SECURITY ATTACHMENT AND METHOD OF USING SAME
A security attachment for helping to prevent unwanted access to a container slide fastener includes a retainer mounted in proximity to the slide fastener and an elongate toggle pull adapted to be removably secured in a fixed position by the retainer.
Not Applicable
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENTNot Applicable
REFERENCE TO A “MICROFICHE APPENDIX”Not Applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention is related to security devices and more particularly, is related to a security attachment for a container with a slide fastener.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONA security attachment for helping to prevent unwanted access to a container slide fastener includes a retainer mounted in close proximity to the slide fastener and an elongate toggle pull adapted to be removably secured in a fixed position by the retainer.
Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to
Although in the preferred embodiment of the present invention the container has been described as a carrier bag, it is contemplated that a large variety of different types and kinds of containers can be provided with a security attachment such as the security attachment 10. For example, it is contemplated that the container can be selected from a group of containers that includes: a duffle bag, a wallet, a tote bag, a hiking bag, a bike bag, a camera bag, a pouch, a backpack, a shoulder bag, a messenger bag, a purse, a clutch, a piece of luggage, a wheeled piece of luggage, a wheeled tote, a wheeled duffle, a wheeled backpack, a climbing bag, a travel pack, a bag, a toiletry bag, a wheeled toiletry bag, a laptop bag, a briefcase, a business case, a sling bag, a waist pack, a fanny pack, a lumbar bag, a belt bag, a neck wallet, an under-garment bag, a suitor bag, a wheeled suitor bag, a garment bag, a wheeled garment bag, a convertible duffle, a convertible luggage piece, a wheeled convertible luggage piece, a pocket bag, a handbag, a school bag, a carry-on, a wheeled carry-on, a gym bag, a wheeled gym bag, an accessory bag, a diaper bag, and a suitcase.
Considering now the security attachment 10 in greater detail with reference to
Considering now the use of the security attachment 10 in greater detail with reference to
Considering the security attachment 10 in greater detail with reference to
Considering the security attachment 10 in greater detail with reference to
As best seen in
The large toggle loop 32 as best seen in
Considering now the small pull member 22 in greater detail, the small pull member 22 is composed of a molded plastic material and is formed into a general oval shape. The pull member 22 has sufficient length, width and height dimensions to allow the two strands of the looped ligature 20 to be secured therein and concealed within its interior. In this manner the closure pull 12 is provided with a pleasing appearance. It should be noted that the length of the small tab loop 30 is also selected to allow the pull member 22 to be disposed in close proximity to the pull tab 9 when the ligature 20 is cinched thereto.
Considering now the toggle member 24 in greater detail with reference to
Considering now the retainer or receptacle 14 in greater detail with reference to
As best seen in
With respect to the angle θ, it has been determined that the toggle member 24 will pass through the aperture 58 when the toggle member 24 is rotated perpendicularly to the hole 58 at an angle θ of between about 30 degree and about 90 degrees. A more preferred orientation is at an angle θ of between about 45 degrees and 90 degrees, while the most preferred orientation is at an angle θ of about 90 degrees.
In summary then, the retainer 14 is affixed to the container 4 by stitching it to the container 4. Also the toggle member 24 has a sufficiently small diameter to pass through said the aperture 58 when inserted by its longitudinal axis and when oriented at about an angle θ in alignment to the orientation of the aperture 58. Moreover, the elongate toggle member 24 has a sufficient longitudinal length to block the toggle member 24 from passing through the aperture 58 when the toggle member 24 is disposed at a perpendicular angle of about 90 degrees to the aperture 58. From the foregoing, it should be understood that the diameter of the aperture 58 must be substantially larger than the diameter of the toggle member 24 in order to allow the toggle member 24 to pass through the aperture 58, and that the longitudinal length of the toggle member 24 must be substantially longer than the diameter of the aperture 58 to prevent the toggle member 24 from passing through the aperture 58 when properly oriented as described.
Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to
Considering now the security arrangement 210 in greater detail with reference to
Considering now the retainer or receptacle 214 in greater detail with reference to
With respect to the angle θ, it has been determined that the toggle member 24 will pass through the aperture 58′ when the toggle member 24 is rotated perpendicularly to the hole 58′ at an angle θ of between about 30 degree and about 90 degrees. A more preferred orientation is at an angle θ of between about 45 degrees and 90 degrees, while the most preferred orientation is at an angle θ of about 90 degrees.
Various modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teaching. For example by reference to
As an example, in
As yet another example, in
As another example, In
In
It is noted that the preferred embodiments of the present invention described herein in detail for exemplary purposes are of course subject to many different variations in structure, design, application and methodology. Because many varying and different embodiments may be made within the scope of the inventive concept(s) herein taught, and because many modifications may be made in the embodiments herein detailed in accordance with the description requirements of the law, it is to be understood that the details herein are to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
Claims
1. A security attachment for a slide fastener having a slider and a slider head, comprising:
- a closure pull adapted to be attached to the slider head; and
- a security retainer for holding said closure pull in a fixed position to substantially prevent travel by said slider.
