Abstract:
Provided is a handle assembly for carry-on luggage. The inverted U-shaped handle assembly comprises two handle units each comprising a handle rod comprising a fixed bottom support tube and a plurality of sliding tubes arranged telescopically about a tube therebelow; a locking device in the tubes; and a resilient device under of the support tube. Pressing the push button will unlock the handle units and resiliently move the handle rods upward a predetermined small distance prior to being able to fully extend the handle rods.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to retractable handle of luggage and more particularly to a carry-on luggage having two retractable handle rods each having a plurality of sliding tubes and a support tube such that pressing the push button will unlock the handle rods and suddenly resiliently move the handle rods upward automatically a small distance prior to being able to fully extend the handle rods.  
         [0003]     2. Description of Related Art  
         [0004]     Conventionally, a user may press a push button to unlock resilient devices in handle rods prior to pulling the handle rods out of their concealed positions. Such technique is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,692,266.  
         [0005]     A passenger may carry a small luggage (e.g., carry-on luggage) aboard a plane as long as the luggage is within a prescribed size. Typically, handle of carry-on luggage consists of a sliding tube and a support tube (i.e., two-section handle). Unfortunately, an ordinary person may feel the fully extended handle being too short to be comfortably grasped while towing on the ground. Hence, a need has arisen for a carry-on luggage having two handle rods each having a plurality of sliding tubes and a support tube. However, so far as the present inventor is aware, no improvement has been proposed about the above since the linking and locking mechanisms of such handle are very complicated. Also, the existing resilient device of handle system is not applicable. Thus, continuing improvements in the exploitation of retractable handle of a carry-on luggage are constantly being sought.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a carry-on luggage having two retractable handle rods each having a plurality of sliding tubes and a support tube such that pressing the push button will unlock the handle rods and resiliently move the handle rods upward automatically a small distance prior to being able to fully extend the handle rods.  
         [0007]     To achieve the above and other objects, the present invention provides a handle assembly for a carry-on luggage comprising a pair of elongate substantially parallel handle units; and a handle grip interconnected the handle units, the handle grip comprising a push button and two connecting rods actuated by the push button; wherein either handle unit comprises a handle rod comprising a fixed bottom support tube, a top first sliding tube, an upper second sliding tube, and a lower third sliding tube wherein the first sliding tube has a top end fixedly connected to the handle grip, and each of the first, second, and third sliding tubes is arranged telescopically about a tube therebelow; a locking device comprising an upright locking mechanism and a sliding locking unit wherein the locking mechanism comprises a locking block and a sliding block, the locking block and the first sliding tube are connected together by a first pin, the locking block comprises a spring-depressible first locking member locked in a lower positioning hole of the second sliding tube, the sliding block is provided in the locking block and has its top end fixedly connected to the connecting rod, and the sliding locking unit comprises an upper first block, a lower second block, and a sliding rod wherein the first block and the second sliding tube are connected together by a second pin, the first block comprises a spring-depressible second locking member locked in a lower positioning hole of the third sliding tube, the second block and the third sliding tube are connected together by a third pin, the second block comprises a spring-depressible third locking member locked in a positioning hole of the support tube, and the sliding rod is provided in the first block and comprises a transverse tunnel connected to the second sliding tube by the third pin; and a resilient device under of the support tube and comprising a spring-depressible, T-shaped member having a top urged against bottom of the second block; whereby pressing the push button will unlock the handle units and resiliently move the handle rods upward a predetermined small distance prior to being able to fully extend the handle rods.  
         [0008]     The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of retractable handle mounted in a carry-on luggage according to the invention;  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0011]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the handle in a retracted position;  
         [0012]      FIG. 4  is a view similar to  FIG. 3  where the handle is unlocked and the handle is slightly extended after pressing the push button;  
         [0013]      FIG. 5  is a view similar to  FIG. 4  where the handle is in a fully extended position by pulling after unlocking the handle; and  
         [0014]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of retractable handle mounted in a carry-on luggage according to the invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0015]     Referring to FIGS.  1  to  3 , there is shown a retractable handle mountable in a carry-on luggage in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the invention. The inverted U-shaped handle comprises two handle rods  20 , a top handle grip  10  having both ends connected to the handle rods  20 , two locking devices  30  each in the handle rod  20 , and two resilient devices  40  each in the handle rod  20 . Each component is discussed in detailed below.  
         [0016]     The handle grip  10  comprises a base  11 , two tubes  111  extended downward from both ends of the base  11 , an oval recess  112  defined by the base  11 , and a mounting member  113  in the recess  112  for mounting a spring  12 , a push button  13 , and two levers  14  at both ends of the push button  13 . The lever  14  comprises a longitudinal hole  141  with a bottom pin  151  of a cover  15  inserted through. The cover  15  further comprises a central opening  152  with the push button  13  slidably received therein. Two rigid connecting rods  16  each has one end passed the tube  111  to pivotably connect to one end of the lever  14  and the other end extended through the handle rod  20 .  
