Abstract:
A telescoping member comprising an inner tubular member nested in an outer tubular member and movable between a retracted position and an extended position in telescoping relation, in which the inner tubular member is releasably lockable to the outer tubular member in the extended position by a resilient ledge cooperating with a fixed ledge, the resilient ledge being disposed within a longitudinal channel defined between an inner surface of the outer tubular member and an outer surface of the inner tubular member. An enlarged lower portion of the inner tubular member engages against an inwardly directed lip at the top of the outer tubular member such that the inner tubular member is prevented from being pulled out of the outer tubular member. Upon the application of axial force to the inner tubular member the resilient ledge is depressed, allowing the resilient ledge to travel past the fixed ledge so that the inner tubular member can move to the retracted position. A plurality of tubular members can be used to form a handle for a luggage item.

Description:
This application claims priority from U.S. provisional patent application Nos. 60/083,777, filed on Mar. 10, 1998, and 60/085,272 filed on May 13, 1998. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a telescoping handle which attaches to a luggage item or a luggage carrier. 
     BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION 
     In recent years, handles having retractable shafts became increasingly popular, particularly for pulling luggage items mounted on wheels. The retractable shafts are attached to a handle grip and can be elongated to an extended position for the purpose of pulling the luggage item, e.g. a suitcase. This arrangement provides a convenient way for wheeling the luggage item. 
     When not in use, the shafts are retracted into tubes built into the luggage item. The tubes built into the luggage item introduce two negative aspects. First, they take up valuable storage space in the luggage item. Second, they provide a bumpy surface for packing goods inside the luggage item. It is preferable, therefore, to have a handle that uses minimum space when retracted into the luggage item. 
     It is common in telescoping handles to have means for securing the telescoping members in the extended position. Typically, such securing means comprise the insertion of a ball or a pin through coincident apertures in the telescoping members. Typically, the ball or pin is sprung as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,127,664 to Chiun-Jer Cheng, which was issued Jul. 7, 1992. 
     The sprung balls or pins introduce two disadvantages. First, they add to the cost of production. Second, they prevent the telescoping members from being completely retracted. Typically, the sprung balls occupy about 4 cm in the longitudinal direction of each overlap of two telescoping members. Thus, multi-member telescoping handles which use sprung balls are very long in the retracted position. For example, a three member telescoping handle which uses sprung balls retracts to a size about 8 cm longer than a fully retracted handle. Similarly, a four member telescoping handle which uses sprung balls retracts to a size about 12 cm longer than a fully retracted handle. 
     The present invention is directed to alleviating some of the aforementioned difficulties or problems and provide a collapsible handle which takes up little space. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention thus provides a telescoping member comprising an outer tubular member having a lower portion and an upper portion having an open top end, an inner tubular member having a lower portion disposed through the open end of the outer tubular member and an upper portion, the inner tubular member being slidably disposed within the outer tubular member and movable between a retracted position and an extended position in telescoping relation, the inner tubular member being releasably lockable to the outer tubular member in the extended position by a locking mechanism comprising the upper portion of the outer tubular member providing a first ledge, and the lower portion of the inner tubular member providing a second ledge, at least one of the first ledge and the second ledge being a resilient ledge having a rest condition and a depressed condition, whereby in the extended position the first ledge projects into a space defined by the outer tubular member and abuts against the second ledge to releasably lock the inner tubular member in the extended position, and upon the application of axial force to the inner tubular member the resilient ledge is forced to the depressed condition allowing the first ledge to travel past the second ledge so that the inner tubular member can move to the retracted position. 
     The invention further provides a telescoping member comprising an outer tubular member having a lower portion and an upper portion having an open top end with an inwardly directed lip, an inner tubular member disposed through the open top end of the outer tubular member, the inner tubular member being slidably disposed within the outer tubular member and movable between a retracted position and an extended position in telescoping relation, the inner tubular member having an upper portion and an enlarged lower portion for engaging against the lip when in the extended position, whereby in the extended position the inner tubular member is prevented from extraction from the outer tubular member by the engagement between the enlargement and the lip. 
