Device and method for securing a zippered compartment

Abstract

A device releasably attachable to a zippered compartment, so as to secure the compartment against unauthorized access is disclosed. The device includes an anchor for mounting the device to the zippered compartment, and a releasable lock for engaging a slider head of the zippered compartment. The anchor includes a clamp, clip, and contact surface so as to engage a portion of the zipper of the zippered compartment. The releasable lock includes a latch. Method of releasably attaching the device to the zippered compartment is also disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device for securing a compartment having a cavity and zippered closure, the zippered closure including a zipper track, the zipper track having a zipper tape and zipper teeth, and at least one slider head operatively coupled to the zipper teeth so as to selectively open and close the zippered closure, the device comprising:
 an anchor configured to be releasably mounted on to a portion of the zipper track,   at least one releasable latch coupled to the anchor, and adapted to receive and releasably lock a slider head of the at least one slider head.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the anchor includes a clamp, defining a gap therein, wherein the gap is sized to snugly receive therein the portion of the zipper track so as to frictionally engage the anchor with the portion of the zipper track. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2  wherein the clamp includes a lower portion and an upper portion. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein the zipper track includes an exterior surface, exterior relative to the cavity of the compartment, and an opposite interior surface adjacent the cavity of the compartment, the anchor further including at least one flexible release arm extending cantilevered from the upper portion of the clamp, so as to extend along the exterior surface of the zipper track when the anchor is mounted to the zipper track, and so as to cooperate with the latch to release the latch upon depression of the flexible arm. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4  wherein the at least one releasable lock includes a flexible tongue extending cantilevered from the lower portion of the clamp, the tongue extending along the inner surface of the zipper track when the anchor is mounted to the zipper track. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5  wherein the flexible tongue includes a distal end distal from the anchor and latch wherein the coupled to the distal end, the latch comprising a ramp, distal from the anchor, so as to guide the slider head past said latch as the slider head translates over the zipper track and towards the anchor. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6  wherein the latch further comprises a lip, the lip adapted to engage a rearward edge of the slider head so as to said releasably lock the slider head to the anchor. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 6  wherein the release arm is in opposed facing relation to the flexible tongue and the zipper track interleaved therebetween, such that said depressing of the release arm engages the tongue through the zipper tape so as to release the latch from the slider head. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 6  wherein the anchor further comprises a clip, slidably mounted on the clamp, the clip slideable between a locked position, so as to compress the clamp, and an unlocked position, so as to decompress the clamp. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9  wherein the clamp includes a slide track along which the clip slides relative to the anchor. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 9  wherein the clamp includes at least one protrusion slidably engaged in the slide track so as to slidably secure the clip to the anchor. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 9  wherein the clip is a spring clip. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 12  wherein each portion of the upper and lower portions of the clamp includes a frictional contact surface, the contact surface being adjacent to the portion of the zipper track when the anchor is mounted to the zipper track, wherein each of the contact surfaces is textured so as to frictionally engage the portion of the zipper track in the gap of the clamp when the anchor is mounted to the zipper track. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 9  wherein the contact surface is polyethylene. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the at least one releasable lock includes a first and second releasable latch, the first releasable lock extending from a first end of the device and the second releasable lock extending from a second end of the device, the second end distal from the first end. 
     
     
         16 . A method for releasably securing a compartment having a zippered closure, the zippered closure including a zipper track, the zipper track having a zipper tape and zipper teeth, and at least one slider head operatively coupled to the zipper teeth so as to selectively open and close the zipper closure, the method comprising the steps of:
 releasably anchoring the device of  claim 13  to a portion of the zipper track,   engaging the slider head of the at least one slider with the releasable lock of the device.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the anchoring step further comprises the steps of:
 sliding the clip along the track, so as to position the clip in the unlocked position,   mounting the clamp to the portion of the zipper track so that the tongue extends along the interior surface and the releasable arm extends along the exterior surface of the zipper track,   sliding the clip along the track, so as to position the clip into the locked position.