초록 ▼

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 long

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.

대표청구항 ▼

1. 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 ope

1. 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; anda 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, andwherein 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. 2. The zip fastener of claim 1 wherein the first pull tab includes a hook disposed between the proximal end and distal end of the first pull tab, a tip of the hook being spaced from the body of the first pull tab such that the female locking feature comprises a recess between the body and the tip of the hook, and wherein the male locking feature comprises a complementary portion of the body of the second pull tab such that the complementary portion of the male locking feature may be received in the recess of the female locking feature. 3. The zip fastener of claim 2 wherein opposing inner surfaces of the recess are substantially planar, and opposing outer surfaces of the complementary portion of the body received in the female locking feature are substantially planar. 4. The zip fastener of claim 3 wherein the first and second pull tabs have bodies of the same length, proximal ends of the same shape and distal ends of the same shape. 5. The zip fastener of claim 2 wherein each pull tab has a respective outermost surface disposed outermost when the first and second pull tabs are in their interlocked position, and a concavity in each outermost surface that bounds the complementary portion of the body received in the recess, such that in the interlocked position, said outermost surfaces are substantially aligned coplanar with a respective outer surface of the tip of the hook. 6. The zip fastener of claim 1 and further comprising: 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; anda second loop on the second slider extending substantially in the lengthwise direction and through the second opening to form the second coupling. 7. The zip fastener of claim 2 wherein the tip of the hook is sized or formed such that it cannot mistakenly be inserted into the recess. 8. The zip fastener of claim 2 wherein the first pull tab further includes a flange portion connecting the tip to the body, the flange portion extending from an edge of the body. 9. The zip fastener of claim 1 further comprising a detent for holding the male and female locking features in mutual engagement. 10. The zip fastener of claim 9 wherein the detent comprises a magnet received in an aperture in the male locking feature. 11. Luggage comprising at least one zip fastener as claimed in claim 1, and further including a fastening device for connecting the first and second pull tabs. 12. The luggage of claim 11, wherein the fastening device includes: a body fixed to the luggage, the body having at least one in portion having a projecting free end and an opposing fixed end, the in portion being configured to be received in the openings in the distal ends of the pull tabs; anda closure engaged with the body for sliding movement between a closed position in which the closure blocks the free end and an open position in which the closure is spaced apart from the free end. 13. The luggage of claim 12 wherein the body further comprises an opening positioned such that with the closure in the closed position, a shackle of a padlock extending through an aperture secures the closure. 14. The luggage of claim 12 wherein the at least one zip fastener comprises two zip fasteners, and the fastening device is fixed to the luggage between the two zip fasteners. 15. 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; anda 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. 16. The zip fastener of claim 15 wherein the first pull tab includes a hook disposed between the proximal end and a distal end of the first pull tab, a tip of the hook being spaced from a body of the first pull tab such that the female locking feature comprises a recess between the body and the tip of the hook and the male locking feature comprises a portion on the body complementary to the female locking feature such that the complementary portion of the male locking feature may be received in the recess of the female locking feature, and wherein the tip of the hook is sized or formed such that it cannot mistakenly be inserted into the recess. 17. The zip fastener of claim 16 and further comprising a flange portion connecting the tip to the body, the flange portion extending from an edge of the body. 18. The zip fastener of claim 15 further comprising a detent for holding the male and female locking features in mutual engagement. 19. The zip fastener of claim 18 wherein the detent comprises a magnet received in an aperture in the male locking feature. 20. 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; anda 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.