     In one embodiment, the telescoping handle has a plurality of elongated tubular telescoping members in which adjacent elongated members are inner and outer members as defined above. 
     In a further embodiment a handle grip is attached at one end of the innermost telescoping member of a plurality of telescoping members. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a view of a wheeled luggage item with a handle using the prior art. 
     FIG. 2 is a view of a wheeled luggage item with a telescoping handle of the present invention attached to the upper portion of the luggage item. 
     FIG. 3 is a view of two tubular members of the handle using the present invention. The larger tubular member is cut through two fixed ledges which protrude from the outer tubular member, with an outline of the remaining part of the outer member being shown by dotted lines. 
     FIG. 4 is a sectional view of one tubular member, along lines A—A of a Figure 
     FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional view of nesting portions of adjacent inner and outer tubular members. 
     FIGS. 6 a  through  6   d  are transverse sectional views of alternatively shaped tubular members to that shown in FIG.  5 . 
     FIG. 7 is a view of the attachment of the handle of the present invention to the frame (partially shown) of a luggage item. 
     FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a lid, useful for covering the handle grip when retracted into a housing. 
     FIG. 9 is a sectional view showing the inner tubular member in a fully extended position. 
     FIG. 10 is a sectional view showing the inner tubular member in a fully retracted position. 
     FIG. 11 is an elevational view showing the invention in use with a tote bag. 
     FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the tubular member 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1 illustrates a suitcase  10  with a telescoping handle  15  of the prior art. The back of the suitcase is cut away to show two tubes  14  which are used to stow away the shafts of the handle. Typically, the two tubes are about 2.5 cm in diameter and span the whole length of the luggage item. For example, when the suitcase is about 70 cm high, the two tubes occupy approximately 0.35 dm 3  (liters) of storage space, as well as provide a bumpy surface for packing. 
     One embodiment of the telescoping handle of the present invention is shown in FIG.  2 . The handle is extendable from a fully retracted position to a fully extended position. 
     FIG. 2 shows a luggage item  20  which has wheels  21  attached along one edge. Telescoping handle  22  comprises of handle grip  23  which is attached to first tubular member  24 . First tubular member  24  is slidingly telescoped within second tubular member  25 . Second tubular member  25  is slidingly telescoped within third tubular member  26 . Tubular member  26  is slidingly telescoped within housing  27 . Housing  27  is attached to the upper portion of luggage frame  28 . 
     First and second tubular members  24  and  25  have locking means  29  and  30  which are not visible from the outside, and which will be described in more detail hereinafter, especially in relation to FIGS. 3,  4 , and  5 . Second and third tubular members  25  and  26  have locking means  31  and  32 , which are not visible from the outside. Third tubular member  26  and housing  27  have locking means  33 . 
     Although FIG. 2 is shown with a single shaft handle, it will be appreciated that a dual shaft handle, with two parallel tubular members, may be utilized, preferably with a common horizontal handle grip joining the two members. 
     A single shaft handle may be stowed in a housing with approximate dimensions which occupies 0.15 dm 3  (liters) of the top portion of the luggage item. The remaining portions of the luggage item are unobstructed by the handle. It will be understood that the size of the housing indicated herein is for illustration purposes only. 
     FIG. 3 shows first tubular member  24  which may be slidingly telescoped into second tubular member  25  in a manner which will be described hereinafter. Second tubular member  25  may be slidingly telescoped into third tubular member  26  (not shown) in the same manner as the first and second tubular members. 
     First tubular member  24  has an upper portion  35  and a lower portion  36 . In the embodiment shown, the transverse cross-section of upper portion  35  is D-shaped, with a flat wall  39  and U-shaped wall  40 . The lower portion  36  is attached to upper portion  35  at step  34 . Lower portion  36  has a substantially irregularly hexagonal transverse cross-section. 
