TITLE

"LUGGAGE SECURITY DEVICE"

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a device for use with the zipper assembly of luggage.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

An issue of increasing importance to travelers is ensuring that their luggage is properly sealed by themselves and not opened without their consent. Given increases in security at airport terminals and better methods for detecting the transport of illegal substances, many travelers are concerned that persons wishing to transport such goods may attempt to place them in the luggage of innocent parties to avoid the risk of being caught. A number of methods have therefore been proposed for securing luggage and providing an obvious indication that the luggage has been opened, hi the past, the use of padlocks across the zip sliders of a suitcase was common. A further method proposed is the use of a tag device secured through the zip sliders when the bag has been closed. These solutions have had inherent problems in that the removal and replacement of such devices, either with the same or a replacement device, is not particularly difficult. Tag devices having an identity code have also been proposed to alleviate the problem of someone simply cutting the tag away and replacing it with an identical tag. One problem with all of the above solutions is that they only prevent separation of the zip sliders but do not prevent accessing the bag directly through the joined zipper. The zip seal on luggage can be quite easily breached simply by the application of sufficient force to the joined zipper with a suitable tool. Luggage having the common two zip slider

arrangement can then be resealed simply by sliding the two connected sliders over the portion of zipper that has been breached.

The present invention attempts to overcome at least in part the aforementioned disadvantages of previous luggage security devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided a luggage

security device for use on luggage having a zipper comprising a first zip chain and a

second zip chain with first and second zip sliders such that the zipper is sealed when the first zip slider is positioned adjacent the second zip slider, the device comprising: a zipper engaging portion that engages the first zip chain at a point on the zipper between

the first and second zip sliders when the first zip slider is positioned adjacent the second zip slider; and

a slider engaging portion to engage with both the first and second zip sliders when the

first zip slider is positioned adjacent the second zip slider; wherein the slider engaging portion prevents movement of the first zip slider relative to

the second zip slider and the zipper engaging portion prevents the first and second zip

sliders from moving relative to the zipper.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the

accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 a is a front view of a first embodiment of a security device in accordance with the present invention;

Figure Ib is a side view of the security device of Figure Ia;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the security device of Figure 1;

Figure 3 a is a front view of a sealing member of the security device of Figure 1;

Figure 3b is a side view of the sealing member of Figure 3 a;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the security device of Figure 1 prior to engagement with a zipper and sliders;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the security device of Figure 1 with the zipper engaging

portion engaged with the first zip chain;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the security device of Figure 1 with the first and second zip sliders closed;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the security device of Figure 1 with the sealing member extended;

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the security device of Figure 1 with the slider engaging

portion partially engaged with the first and second sliders;

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the security device of Figure 1 with the slider engaging

portion fully engaged with the first and second sliders; Figure 10 is a perspective view of the security device of Figure 1 with the sealing member secured across the slider engaging portion;

Figure 1 Ia is atop view of a second embodiment of a security device in accordance with

the present invention;

Figure 1 Ib is a side view of the security device of Figure 11a; Figure 12 is a perspective view of the security device of Figure 1 prior to engagement

with a zipper and sliders;

Figure 13 is a perspective view of the security device of Figure 11 with the zipper

engaging portion engaged with the first zip chain;

Figure 14 is a perspective view of the security device of Figure 11 with the first and

second zip sliders closed;

Figure 15 is a perspective view of the security device of Figure 11 with the slider

engaging portion partially engaged with the first and second sliders;

Figure 16 is a perspective view of the security device of Figure 11 with the slider

engaging portion fully engaged with the first and second sliders;

Figure 17 is a perspective view of the security device of Figure 11 with the slider

engaging portion commencing engagement with a first aperture in the body portion;

Figure 18 is a perspective view of the security device of Figure 11 with the slider

engaging portion engaged with the first aperture body portion;

Figure 19 is a perspective view of the security device of Figure 11 with the slider

engaging portion commencing engagement with a second aperture in the body portion;

Figure 20a is a perspective view of the security device of Figure 11 with the slider

engaging portion engaged with the body portion;

Figure 20b is a perspective view of the security device of Figure 11 showing the

application of the sealing member secured across the slider engaging portion;

Figure 21a is a top view of a third embodiment of a security device in accordance with

the present invention in which the slider engaging portion is to be provided as a separate

piece;

Figure 21b is a side view of the security device of Figure 21a;

Figure 22a is a perspective view of the security device of Figure 21 showing folding of

the body portion;

Figure 22b is a perspective view of the security device of Figure 21 prior to engagement

with a zipper and sliders;

