The present invention relates to a bag and a bracket assembly for a bag, such as a suitcase.
Bags commonly include zippers for opening and closing compartments of the bags. Some bags include locks or other devices to inhibit the bags from being opened by someone other than the owner.
In one embodiment, the invention provides a bag including a body having a first portion and a second portion defining a storage compartment therebetween. The bag further includes a zipper coupled to the body to selectively close the first and second portions. The zipper includes a slider movable along the body and a pull coupled to the slider. Further, the bag includes a bracket assembly coupled to the body. The bracket assembly includes a base defining a recess for receiving a portion of the pull, and a cover movable relative to the base between an open position, in which the cover is spaced apart from the recess to allow removal of the portion of the pull from the recess, and a closed position, in which the cover substantially covers the recess to inhibit removal of the portion of the pull from the recess. The bracket assembly further includes a first lock attachment point secured to the base and accessible through the cover. The first lock attachment point is configured to receive a first type of lock to secure the cover to the base in the closed position. The bracket assembly also includes a second lock attachment point secured to the base apart from the first lock attachment point and accessible through the cover. The second lock attachment point is configured to receive a second type of lock that is different than the first type of lock to secure the cover to the base in the closed position.
In another embodiment, the invention provides a bracket assembly for a bag with a body and a zipper coupled to the body. The zipper includes a slider movable along the body and a pull coupled to the slider. The bracket assembly includes a base defining a recess that is configured to receive a portion of the pull, and a cover movable relative to the base between an open position, in which the cover is spaced apart from the recess to allow removal of the pull from the recess, and a closed position, in which the cover substantially covers the recess to inhibit removal of the pull from the recess. The bracket assembly further includes a first lock attachment point secured to the base and accessible through the cover. The first lock attachment point is configured to receive a first type of lock to secure the cover to the base in the closed position. The bracket assembly also includes a second lock attachment point secured to the base apart from the first lock attachment point and accessible through the cover. The second lock attachment point is configured to receive a second type of lock that is different than the first type of lock to secure the cover to the base in the closed position.
In yet another embodiment, the invention provides a bag including a body having a first portion and a second portion defining a storage compartment therebetween. The bag also includes a zipper coupled to the body to selectively close the first and second portions. The zipper includes a first slider movable along the body, a second slider movable along the body, a first pull coupled to the first slider, and a second pull coupled to the second slider. The bag further includes a bracket assembly coupled to the body. The bracket assembly includes a base defining a first recess and a second recess spaced apart from the first recess. The first recess receives a portion of the first pull, and the second recess receives a portion of the second pull. The bag also includes a cover pivotally coupled to the base for movement between an open position, in which the cover is spaced apart from the first and second recesses to allow removal of the portions of the first and second pulls from the first and second recesses, and a closed position, in which the cover substantially covers the first and second recesses to inhibit removal of the portions of the first and second pulls from the first and second recesses. The bracket assembly further includes a slot formed in the base and accessible through the cover. The slot is configured to receive a portable electronic device lock to secure the cover to the base in the closed position. The bracket assembly also includes a loop extending from the base apart from the slot and accessible through the cover. The loop is configured to receive a padlock to secure the cover to the base in the closed position.
Other aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings.
Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Unless specified or limited otherwise, the terms “mounted,” “connected,” “supported,” and “coupled” and variations thereof are used broadly and encompass both direct and indirect mountings, connections, supports, and couplings. Further, “connected” and “coupled” are not restricted to physical or mechanical connections or couplings.
The body 14 has a first portion 26 and a second portion 30 that define a storage compartment therebetween. The first and second portions 26, 30 are coupled together by one of the zippers 18. The storage compartment is in a first side of the bag 10 and is accessible by opening the zipper 18. In the illustrated embodiment, the body 14 further has another storage compartment defined between the second portion 30 and a third portion 44. The second and third portions 30, 44 are coupled together by another zipper 18. The other storage compartment is in a second side of the bag 10 and is accessible by opening the zipper 18. Other embodiments of the body 14 may include more or fewer storage compartments and/or zippers 18.
Referring to
Referring to
In the closed position, the cover 86 substantially covers the recesses 160. Further, in the closed position the cover 86 extends parallel to the plane P. Additionally, in the closed position, the outer surface 216 of the cover 86 is generally parallel the outer ridge 168. Further, the detents 208 extending from the cover 86 engage the projection recesses 172 formed in the base 82 to releasably hold the cover 86 in the closed position. In the open position, as shown in
The first lock attachment point 90 is arranged on the base 82 proximate the bottom edge 136. In the illustrated embodiment, the first lock attachment point 90 includes a slot 92 that extends through the outer surface 156. The slot 92 is defined in an elevated portion 232 of the first lock attachment point 90. An outer surface 236 of the elevated portion 232 is flush with the outer surface 156 of the cover 86 when the cover 86 is in the closed position. The elevated portion 232 allows the slot 92 to be accessible through the aperture 204 when the cover 86 is in the closed position.
The second lock attachment point 94 is spaced from the first lock attachment point 90 along the plane P and is arranged in a center of the bracket assembly 22. In the illustrated embodiment, the second lock attachment point 94 is a loop 96 that extends outwards from the base 82 relative to the plane P. When the cover 86 is in the closed position, the loop 96 extends beyond the outer surface 156 of the cover 86. This arrangement allows the loop 96 to be accessible through the aperture 204 when the cover 86 is in the closed position.
Each of the locks 240A, 240B, 240C (or other suitable locks) are connectable to the attachment points 90, 94 to inhibit opening the cover 86. In particular, when connected to either attachment point 90, 94, the locks 240A, 240B, 240C physically block the cover 86 from moving (e.g., pivoting) from the closed position (
In operation, the zippers 18 of the bag 10 are secured in the bracket assembly 22 by using the first and second lock attachment points 90, 94. First a user inserts the cylindrical heads 68 of the pulls 64 into the recesses 160. In some embodiments, the cylindrical heads 68 snap-fit into the recesses 160 by engagement with the recesses 160. For example, as shown in
Once the zippers 18 are received in the recesses 160, the cover 86 can be moved from the open position (shown in
After moving the cover 86 to the closed position, either or both the first lock attachment point 90, the second lock attachment point 94, or both can be used to secure the cover 86 to the base 82. The first lock attachment point 90 is used to secure the cover 86 to the base 82 by receiving the T-bar 244 of the lock 240A shown in
Alternatively, the first lock attachment point 90 locks the cover 86 to the base 82 using the lock 240B shown in
The second lock attachment point 94 locks the cover 86 to the base 82 using the lock 240C shown in
Although as described above only one of the locks 240A-C is used at a time, a combination of locks may be used to secure the cover 86 to the base 82 in the closed position. For example, the locks 240A, 240C or the locks 240B, 240C may be used in combination. In other embodiments, other types of locks may be used with the bracket assembly 22.
In some scenarios, before a lock 240A-C is used to secure the cover 86 to the base 82, the lock 240A-C is securely connectable to an immovable object (e.g., a table, a chair leg, etc.) via the cables 248, 288, as shown in
Various features and advantages of the invention are set forth in the following claims.
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PCT/CN2015/096780 | 12/9/2015 | WO | 00 |
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WO2017/096552 | 6/15/2017 | WO | A |
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