         [0017]     The handle rod  20  comprises a bottom support tube  24 , a top first sliding tube  21 , an upper second sliding tube  22 , and a lower third sliding tube  23  in which the support tube  24  is fixed connected to either socket of a support at bottom of luggage, the first sliding tube  21  has a top end fixedly connected to the tube  111 , and the first, second, and third sliding tubes  21 ,  22 , and  23  each is arranged telescopically about its lower member. Also, each of the second sliding tube  22 , third sliding tube  23 , and support tube  24  has a releasable sleeve  221 ,  231 ,  241  fitted on its respective top portion. Further, there are apertures and positioning holes formed on each of the second sliding-tube  22 , third sliding tube  23 , and the support tube  24  as detailed later.  
         [0018]     The locking device  30  comprises an upright locking mechanism  31  comprising a locking block  32  including a longitudinal tunnel  321 , a small upper member  322 , and a large lower member  323 , and a sliding block  33 . A pin  51  is inserted through a lower aperture  211  of the first sliding tube  21  into the upper member  322 . Bottom of the first sliding tube  21  is rested upon the lower member  323 . A lateral recessed portion  324  is formed in the lower member  323  for receiving a locking member  325  and a spring  326 . The sliding block  33  is provided in the tunnel  321  and has its top end fixedly connected to a lower end of the connecting rod  16 . The sliding block  33  comprises a lower slope  331  and the locking member  325  comprises an inner slope  3251  matingly engaged with the slope  331  such that the spring  326  is adapted to push the locking member  325  into a lower positioning hole  222  of the second sliding tube  22  for locking.  
         [0019]     The locking device  30  further comprises a sliding locking unit  34  comprising an upper first block  35 , a lower second block  36 , and a sliding rod  37 . The first block  35  comprises a longitudinal channel  351 , a small upper member  352 , and a large lower member  353 . A pin  52  is inserted through a lower aperture  223  of the second sliding tube  22  into the upper member  352 . Bottom of the second sliding tube  22  is rested upon the lower member  353 . The lower member  353  comprises a first lateral recessed portion  354  for receiving a locking member  356  and a spring  357 , and a second lateral recessed portion  355  for receiving a locking member  358  and a spring  359 . The locking member  356  comprises a V-shaped projection  3561  at one side and the locking member  358  comprises a V-shaped projection  3581  at one side. The locking member  358  is pushed into a lower positioning hole  232  of the third sliding tube  23  by the spring  359  for locking.  
         [0020]     The second block  36  is secured to the positioning hole  233  of the third sliding tube  23  by a pin  53  and comprises an upper socket  361  and a lateral recessed portion  362  for receiving a hollow member  363 , a locking member  364 , and a spring  365 . The hollow member  363  comprises an inner slope  366 . The locking member  364  is pushed into a positioning hole  242  of the support tube  24  for locking.  
         [0021]     The sliding rod  37  is provided in the channel  351  of the first block  35  with a spring  375  slip-on an upper portion thereof and comprises an oval transverse tunnel  371  with the pin  52  further inserted through the aperture  223  of the second sliding tube  22  into the tunnel  371 , a lower first slope  372  matingly engaged with the V-shaped projection  3561  of the locking member  356 , an upper second slope  373  matingly engaged with the V-shaped projection  3581  of the locking member  358 , and a bottom slope  374  matingly engaged with the inner slope  366  of the hollow member  363 . The resilient device  40  is provided under of the support tube  24  and comprises a hollow base  41 , a spring  42  provided in the base  41 , and a T-shaped member  43  having bottom rested upon top of the spring  42  and top urged against bottom of the second block  36  by the spring  42 .  
         [0022]     Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , an operative position of the handle will now be described in detail. First, press the push button  13  to pivot the levers  14  to pull both the connecting rods  16  and the sliding block  33  upward. The locking member  325  of the locking mechanism  31  is pushed inward by the lower slope  331  of the sliding block  33 . As such, the locking member  325  clears the positioning hole  222  of the second sliding tube  22 . Thus, the sliding rod  37  is unlocked by the locking block  32 . The hollow member  363  is pushed by the expanding spring  365  of the second block  36  to cause the locking member  364  to clear the positioning hole  242  of the support tube  24 . The spring  42  of the resilient device  40  expands to push both the T-shaped member  43  and the second block  36  upward. As a result, the handle is unlocked and suddenly resiliently moves upward automatically a small distance as shown in  FIG. 4 .  
         [0023]     Referring to  FIG. 5 , a user may then grasps the handle grip  10  and pull up same until the handle is fully extended. In this position, the locking member  325  of the locking mechanism  31  is pushed by the spring  326  to enter an upper positioning hole  224  of the second sliding tube  22  for locking. The locking member  356  of the first block  35  is pushed by the spring  357  together with an aid of the spring  375  slip-on the sliding rod  37  to enter an upper positioning hole  234  of the third sliding tube  23  for locking. The hollow member  363  of the second block  36  is pushed by the spring  365  to enter an intermediate positioning hole  243  of the support tube  24  for locking.  
         [0024]     Referring to  FIG. 6 , it shows a second preferred embodiment of retractable handle mounted in a carry-on luggage according to the invention. The second preferred embodiment substantially has same structure as the first preferred embodiment. The difference between the first and the second preferred embodiments, i.e., the characteristic of the second preferred embodiment is detailed below. The second embodiment has two sliding tubes  21 ,  22  and a support tube  24 . It means that the sliding tube  23 , the upper first block  35 , the sliding rod  37 , and the sleeve  231  as mentioned above are all omitted.  
         [0025]     While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention set forth in the claims.