     Second tubular member  25  is similarly shaped to first tubular member  24  and has an upper portion  37  and a lower portion  38  joined at step  53 . The transverse cross-section of upper portion  37  is D-shaped, with a flat wall  48  and U-shaped wall  49 . 
     In FIG. 5, lower portion  36  of first tubular member  24  has walls  110 . The outer surfaces of walls  110  generally conform to the shape of the inner surfaces of the walls  48  of the second tubular member  25 . Walls  110  are joined to walls  41 . The outer surfaces of walls  41  generally conform to the shape of the inner surfaces of walls  54  of second tubular member  25 . Walls  41  are joined to wall  42 , the outer surface of which generally conforms to the inner surface of wall  55 , by corner walls  43  and  44 . There are channels  71  between rounded portion  72  and corner walls  43  and  44 , the purpose of which will be explained hereinafter. As will be explained hereinafter, in the extended position, lower portion  36  of first tubular member  24  is nested within upper portion  37  of second tubular member  25  and is in sliding contact therewith along sliding surfaces between walls  48 / 110 ,  54 / 41  and  55 / 42 . 
     In FIG. 3, in addition to the shaping of lower portion  36  of first tubular member  24 , the lower portion has an externally facing ledge  47 . A spring for ledge  47  is formed by a tongue  46  in wall  43 , by an aperture  45  in wall  43  which surrounds three sides of tongue  46 . A similar ledge and tongue is in wall  44  but cannot be seen in FIG.  3 . Second tubular member  25  also has an externally facing ledge  60 , tongue  59  and aperture  58  in wall  56 , in a similar configuration to those items in first tubular member  24 . Tongues  46  and  59  allow ledges  47  and  60  respectively to be depressed inwardly towards the longitudinal axes of tubular members  24  and  25  respectively. The externally facing ledges  47  and  60  sometimes may be referred herein as resilient ledges. 
     The tubular members each have a set of upper, internally facing ledges and a set of lower, internally facing ledges, as will be described in reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. Upper ledges  52  are spaced a short distance away from the end of upper portion  37  which is distal from lower portion  38 . Ledges  52  face internally and project into longitudinal channels  71  shown in FIG.  5 . Lower ledges  61  preferably are at step  53 , at the end of upper portion  37  which is adjacent to lower portion  38 . Lower ledges  61  also project internally into longitudinal channels  71 . The internally facing ledges  52  and  61  sometimes may be referred herein as fixed ledges. 
     In FIG. 4, the tongues  59  are also seen. They are surrounded on three sides by apertures  58 , and have externally facing ledges  60  attached thereto. Line  62  are the corner joint between walls  55  and  56 . The end of upper portion  37 , distal from lower portion  38 , has an internally directed lip  50  in which there is an aperture  63 , delineated by edge  51 . The shape of lip  50  preferably conforms to the shape of upper portion  35  of first tubular member  24 , so that upper portion  35  may slide along and be guided by edge  51 . In addition, edge  51  provides a means for preventing removal of first tubular member  24  from second tubular member  25 . The lip  50 , at edge  51 , is fixed and inflexible so that the lip  50  engages with step  34 , thus preventing passage of lower portion  36  past lip  50 .  1 he end of lower portion  38 , distal to upper portion  37 , is open and preferably has an aperture  64  which conforms to the external shape of lower portion  36  so that tubular member  24  can retract fully into tubular member  25 . 
     FIGS. 6 a ,  6   b ,  6   c  and  6   d  show sectional views of further examples of nesting shapes for upper portions of a second tubular member and lower portions of a first tubular member. 
     FIG. 6 a  shows an upper portion  74  of a second tubular member, which has a circular cross-section. Inside upper portion  74  is lower portion  73  of a first tubular member, the outer surface of which, for the most part, conforms to the inner surface of upper portion  74 . There is, however, a flattened segment  75  to lower portion  73  such that there is a longitudinal channel  76  between upper portion  74  and lower portion  73 . 