Figure 23 is a perspective view of the security device of Figure 21 with the zipper

engaging portion engaged with the first zip chain;

Figure 24 is a perspective view of the security device of Figure 21 with the first and second zip sliders closed; and

Figure 25 is a perspective view of the security device of Figure 21 with the body portion engaged with the first and second zip sliders ready for application of the slider engaging portion.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the Figures, there is shown a luggage security device 10 for securing a zipper 12 comprising a first zip chain 14 and a second zip chain 16 secured together in a conventional manner by a first zip slider 18 and a second zip slider 20. Each of the first and second zip sliders 18 and 20 include a loop 22. The loops 22 are aligned when the first zip slider 18 is adjacent the second zip slider 20 in a closed position, such that a securing device can be inserted through the loops 22 to prevent movement of the first zip slider 18 relative to the second zip slider 20. Referring to the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 10, the security device 10 comprises a generally planar sheet of material having a body portion 24, a head portion 26 and a neck portion 28 connecting the head portion 26 and the body portion 24. The body portion 24 in the embodiment shown is generally rectangular in shape and the head portion 26 is generally circular of a diameter approximately equivalent to the width of the body portion 24.

The body portion 24 and the neck portion 28 are constructed of a flexible resilient material, such as a suitable plastic. The head portion 26 is constructed of a material that is deformable such that it will hold its deformed shape. In the embodiment shown, the head portion 26 includes a metallic foil, however the head portion 26 may be constructed of

any suitable material such as a plastic material with the required physical properties. In

the embodiment shown, the body portion 24 comprises a sheet of 0.5mm Nylon 30 and

the head portion 28 comprises a 0.2mm aluminium sheet 32. A lamination of 0.1mm polyester 34 is wrapped above and below the Nylon sheet 30 and the aluminium sheet 32,

as shown in the enlarged portions of Figure Ib, to form the neck portion 28. The head

portion 24 forms a zipper engaging portion in that it engages, in use, a portion of one of the first and second zip chains 14 or 16.

The security device 10 includes a slider engaging portion 36 for engaging through the loops 22 of the first and second sliders 18 and 20 in use. The slider engaging portion 36

comprises a tongue portion 38 extending along a slot 40 provided in the body portion 24.

The slot 40 extends along a portion of the length of the body portion 24 and the tongue portion 38 extends along the slot 40 from an end of the slot 40 adjacent the neck portion

28. The tongue portion 38 is of the same material as the body portion 24 and is therefore constructed by appropriate cutting of the body portion 24 material. The tongue portion 38

is therefore flexible and may be bent from a position in which the tongue portion 38 is in

the plane of the body portion 24 and a position in which the tongue portion 38 extends out of the plane of the body portion 24.

The slot 40 is provided with a widened portion 42 at an end adjacent the neck portion 28

and a transversely extending opening 44 at an end remote from the neck portion 28. The

widened portion 42 is to receive the loops 22 of the first and second zip sliders 18 and 20 in use. The transversely extending opening 44 is to receive a sealing member 46 of the type shown in Figures 3a and 3b. The sealing member 46 forms a means to detect

disengagement of the slider engaging portion 36. The sealing member 46 is provided to secure the tongue portion 38 in the position in which the tongue portion 38 is coplanar

with the body portion 24.

The sealing member 46 comprises a sheet of material having an adhesive on a first side

thereof which is covered with a backing sheet 50. The sealing member 46 is arranged to

be inserted through the opening 44, after which the backing sheet 50 is removed and the

sealing member 46 is folded down (as shown in Figure 10) such that the first side

contacts both the upper and lower surfaces of the body portion 24. The adhesive on the first side of the sealing member 46 adheres to the body portion 24, securing the tongue portion 38 in place.

The sealing member 46 is constructed of a material such that, once the adhesive has set, any attempt to remove the sealing member 46 results in the sealing member 46 fracturing.

In the embodiment shown, the sealing member 46 is constructed of two films laminated together in a pattern as shown in Figure 3a. The two layers are connected together in this example along intersecting perpendicular lines 52. The result is an array of rectangular air

pockets 54 formed on the sealing member 46. The two layers are. chosen such that the

outer layer, being the layer remote from the backing sheet, is significantly less flexible than the inner layer. In this way, the force applied to the sealing member 46 when trying

to peel off the sealing member 46 will result in fracturing of the less flexible outer layer.

