Abstract:
A handle assembly having a single handle rod of wheeled luggage is provided. The handle grip is extended toward and proximate either side of luggage for ease of holding. Also, there is no interference of user&#39;s body with wheel while towing luggage. Moreover, the handle grip is capable of being disposed either parallel or perpendicular with respect to a straight line between wheels of the luggage by rotating either clockwise or counterclockwise for ease of being gripped by either hand which tows the luggage.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to wheeled luggage and more particularly to an improved handle assembly having a single handle rod of wheeled luggage.  
           [0003]    2. Description of Related Art  
           [0004]    Conventionally, a handle assembly of wheeled luggage has a pair of handle rods. This has the advantage of increased stability while towing luggage. However, it also consumes some precious storage space of luggage because a portion of rear is configured to receive the handle assembly. Further, more components means higher possibility of fail of luggage and higher manufacturing cost. Hence, a handle assembly having a single handle rod has been developed. Such is best illustrated in FIGS. 16 and 17. For increasing the structural strength, a handle rod H has a larger diameter. The prior art is unsatisfactory for the purpose for which the invention is concerned for the following reasons: User may feel uncomfortable by holding both a T-shaped handle grip G and a joint C between the handle grip G and a handle rod H. Also, a trouser T may interfere with one wheel while towing luggage because the handle grip G does not extend laterally enough (i.e., it is near the center of luggage). It is quite inconvenient.  
           [0005]    Thus, it is desirable to provide a handle assembly having an improved single handle rod of wheeled luggage in order to overcome the above drawbacks of prior art.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a handle assembly having a single handle rod of wheeled luggage wherein the handle grip is extended toward and near one side of luggage for ease of holding. Also, there is no interference of user&#39;s body with wheel while towing luggage.  
           [0007]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a handle assembly having a single handle rod of wheeled luggage wherein the handle grip is rotatable either clockwise or counterclockwise to an angle of about 180 degrees with respect to a straight line between wheels of the luggage so as to be gripped by either the right or the left hand which tows the luggage.  
           [0008]    In one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a handle assembly of wheeled luggage comprising a handle grip extended toward and proximate either side of the luggage for eliminating an interference of a user with one of more wheels of the luggage, the handle grip including a pivot section having a first tunnel, a second tunnel within the first tunnel and having a longitudinal slit on each side surface, an upper section, a lower section, and a peripheral groove between the upper and the lower sections; a sleeve including an upper larger section having a plurality of holes on its periphery, a plurality of pegs inserted through the holes to slidingly contact the groove, a lower smaller section, and a bore through the lower smaller section; a push button assembly received in both the pivot section and the sleeve and including a push button on a top, a post extended downwardly from the push button and having a longitudinal rib on each side surface of the post being slidingly received in the slit, a lower cylindrical member having a diameter smaller than a width of the post, and a base, a recess on a bottom of the base, and an aperture inside the cylindrical member being open to the recess; a handle rod releasably secured to the sleeve; a seat releasably secured within the handle rod and including a circular flange on a top and a channel; and a spring having a top end anchored in the recess and a lower end put on the flange. In an operation the push button is operative to press to compress the spring and lower the base for disengaging from the bore, thereby enabling a rotation of the handle grip and a retraction of the handle rod.  
           [0009]    In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a handle assembly of wheeled luggage comprising a handle grip extended toward and proximate either side of the luggage for eliminating an interference of a user with one of more wheels of the luggage, the handle grip including a hollow bar having a space, a pivot section, a wedge having a first slanted surface, and a sliding member in the space and having a push button at one side on an opening of the hollow bar, a second slanted surface at the other opposite side engaged with the first slanted surface, and a pivot section including a tunnel having a longitudinal slit on each side surface, an upper section, a lower section, and a peripheral groove between the upper and the lower sections; a sleeve including an upper larger section having a plurality of holes on its periphery, a plurality of pegs inserted through the holes to slidingly contact the groove, a lower smaller section, and a bore through the lower smaller section; a push button assembly received in both the pivot section and the sleeve and including a push button on a top, a post on a bottom of the wedge and having a longitudinal rib on each side surface of the post being slidingly received in the slit, a lower cylindrical member having a diameter smaller than a width of the post, and a base, a recess on a bottom of the base, and an aperture inside the cylindrical member being open to the recess; a handle rod releasably secured to the sleeve; a seat releasably secured within the handle rod and including a circular flange on a top and a channel; and a spring having a top end anchored in the recess and a lower end put on the flange. In an operation the push button is operative to press push the sliding member inwardly, move the second slanted surface inwardly to press down the first slanted surface, compress the spring, and lower the base for disengaging from the bore, thereby enabling a rotation of the handle grip and a retraction of the handle rod.  
