Patent Publication Number: US-6338400-B1

Title: Handle assembly with a protector for luggage

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to a handle assembly with a protector for luggage, and particularly to a luggage with a recess for pulling rods, disposed with a flexible spring plate member having specific structure. While the handle is retractably stored therein, it can be avoided that the hand to operate the handle directly bumps against the top of the luggage or is clamped hurtfully under the handle. Therefore, it can get a safety operation for any user. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     As shown in FIGS. 1 &amp; 2, a pulling-rod structure of a common conventional luggage is attached thereon with an upper retaining saddle ( 2 ) having an upper retaining platform ( 1 ) which are made of hard materials. While the user hold the handle in hand to press the rod down, the operating hand may directly bumps against the conjunction of the upper retaining platform ( 1 ) to be hurt or tightly clamped under the handle. Such disadvantage to safety operation should be resolved. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed towards overcoming one or more of the above disadvantages. 
     An object of the present invention provides a handle assembly with a protector for luggage. Meanwhile, a recess defined above the luggage can accommodate a flexible spring plate member thereby avoiding the hand from bumping against the top of the luggage or being hurtfully clamped under the handle for safety operation. 
     A second object of the present invention provides a handle assembly with a protector for luggage. Meanwhile, the flexible spring plate member that is capable to rise/fall in follow of variation of external force for protecting the hand is made of a material partially identical/consistent with the top of the luggage in color. Thus, the entire luggage can appear in consistence of visional effect. 
     Another object of the present invention provides a handle assembly with a protector for luggage. Meanwhile, the flexible spring plate member is capable to relatively balance most of the applied forces acting on the handle which is touched by the user. Thus, it can really win safety operation. 
     To achieve the above objects, there is provided a handle assembly with a protector for luggage, which including: a notch formed on the top of the luggage, the notch having a bottom end with leading edges on both of lateral sides thereof; and a flexible spring plate member received within the notch, and two hooks are fixed on both sides thereof, and at least a spring retained in the bottom of an upper plate portion of the member with an end of the spring fixed on the bottom surface of the upper plate portion. 
     In assembly, the hooks of the flexible spring plate member are retentively snapped with the associated leading edges of the notch, and the spring is disposed between the bottom of the upper plate portion of the flexible spring plate member and the bottom of the notch. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     These and other objects of the present invention will be readily understood upon consideration of the following detailed description and attached drawing, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is an assembled perspective view showing a conventional luggage with pulling rods; 
     FIG. 2 is an active schema showing the pulling-rod handle of the luggage of FIG.  1 . is received therein; 
     a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 is an enlarged bottom view showing the flexible spring plate member of FIG.3; and, 
     FIGS. 5A &amp; 5B are successive-active scheme showing the flexible spring plate member is progressively stored therein. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Firstly referring to FIGS. 3 &amp; 4, a handle assembly with a protector for luggage, includes a cave recess  31  defined above the luggage with a pulling rod  11  thereby accommodating a handle  12  of which the pulling rod  11  is retracted back. The recess  31  further has a notch  32  defined upward, and a bottom end  33  with leading edge  34  formed respectively on both lateral sides of the notch  32  for locking with a hook  203  formed with a flexible spring plate member  20  as soon as flexibly recovering. Therefore, the flexible spring plate member  20  will be not broken away because of the flexible recovery of a spring (detailed later). At least one circular aperture  301  is defined through the bottom wall of the notch  32  (See FIGS. 5A &amp; 5B) for receiving therein a short post  201  extended from the member  20  as soon as being compressed. The flexible spring plate member  20  is located within the notch  32  and forms a hook  203  on both sides thereof. Although the hooks  203  each are shaped with a reversal triangle contour in the preferred embodiment according to the present invention, any practicable design on the shapes of both the bottom ends and the hooks, which functions in latch and separation therebetween, is not excluded. An upper plate portion  205  is fixed with at least a short post  201  which a spring  202  circumambulates around. An end of the spring  202  is attached at the bottom of the upper plate portion  205 . In assembly, The hooks  203  of the flexible spring plate member  20  are retentively snapped with bottom ends  33  of the notch  32 . Then, each of the short posts  201  is inserted respectively into the corresponding circular aperture  301  defined downward of the notch  32 . Thus, the flexible spring plate member  20  retractably falls down to balance most of applied forces thereby avoiding danger of clamping the hand hurtfully as soon as the pulling rod  11  is retracted by applying an external force on the handle  12  for accommodation of the handle  12 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 5A &amp; 5B, to store the handle  12  therein, a hand of a user holds the handle  12  to press it down until the hand touches the flexible spring plate member  20  located above the recess  31 . The springs  202  attached under the member  20  still are compressed and therefore the posts  201  are deepened into the circular apertures  301 . The entire member  20  falls downward in at least a specific distance H. As functioning as a buffer, the member  20  does not only advantageously balance most of the applied forces but the hand also can be contracted at appropriate time thereby avoiding conflict on the top of the luggage or the problem of clamping under the handle. Therefore, it is useful to reach a safety operation in accommodating the handle. 
     Furthermore, the flexible spring plate member  20  is made of a material identical to the top of the luggage in color. Thus, the entire luggage can appear in consistence of visional effect and is not uncomfortable in vision. 
     Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. Thus, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described above.