     FIG. 6 b  is a second alternative structure for the tubular members. It shows an upper portion  77  of a second tubular member, which has a substantially elliptical cross-section. Inside upper portion  77  is lower portion  78  of a first tubular member, the outer surface of which, for the most part, conforms to the inner surface of upper portion  77 . There are, however, flattened segments  79  and  80  to lower portion  78  such that there are longitudinal channels  81  between upper portion  77  and lower portion  78 . 
     FIG. 6 c  shows an upper portion  82  of a second tubular member, which has a circular cross-section. Inside upper portion  82  is lower portion  83  of a first tubular member, the outer surface of which, for the most part, conforms to the inner surface of upper portion  82 . There are, however, three flattened segments  84 ,  85  and  86  to lower portion  83  such that there are three longitudinal channels  87  between upper portion  82  and lower portion  83 . 
     FIG. 6 d  shows an upper portion  88  of a second tubular member, which has a circular cross-section. Inside upper portion  88  is lower portion  89  of a first tubular member, parts of the outer surface of which conform to the inner surface of upper portion  88 . There are four flattened segments  90 ,  91 ,  92  and  93  to lower portion  89  such that there are four longitudinal channels  94  between upper portion  88  and lower portion  89 . 
     Although various shapes for the inner and outer elongated members have been shown in FIGS. 6 a  to  6   d , it will be understood that these illustrations are not limiting and that various shapes may be used, provided that at least one sufficiently large longitudinal channel is present between adjacent tubular members. 
     It will be understood that it may be desirable to add strengthening ribs to the elongated tubular members. For example, strengthening ribs may be provided longitudinally inside the tubular members. 
     FIG. 7 shows a way of attaching the telescoping handle to an upper portion of the frame of a luggage item. As far as Applicant is aware, this configuration is unlike known handles for luggage items in that the present handle is not anchored to the bottom of the luggage item. In the embodiment shown, housing  27  is secured to frames  101  and  102  of the luggage item. Handle grip  23  preferably is shaped to nest into an inset cavity  103  of housing  27 , so that the handle grip  23  is stowed away. It will be understood that handle grip  23  may be of any convenient shape, e.g. a bar or a D-shape. A D-shaped handle grip may swivel about a hinge at the extremity of first tubular member  24 . 
     FIG. 7 also shows a single shaft telescoping handle with first tubular member  24 , second tubular member  25  and third tubular member  26 . In the embodiment shown, the housing  27  has a lid  100 . The lid  100  has wings  104 . The lid  100  provide a means for securing the handle from being extended accidentally during transport. The lid  100  also has a second function of ensuring that no rain water gets inside the luggage when in transport. Wings  104  provide means of securing a tote bag on top of the luggage item. To applicant&#39;s knowledge, single shaft handles have no means for securing a tote bag. 
     FIG. 8 is a view of the lid  100 . The lid has slanted edges  119  which provide a sliding fit to seal the cavity  103  in the housing  27 . The sliding fit is attained by having corresponding slanted edges (not shown) in the walls of the cavity  103 . The lid has tongues  120  which lock into indentations (not shown) in the housing  27  to prevent the lid from being opened inadvertently. The lid has wings  104  which are used to stabilize a tote bag when placed on top of the luggage item. 
     It will be seen from FIG. 5 that frictional engagement between the tubular members is lowered by having sliding surfaces only along lips  110 , and walls  41  and  42  of the lower portion  36  of first tubular member  24 . Lowering of friction may also be accomplished, if desired, by coating the sliding surfaces with a non-stick coating. Coating is usually not necessary. Although lowering of friction is not a particularly important aspect of the invention, it makes operation of the handle easier for some people, e.g. seniors. 
     Locking means are provided for the tubular members in order to keep the handle in an extended position or in a compact position. Locking is brought about by cooperation of the fixed and resilient ledges. One part of the locking means is provided inside at least one channel between the upper portion of one tubular member and the lower portion of an adjacent tubular member, and the other part of the locking means is provided on the outer periphery of the lower portion of the appropriate tubular member. 
