Luggage handle assembly with two push buttons

A handle assembly for a luggage includes a grip unit, a button unit and a crank unit. The button unit includes a left push and a right push button. The crank unit includes a left crank having a first end provided with a left resting section abutting the left push button and a second end provided with a left ratchet section, a right crank having a first end provided with a right resting section abutting the right push button and a second end provided with a right ratchet section engaging the left ratchet section. Thus, the button unit includes two push buttons mounted on two opposite ends of the grip unit, so that the button unit will not be touched or pressed by the user, thereby preventing the handle assembly from being unlocked inadvertently.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a handle assembly and, more particularly, to a handle assembly for a luggage.

2. Description of the Related Art

A conventional retractable handle assembly10for a luggage in accordance with the prior art shown inFIGS. 1 and 2comprises a handle11having two ends each provided with an outer pipe14, an intermediate pipe13movably mounted in the outer pipe14and having a plurality of locking holes131, an inner pipe12movably mounted in the intermediate pipe13, and a link121pressed by the handle11and extending into the inner pipe12. A pressing plate17is movably mounted in the handle11and has two ends abutting the upper end of the link121. The pressing plate17is provided with a push button16protruding from the handle11. Each of the inner pipe12and the intermediate pipe13has a bottom end provided with a locking device15which includes a fixing seat151, a locking pin153movably mounted in the fixing seat151and having a first end detachably locked in one of the locking holes131of the intermediate pipe13, an elastic member154mounted in the fixing seat151and biased between the fixing seat151and a second end of the locking pin153to push the locking pin153toward the respective locking hole131of the intermediate pipe13, and a V-shaped control member152pivotally mounted in the fixing seat151and having a first end rested on a lower end of the link121and a second end locked on the second end of the locking pin153. In operation, when the push button16is pressed, the pressing plate17is moved downward to move the link121downward which presses and pivots the control member152which moves the locking pin153to detach from one of the locking holes131so as to unlock the locking device15, so that the handle assembly10is released and can be pulled outward or retracted inward. However, the push button16is located at the middle position of the handle11so that the push button16is easily touched or pressed by the user's hand. Thus, when the push button16is touched or pressed unintentionally, the handle assembly10is released and disposed at the retracted state, thereby hindering movement of the luggage, and thereby causing inconvenience to the user. In addition, when the luggage is moved during the unlocked state, the locking device15easily rubs the inner wall of the intermediate pipe13, thereby wearing the intermediate pipe13.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a luggage handle assembly with two push buttons located at two ends thereof

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a handle assembly comprising a grip unit, a button unit mounted on the grip unit, and a crank unit mounted in the grip unit. The grip unit is provided with a first limit groove and a second limit groove located at two sides thereof. The grip unit is further provided with a first mounting recess located under the first limit groove and a second mounting recess located under the second limit groove. The button unit includes a left push button limited in the first limit groove of the grip unit and provided with a left pressing section, a first compression spring mounted on a lower end of the left push button, a right push button limited in the second limit groove of the grip unit and provided with a right pressing section, and a second compression spring mounted on a lower end of the right push button. The crank unit includes a left crank having a first end provided with a left resting section abutting the left pressing section of the left push button and a second end provided with a left ratchet section, a right crank having a first end provided with a right resting section abutting the right pressing section of the right push button and a second end provided with a right ratchet section, a left linking rod having an upper end resting on a lower end of the left resting section, and a right linking rod having an upper end resting on a lower end of the right resting section.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings and initially toFIGS. 3-6, a handle assembly for a luggage in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a grip unit2, a button unit3mounted on the grip unit2, and a crank unit4mounted in the grip unit2.

The grip unit2is provided with a first limit groove201and a second limit groove202located at two sides thereof. The grip unit2is further provided with a first mounting recess203located under the first limit groove201and a second mounting recess205located under the second limit groove202.

The button unit3includes a left push button31limited in the first limit groove201of the grip unit2and provided with a left pressing section311, a first compression spring312mounted on a lower end of the left push button31, a right push button32limited in the second limit groove202of the grip unit2and provided with a right pressing section321, and a second compression spring322mounted on a lower end of the right push button32.

