The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 16, 1996
Filed:
Dec. 20, 1993
Samsonite Corporation, Denver, CO (US);
Abstract
The invention is a device for locking the closure mechanism on an item of luggage. The device includes a movable rod which drives a movable clasp bolt on one part of the luggage. The clasp bolt interacts with an opening in another part of the luggage, which opening serves as the strike for the clasp bolt. A movable latch may be interposed in the path of the rod, so that in an active position the latch blocks the movement of the rod, thus locking the case, but when the latch is in a retracted position the rod is released. The latch is moved by an electric motor connected to the latch by a gear reduction unit which amplifies the output torque of the motor. The latch may remain in its blocking position when motor torque is not supplied. A control signal generator actuates the motor in response to the reception of an access code input by the user.