Security attachment and method of using same

Abstract

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.

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.