The sealing member 46 may also be provided with a signature panel 56 printed on the

outer layer that may be signed by the owner of the luggage. This signature would be destroyed on trying to remove the sealing member 46, thereby reducing the likelihood of someone removing the security device 10 and replacing with an other similar device after accessing the inside of the luggage.

In use, the security device 10 is installed as shown in Figures 4 to 10. The security device is located approximately perpendicular to the zipper 12 and the head portion 26 placed on

top of the first zip chain 14. The head portion 26 is bent around the first zip chain 14 such

that the head portion 26 substantially encloses a portion of the first zip chain 14 between

the first and second zip sliders 18 and 20, as shown in Figure 5.

The first and second zip sliders 18 and 20 are then slid together as shown in Figure 6. A

portion of the head portion 26 on a first side thereof is received in the first zip slider 18

and a portion of the head portion 26 on a second opposite side of the head portion 26 is

received in the second zip slider 20. The action of engaging the first and second zip

sliders with the head portion 26 further moulds the material of the head portion 26 around

the first zip chain 14. Also, a kink 27 is formed in the folded edge of the head portion 26

as shown in "View A" of Figure 5 that locks further into the zip chain 14, preventing

movement of the security device 10 relative to the zipper 12.

The tongue portion 38 is then pressed out of alignment with the body portion 24 and

inserted through the loops 22 in the first and second sliders 18 and 20 until the loops 22

are received in the widened portion 42, as shown in Figures 8 and 9. The body portion 24

is then bent around the zip sliders 18 and 20, by flexing the neck portion 28 until the

body portion 24 is again in line with the tongue portion 38, as shown in Figure 9. The

backing sheet 50 on the sealing member 46 is then removed and the first surface of the

sealing member 46 is adhered to the upper and lower surfaces of the body portion 24,

including the tongue portion 38.

Once the adhesive has set, the sealing member 46 cannot be removed without fracturing

the outer layer of the sealing member 46, thereby destroying the signature panel 56.

Should someone attempt to break into the luggage by breaking apart the first and second

zip chains 14 and 16 of the luggage, the engagement of the first and second sliders 18 and

20 with the head portion 26 of the security device 10 prevents the zipper 12 from being

resealed by sliding the first and second zip sliders 18 and 20 over the breached portion of the zipper 12.

Referring to Figures 11 to 20, there is shown a second embodiment of a security device in

accordance with the present invention in which like reference numerals are used to denote like parts.

The security device 10 of the embodiment shown in Figures 11 to 20 operates in

essentially the same manner as the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 10 in that a zipper engaging portion, being the head portion 26, is provided for engaging with the first zip

chain 14 and a slider engaging portion 36 is provided to engage through the first and second sliders 18 and 20. In the second embodiment however, the slider engaging portion

36 comprises a tongue portion 38 that extends outwardly from the head portion 26. The tongue portion 38 is passed through the loops 22 of the first and second sliders 18 and 20 in a direction opposite to that of the first embodiment and back towards the body portion 24.

The body portion 24 is provided with first and second apertures 60 and 62. The slider tongue 38, after being passed through the loops 22, is passed first through the first aperture 60 (as shown in Figures 17 and 18) and then back through the second aperture

62 (as shown in Figures 19 and 20). The sealing member 46 is then secured across the

tongue 38 and the body portion 24 to prevent removal of the tongue 38 from the body ■ portion 24.

Figures 22 to 25 show a third embodiment of the security device in which the slider

engaging portion is to be provided as a separate element. The security device 10 of Figures 22 to 25 comprises the body portion 24, head portion 26 and neck portion 28 of the type shown in Figures 1 to 10 but does not include the slider engaging portion. The

zipper engaging portion, being the head portion 26, engages with the first zip chain 14 in the same manner as shown in Figures 1 to 10 and a hole 64 is provided in the body

portion 24 to perform the same function as the widened portion 42 of the slot 40 of the first embodiment. That is, once the head portion 26 is engaged with the first zip chain 14

and the first and second sliders 18 and 20 closed, the body portion 24 is bent over so that

the loops 22 are received in the hole 64. In this configuration (as shown in Figure 25) a separate slider engaging portion (not shown) is provided to pass through the loops 22 and

second the first and second sliders 18 and 20 together. The slider engaging portion may comprise any suitable device such as a cable tie or padlock.

It will be noted in Figure 22a that the body portion 24 is provided as a length of planar

sheet material that may be folded over on itself and secured by a suitable adhesive. This allows printed matter to be contained on both sides of the product in use by printing during manufacturing on one side only. It also increases the strength of the body portion 24 of the security device 10.

Modifications and variations as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are deemed to

be within the scope of the present invention