Luggage article with laterally engaged zipper pull-tabs
View Patent ↗A luggage article, such as luggage case, with zipper pull-tabs laterally engaged along inner sides and separably secured by a magnetic force, without interlocking with each other, to allow enhanced manipulation of the zipper pull-tabs, zipper sliders and optionally improved operation of the lock mechanism.
1. A luggage article comprising:
a zipper including at least two zipper sliders;
one of the at least two zipper sliders joined to a first zipper pull-tab comprising an elongated body, the elongated body having an outer side and an inner side;
another of the at least two zipper sliders joined to a second zipper pull-tab comprising an elongated body, the elongated body having an outer side and an inner side;
at least one magnet coupled with either or both of the first zipper pull-tab and/or the second zipper pull-tab; and
the first zipper pull-tab and the second zipper pull-tab laterally engaging along at least a portion of their respective inner sides without interlocking with each other and held in engagement by a magnetic force.
2. The luggage article of claim 1 , further comprising:
the first zipper pull-tab including an engagement feature;
the second zipper pull-tab including an engagement feature;
a lock mechanism coupled to the luggage article, the lock mechanism including at least two zipper pull-tab receiver openings, the at least two zipper pull-tab receiver openings each sized to receive one of the engagement features; and
the laterally engaged first zipper pull-tab and second zipper pull-tab positioning the engagement features for receipt in the at least two zipper pull-tab receiver openings.
3. The luggage article of claim 2 , wherein the engagement features are received in the at least two zipper pull-tab receiver openings.
4. The luggage article of claim 1 , wherein the first and second zipper pull-tabs are engaged by an abutment of the portions of the respective inner sides.
5. The luggage article as defined in claim 4 , wherein the abutment of the portions of the respective inner sides include facial abutment without interlocking of the first and second zipper pull-tabs.
6. The luggage article of claim 1 , wherein the first zipper pull-tab and the second zipper pull-tab form a laterally-extending single unit when held in engagement by the magnetic force.
7. The luggage article of claim 1 , wherein one or both of a top side and/or bottom side of the first zipper pull-tab is flush with a top side and/or bottom side, respectively, of the second zipper pull-tab.
8. The luggage article of claim 1 , wherein the laterally engaged portion of the inner side of each zipper pull-tab forms a wall extending at a substantially right angle to a top side of the respective zipper pull-tab.
9. The luggage article as defined in claim 1 , wherein the magnetic force includes at least a first magnet coupled with at least a portion of the inner side of the first zipper pull-tab, or at least a second magnet coupled with at least a portion of the inner side of the second zipper pull-tab, or at least a first magnet and at least a second magnet each coupled with at least a portion of the inner side of the first and second zipper pull-tabs, respectively.
10. The luggage article as defined in claim 9 , wherein the portion of the first inner side and/or the second inner side defines a recess, and the at least first magnet and/or the at least second magnet is received in the respective recess.
11. The luggage article as defined in claim 9 , wherein the at least first magnet is fully embedded in the portion of the first inner side and/or the at least second magnet is fully embedded in the portion of the second inner side.
12. The luggage article as defined in claim 10 , wherein the first magnet and/or the second magnet are each flush, below flush, or above flush with the portion of the respective inner side.
13. The luggage article as defined in claim 1 , wherein a layer is positioned on at least part of the portion of the inner side of the first and/or second zipper pull-tab.
14. The luggage article as defined in claim 1 , wherein the portions of respective inner sides of the first and second zipper pull-tabs define a linear shape or define complimentary curved shapes.
15. The luggage article as defined in claim 2 , wherein the lock mechanism is attached to a side wall of the luggage article or the lock mechanism is independent from the luggage article.