2. The security attachment according to claim 1, wherein said closure pull includes a cord and a toggle member.
3. The security attachment according to claim 1, wherein the slider is attached to a container; and
- wherein said container is selected from a group of containers that include: a duffle bag, a wallet, a tote bag, a hiking bag, a bike bag, a camera bag, a pouch, a backpack, a shoulder bag, a messenger bag, a purse, a clutch, a piece of luggage, a wheeled piece of luggage, a wheeled tote, a wheeled duffle, a wheeled backpack, a climbing bag, a travel pack, a bag, a toiletry bag, a wheeled toiletry bag, a laptop bag, a briefcase, a business case, a sling bag, a waist pack, a fanny pack, a lumbar bag, a belt bag, a neck wallet, an under-garment bag, a suitor bag, a wheeled suitor bag, a garment bag, a wheeled garment bag, a convertible duffle, a convertible luggage piece, a wheeled convertible luggage piece, a pocket bag, a handbag, a school bag, a carry-on, a wheeled carry-on, a gym bag, a wheeled gym bag, an accessory bag, a diaper bag, or a suitcase.
4. A security attachment for use in combination with a container having a slide fastener with a slider coupled to a pull tab, comprising:
- a security retainer secured to the container in close proximity to the slide fastener; and
- an elongate toggle closure pull attached to the pull tab and adapted to be removably secured in a fixed place by said security retainer;
- whereby the slider is held in a closed position until said toggle closure is released from said security retainer.
5. The security attachment according to claim 4, wherein said security retainer is a butterfly flap secured to the container in close proximity to said closure;
- wherein said butterfly flap has a slit for receiving therein said cord; and
- wherein said slit is sufficiently narrow to prevent said toggle member from passing therethrough when said toggle member is disposed substantially perpendicular to said closure but not sufficiently narrow to prevent said toggle member from passing therethrough when said toggle member is disposed substantially in longitudinal alignment with said closure.
6. The security attachment according to claim 4, wherein said security retainer is a grommet disposed on a proximal end of a carrying strap attached to the container;
- said grommet being further disposed in sufficient proximity to said closure to allow said closure pull to be secured by said security retainer.
7. The security attachment according to claim 4, wherein said closure pull is formed into a closed loop;
- wherein said security retainer is a flap having a snap button attached thereto, said flap being attached to said container in longitudinal alignment with said closure; and
- wherein said snap button allows said flap to be closed upon itself to facilitate removably securing said closure pull in a fixed position to secure said closure in a closed position.
8. A security attachment, comprising:
- a zipper security tab secured to a container having a zipper with a pull tab;
- wherein said zipper security tab is secured in close proximity to a closed end of said zipper;
- an elongate toggle zipper pull attached to said pull tab; and
- wherein said toggle zipper pull is adapted to be removably secured to said zipper security tab for securing said zipper in a closed position.
9. The security attachment according to claim 8, wherein said zipper security tab includes an aperture.
10. The security attachment according to claim 9, wherein said elongate toggle zipper pull includes a ligature and an elongate toggle member;
- wherein said ligature is secured by a proximal end thereof to said pull tab and secured by a distal end thereof to said toggle member.
11. The security attachment according to claim 10, wherein said elongate toggle member has a sufficiently small diameter to pass through said aperture when inserted by its longitudinal axis; and
- wherein said elongate toggle member has a sufficient longitudinal length to block the toggle member from passing through said aperture when the toggle member is disposed at an angle θ to said aperture.
12. The security attachment according to claim 11, wherein said angle θ is between about 1 degree and about 90 degrees.
13. The security attachment according to claim 12, wherein a more preferred angle θ is between about 45 degrees and about 90 degrees.
14. The security attachment according to claim 13, wherein a most preferred angle θ is 90 degrees.
15. The security attachment according to claim 8, wherein said zipper security tab is secured to the container by a stitching process.
16. The security attachment according to claim 10, wherein said toggle member is secured to said ligature.
17. The security attachment according to claim 10, wherein said toggle member includes a plurality of apertures dimensioned for receiving therein said ligature.
18. The security attachment according to claim 17, wherein said ligature passes through said apertures for securing said ligature to said toggle member.
19. The security attachment according to claim 8, wherein said zipper security tab has a front side and a rear side, wherein said front side and said rear side each have a raised edge for helping to align said zipper security tab in perpendicular alignment with a container seam for attachment purposes.
20. The security attachment according to claim 8, wherein said zipper security tab is composed of a flexible or non flexible material.
Type: Application
Filed: May 12, 2008
Publication Date: Nov 12, 2009
Inventor: CHAD ALAN RABE (Oceanside, CA)
Application Number: 12/119,438
International Classification: A44B 19/30 (20060101);