           [0010]    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  
       [0011]    [0011]FIG. 1 is a rear plan view of a first preferred embodiment of handle assembly having a single handle rod according to the invention;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 2 is a top plan view showing the FIG. 1 luggage being towed;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of handle assembly having a single handle rod according to the invention,  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of FIG. 3 handle assembly;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of FIG. 4;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 3 handle assembly in a locked position;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 where push button is pressed and handle assembly is in an unlocked position;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 8 is another view of FIG. 7 showing handle grip being capable of rotating;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of a third preferred embodiment of handle assembly having a single handle rod according to the invention;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a fourth preferred embodiment of handle assembly having a single handle rod according to the invention where handle assembly is in a locked position;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 10 where push button is pressed and handle assembly is in an unlocked position;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 12 is a side view showing a using of luggage handle constructed according to any of above preferred embodiments of the invention being towed;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 13 is a rear plan view of a second configuration of handle grip of the handle assembly according to the invention;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 14 is a rear plan view of a third configuration of handle grip of the handle assembly according to the invention;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 15 is a rear plan view of a fourth configuration of handle grip of the handle assembly according to the invention;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 16 is a rear plan view of a conventional luggage handle assembly having a single handle rod; and  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 17 is a top plan view showing the FIG. 16 luggage being towed. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0028]    Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a first preferred embodiment of luggage  50  according to the invention comprising a front  51 , a rear  52 , two sides  53  and  54 , a top  57 , a bottom  58 , two wheels  55  and  56 , and a retractable handle assembly  10  which is the subject of the invention. The handle assembly  10  comprises a handle rod  15  (i.e., first sliding tube) having an upper portion and a lower portion, a handle grip  20  extended horizontally from a top of the handle rod  15  (i.e., parallel to a straight line between wheels, the top  57 , or the bottom  58 ) in a normal unused position wherein the horizontal extension length of the handle grip  20  is slightly smaller than a half of width of the top  57 .  
         [0029]    It means that the handle grip  20  is extending horizontally from the top of the handle rod  15  almost to a side  53  of the luggage. As shown in FIG. 2, in a case that the left hand holds the handle grip  20  a sufficient distance between the side  53  and the foot F is obtained. As a result, the user&#39;s foot is prevented from being interfered with the wheel  55  while towing the luggage  50 . It is noted that the handle grip  20  may be extended toward and sufficiently proximate the right side  54  for being adapted to be gripped by the user&#39;s right hand in the other embodiment without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.  
         [0030]    Referring to FIGS.  3  to  8 , there is shown a second preferred embodiment of luggage  50  constricted in accordance with the invention comprising a front  51 , a rear  52 , two sides  53  and  54 , a top  57 , a bottom  58 , two wheels  55  and  56 , and a retractable handle assembly  10  extended upward from a center at a joining edge of the top  57  and the rear  52 . The handle assembly  10  is the subject of the invention and will be described in detail as follows. The handle assembly  10  comprises a handle grip  20 , a sleeve  12 , a push button assembly  11 , a first sliding tube  15 , a second sliding tube  16 , a support tube  17 , a first locking device  18 , and a second locking device  19 . Note that the components and operation of the handle assembly  10  are well known. Thus a detailed description thereof is omitted herein for the sake of brevity except those detailed below.  
         [0031]    As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the handle grip  20  comprises a horizontal bar  21  having a downwardly extended hook  211  at one end, a pivot section  22  proximate the other end of the bar  21  having a circular tunnel  210  through the pivot section  22 , a square tunnel  220  within the circular tunnel  210  and having a longitudinal slit  2201  on each side surface, a large diameter section  221  on upper part of the pivot section  22 , a small diameter section  222  below the large diameter section  221 , and a peripheral groove  2220  between the large diameter section  221  and the small diameter section  222 . The push button assembly  11  is received in both the pivot section  22  and the sleeve  12  and comprises a push button  110  on a top, a post  111  extended downwardly from the push button  110  and having a square cross-section and a longitudinal rib  1110  on each side surface of the post  111  being slidingly received in the slit  2201 , a cylindrical member  112  having a diameter smaller than the width of the post  111  being extended downwardly from the post  111 , and a square base  113 , a recess  115  on a bottom of the base  113 , and a central circular aperture  114  inside the cylindrical member  112  being open to the recess  115 . The sleeve  12  comprises an upper larger section  120  having four equally spaced apart holes  1201  on its periphery, four pegs  123  inserted through holes  1201  to slidingly contact the groove  2220 , a lower smaller section  121  having two opposite holes  1210  on its periphery, and a square bore  124  through the lower smaller section  121 . The handle assembly  10  further comprises a seat  14  including a circular flange  141  on a top, a base  142 , a tunnel  143  through the base  142 , and two opposite holes  144  on its periphery open to the tunnel  143 ; and a spring  13  having a top end anchored in the recess  115  and a lower end put on the flange  141 . The first sliding tube  15  comprises two upper opposite large holes  151 , two screws  153  driven through holes  151  and holes  1210  to secure the first sliding tube  15  to the sleeve  12 , two lower opposite small holes  152 , two screws  154  driven through the holes  152  and  144  to secure the seat  14  within the first sliding tube  15 .  