     With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, upper locking means is provided by sprung (resilient) ledge  47  of first tubular member  24  and fixed ledge  52  of second tubular member  25 . Lower portion  36  of first tubular member  24  is prevented from escaping from the confines of upper portion  37  of second tubular member  25  by lip  50  at the end of upper portion  37 . Lower locking means is provided by sprung (resilient) ledge  47  of first tubular member  24  and fixed ledge  61  of second tubular member  25 . Lower portion  36  of first tubular member  24  is prevented from escaping from the confines of lower portion  38  of second tubular member  25 , through aperture  64 , by a bottom of housing  27  (not shown). Lower portion  36  of first tubular member  24  is also prevented from escaping from the confines of lower portion  38  of second tubular member  25 , through aperture  64 , by handle grip  23 , which will come to rest on lip  50  when in the handle is in the retracted position. 
     It will be understood that second and third tubular members and all other adjacent tubular members, if present, will extend and retract, and lock in the same manner as the first and second tubular members. 
     Resilient ledges  47  and fixed ledges ( 52  or  61 ) interfere with one another as first and second tubular members are extended or retracted. Resilient ledges  47  may be sprung as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 or otherwise made sufficiently deformable that they may be forced past fixed ledges  52  or  61 . Alternatively, ledges  52  and  61  may be made of resilient material so that such ledges may flex slightly to allow ledges  47  to be forced past ledges  52  and  61 . Ledges  47 ,  52  and  61  may be ramped along contacting surfaces in order to either make passage past one another easier or more difficult. 
     It will be understood that lip  50  may be replaced by another fixed ledge, which is sufficiently rigid that it would be virtually impossible for resilient ledge  47  to pass. 
     The telescoping handle, when extended, is used to pull a load, e.g. a suitcase, along the ground. When the telescoping handle is not in use, it may be collapsed and retracted into housing  27 . 
     To operate the telescoping handle, the elongated members of the telescoping handle are extended by pulling on handle grip  23  (see FIGS.  2  and  7 ), thereby sliding each inner tubular member within an adjacent outer telescoping. Sliding motion may be facilitated if the sliding surfaces are coated with a low friction material, e.g. polytetrafluoroethylene. One such polytetrafluoroethylene is available from E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company under the trade mark TEFLON. Sliding is continued until, with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the resilient ledges, e.g. ledges  47 , “snap” over upper fixed ledges, e.g. ledges  52 , so that the resilient ledges are between fixed ledges  52  and lip  50 , thus securing the tubular members in extended position. 
     The telescoping handle may be retracted by pushing down on handle grip  23 , so that resilient ledges, e.g. ledges  47  first “snap” over upper fixed ledges, e.g. ledges  52  and then over lower fixed ledges, e.g. ledges  61 , until the tubular members are fully retracted. It will be noted that the tubular members do not “wobble” within one another because of i) the tight fit attainable due to the limiting of the contact surfaces to walls  48 / 110 ,  54 / 41  and  55 / 42 , and ii) the placement of ledges  47  and  52  in such positions that when they “snap” into the locked position they exert pressure to push step  34  against lip  50 . 
     The outer and inner tubular members may be made of any suitable material, but for ease of manufacture, it is preferable that they are made of two longitudinal portions formed from synthetic thermoplastic or thermosetting polymer and bonded together, as shown in FIG.  12 . This permits the elongated members to be molded using, for example, injection molding techniques. Preferred synthetic polymers are polycarbonate, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) and mixtures thereof. Other polymers may be used, e.g. high density polyethylene, polypropylene, nylon. 
     When the handle is in the extended position, a tote bag can be hung over the handle and rested on the top surface of the luggage item, as shown in FIG.  11 . With a single shaft handle, as shown in FIG.  7 . wings  104  serve to stabilize the tote bag and prevent it from swinging about the tubular members.