn secures the second zipper pull tab 346b to the lock 366. Securing zipper tabs 346a, 346b to lock 366 prevents associated first zipper slider 342 from moving along first opening line 314. Additionally, as with the first and second embodiments of the luggage 100, both of the zipper pulls 346a, 346b remain secured to the lock 366 until the first zipper pull 346a is disengaged from the lock 366.

The apparatus and associated methods according to the present disclosure have been described with reference to specific embodiments thereof in order to illustrate the principles of operation. The above description is thus intended to be illustrative and not restrictive. Various modifications and alterations of the described embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the teachings herein. Those skilled in the art may be able to devise, for example, various systems, devices, and methods which, although not explicitly shown or described herein, embody the principles described and are thus within the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, all such changes, variations and modifications of the disclosed embodiments are within the scope of this disclosure as defined by the appended claims.

Where appropriate, common reference numerals have been used for common structural and methodical features. However, sometimes for purposes of description, unique reference numerals are used for similar or identical structure or method elements. Thus, the use of common or different reference numbers for similar or identical structural or methodical elements is not intended to imply similarity or difference beyond that described herein.

All relative and directional references (including upper, lower, upward, downward, left, right, leftward, rightward, top, bottom, sides, above …, below …, front, middle, rear, vertical, horizontal, etc.) are given by way of example only to aid the reader in understanding the specific embodiments described herein. They should not be construed as particularly demanding or limiting the position, orientation, or use of the invention unless explicitly stated in the claims. Connection references (e.g., attached, coupled, connected, bonded, etc.) should be construed broadly and may include intermediate members between a connection of elements and relative movement between elements. Thus, joinder references do not necessarily infer that two elements are directly connected and in fixed relation to each other unless expressly recited in a claim.

The principles and modes of operation of the present invention have been described and illustrated in its preferred embodiments. However, it must be understood that this invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically explained and illustrated without departing from its spirit or scope.