         [0032]    The assembled handle assembly  10  is shown in FIG. 6 wherein the base  113  is urged upwardly by the spring  13  to be stopped at the top edge of the bore  124  and a spring depressible locking pin  183  is inserted into one of a plurality of apertures on the second sliding tube  16  in a locked state.  
         [0033]    Note that one characteristics of the invention is that there is no interference of user&#39;s foot F with the wheel  55  while towing the luggage  50 . This is because the handle grip  20  is extended toward and sufficiently proximate one side (e.g., the left side  53  as shown in FIG. 2) of the luggage for being adapted to be gripped by the user&#39;s left hand, thus leaving a sufficient distance between the user&#39;s foot F and the wheel  55 . It is further noted that the handle grip  20  may be extended toward and sufficiently proximate the right side  54  for being adapted to be gripped by the user&#39;s right hand in the other embodiment without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.  
         [0034]    Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8 specifically, an operation of the invention will now be described in detail as follows: First, a user can press the push button  110  to compress the spring  13 . At the same time, the base  113  is lowered to disengage from the top edge of the bore  124 . Also, the locking pin  183  is unlocked. Hence, user can then rotate clockwise or counterclockwise the handle grip  20  per operation until a desired angle of the handle grip  20  with respect to the luggage  50  (i.e., straight line between wheels) is reached (i.e., a position where the user feels comfortable when gripping the handle grip  20  for towing luggage). Note that the handle grip  20  is adapted to rotate 90 degrees per operation because the elements  111 ,  220 ,  124 , and  113  are square (see FIGS. 4 and 5). In another embodiment, the handle grip  20  is adapted to rotate 45 degrees per operation since the elements  111 ,  220 ,  124 , and  113  are made as octagons. In still another embodiment, the handle grip  20  is adapted to rotate 30 degrees per operation since the elements  111 ,  220 ,  124 , and  113  are made as ones having twelve equal sides.  
         [0035]    Referring to FIG. 9, there is shown a third preferred embodiment of handle assembly  10  according to the invention. The differences between the second and the third embodiments are that four pegs  123  of the second embodiment are replaced by two elongate members  123 A each having a circular (or square) cross-section; and four equally spaced apart holes  1201  are replaced by four spaced apart holes  1201 A while having shapes different from that of the holes  1201 .  
         [0036]    Referring to FIGS. 10 and 11 there is shown a fourth preferred embodiment of handle assembly  10  according to the invention. The differences between the second and the fourth embodiments are that the handle grip  20 B is hollow and having a space  214 B, the push button assembly is replaced by a wedge  110 A on top of the post  111  having a slanted surface  114 A, and a sliding member  11 B in the space  214 B and having a horizontal push button  110 B at one side on the opening of the handle grip  20 B and a slanted surface  114 B at tie other opposite side engaged with the slanted surface  114 A.  
         [0037]    Referring to FIG. 11 specifically, an operation of the fourth embodiment of the invention will now be described in detail as follows: First, a user can press the push button  110 B to push the sliding member  11 B inwardly. At the same time, the slanted surface  114 B moves inwardly to press down the slanted surface  114 A. As a result, the spring  13  is compressed to energize, the base  113  is lowered to disengage from the top edge of the bore  124 , and the locking pin  183  is unlocked. Similarly, the user can then rotate clockwise or counterclockwise the handle grip  20 B until a desired angle of the handle grip  20 B with respect to the luggage  50  is reached.  
         [0038]    As state above, the characteristics of the invention is that the handle grip is extended toward and sufficiently proximate one side of the luggage for being adapted to be gripped by the user&#39;s either hand, thus leaving a sufficient distance between the user&#39;s foot and either wheel for preventing a possible interference of user&#39;s foot with the wheel from occurring while towing the luggage. Additionally, the invention comprises the characteristics by referring to FIG. 12. As shown, handle grip  20  is rotated clockwise or counterclockwise to an about 90-degree angle with respect to the luggage  50 , i.e., with respect to the straight line between wheels of the luggage  50 . At this position, the user can also smoothly tow the luggage  50  by holding the handle grip  20 . Note that above mechanism of the rotation of the handle grip  20  with respect to the luggage  50  may be eliminated in any of other embodiments in a suitable scheme (i.e., the handle grip  20  is fixed on the handle assembly  10 ).  
         [0039]    Referring to FIGS.  13  to  15 , there are shown three different configurations of the handle grip  20 . As shown in FIG. 13, a handle grip  20 C has an arcuate inner edge  208  of a joint between itself and the first sliding tube  15 . As shown in FIG. 14, a handle grip  20 D has an arcuate joint between itself and the first sliding tube  15  and a push button  110 D is disposed on a top of the arcuate joint. As shown in FIG. 15, a handle grip  20 E has an arcuate joint between itself and the first sliding tube  15  and an arcuate hooked end having a construction similar to that of the arcuate joint.  
         [0040]    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.