The crank unit4includes a left crank41having a first end provided with a left resting section411abutting the left pressing section311of the left push button31and a second end provided with a left ratchet section413, a right crank42having a first end provided with a right resting section421abutting the right pressing section321of the right push button32and a second end provided with a right ratchet section423, a left linking rod44having an upper end resting on a lower end of the left resting section411, and a right linking rod45having an upper end resting on a lower end of the right resting section421.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the grip unit2includes a front grip21and a rear grip22juxtaposed to each other and combined together.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the grip unit2is further provided with a first mounting channel204located under the first limit groove201and a second mounting channel206located under the second limit groove202, and the handle assembly further comprises a reinforcing unit5mounted in the grip unit2and including a left reinforcing member51mounted in the first mounting channel204of the grip unit2and a right reinforcing member52mounted in the second mounting channel206of the grip unit2. The reinforcing unit5is used to reinforce the structural strength of a connection of the grip unit2and an outer pipe.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first compression spring312of the button unit3is limited in the first mounting recess203of the grip unit2, and the second compression spring322of the button unit3is limited in the second mounting recess205of the grip unit2.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the grip unit2is further provided with a first mounting hole207and a second mounting hole208, the left crank41of the crank unit4is provided with a left shaft412pivotally mounted in the first mounting hole207of the grip unit2, and the right crank42of the crank unit4is provided with a right shaft422pivotally mounted in the second mounting hole208of the grip unit2.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the left ratchet section413of the left crank41engages the right ratchet section423of the right crank42.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the crank unit4further includes a third compression spring43located above and pressing the left ratchet section413of the left crank41and the right ratchet section423of the right crank42.

In assembly, the left push button31is mounted in the first limit groove201of the grip unit2, and the right push button32is mounted in the second limit groove202of the grip unit2. Then, the first compression spring312is mounted on the lower end of the left push button31and is limited in the first mounting recess203of the grip unit2, while the second compression spring322is mounted on the lower end of the right push button32and is limited in the second mounting recess205of the grip unit2. Then, the left shaft412of the left crank41is pivotally mounted in the first mounting hole207of the grip unit2, and the right shaft422of the right crank42is pivotally mounted in the second mounting hole208of the grip unit2, with the left ratchet section413of the left crank41engaging the right ratchet section423of the right crank42, and with the third compression spring43pressing the left ratchet section413of the left crank41and the right ratchet section423of the right crank42. At this time, the left resting section411of the left crank41abuts the left pressing section311of the left push button31, and the right resting section421of the right crank42abuts the right pressing section321of the right push button32. Then, the left reinforcing member51is mounted in the first mounting channel204of the grip unit2, and the right reinforcing member52is mounted in the second mounting channel206of the grip unit2. Finally, the front grip21and the rear grip22are juxtaposed to each other and combined together to assemble the handle assembly for a luggage.

In operation, referring toFIG. 7with reference toFIGS. 3-6, when the handle assembly is used by a left-hand user, the left push button31is pressed by the user's left thumb to move the left pressing section311which presses the left resting section411which presses the left linking rod44which links and operates a locking device (not shown). The operation of the left linking rod44and the locking device is conventional and will not be further described in detail. At the same time, the left crank41is pivoted about the left shaft412so that when the left resting section411is moved downward, the left ratchet section413is moved upward, and the right ratchet section423engaging the left ratchet section413is also moved upward. When the right ratchet section423is moved upward, the right crank42is pivoted about the right shaft422, so that the right resting section421is moved downward, to press the right linking rod45which links and operates the locking device. In such a manner, the user only needs to press the left push button31to unlock the locking device so as to release the handle assembly, so that the handle assembly can be pulled outward or retract inward. Thus, the left push button31is located at one side of the grip unit2, so that the left push button31will not be touched or pressed inadvertently by the user. After the force applied on the left push button31disappears, the left push button31is pushed by the restoring force of the first compression spring312to return to the original position, while the left ratchet section413of the left crank41and the right ratchet section423of the right crank42are pushed by the restoring force of the third compression spring43to return to the original position.

On the contrary, referring toFIG. 8with reference toFIGS. 3-6, when the handle assembly is used by a right-hand user, the right push button32is pressed by the user's right thumb to move the right pressing section321which presses the right resting section421which presses the right linking rod45which links and operates the locking device. At the same time, the right crank42is pivoted about the right shaft422so that when the right resting section421is moved downward, the right ratchet section423is moved upward, and the left ratchet section413engaging the right ratchet section423is also moved upward. When the left ratchet section413is moved upward, the left crank41is pivoted about the left shaft412so that the left resting section411is moved downward, to press the left linking rod44which links and operates the locking device. In such a manner, the user only needs to press the right push button32to unlock the locking device so as to release the handle assembly, so that the handle assembly can be pulled outward or retract inward. Thus, the right push button32is located at one side of the grip unit2, so that the right push button32will not be touched or pressed inadvertently by the user. After the force applied on the right push button32disappears, the right push button32is pushed by the restoring force of the second compression spring322to return to the original position, while the left ratchet section413of the left crank41and the right ratchet section423of the right crank42are pushed by the restoring force of the third compression spring43to return to the original position.

Accordingly, the button unit3includes two push buttons31and32mounted on two opposite ends of the grip unit2, so that the button unit3will not be touched or pressed freely by the user, thereby preventing the handle assembly from being unlocked inadvertently. In addition, the button unit3is available for right-hand and left-hand users, thereby enhancing the versatility of the handle assembly. Further, the user only needs to press the left push button31or the right push button32to unlock the locking device so as to release the handle assembly.