Patent Publication Number: US-11039673-B2

Title: Luggage towing apparatus

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/285,858 filed on Feb. 26, 2019 by Richard D. Hughes of Denver, Colo., U.S., that claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 62/636,339 filed on Feb. 28, 2018 by Richard D. Hughes of Denver, Colo., U.S. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to luggage accessories. More particularly, the present invention is used with wheeled luggage that is an apparatus that allows for “hands free” wheeled luggage pulling through airport terminals. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART 
     Wheeled luggage are common in airports wherein the luggage typically have a centrally mounted rigid pull handle that the user grasps with one of their hands that puts the user in an awkward semi twisted user torso situation while trying to pull the luggage forward, this requires either constant steering direction corrections as the user&#39;s arm is pulling off-center-so that the wheeled luggage tends to tract off-center also or the solution of pulling the luggage off to the side in a straight roll tract, however, this requiring additional muscle stress to pull the luggage out to one side as opposed pulling the luggage directly behind which minimizes additional muscle stress. 
     Another problem with the conventional wheeled luggage is that the pull handle consumes a hand of the user, leaving only one free hand for the user, which makes carrying other items all the more difficult. 
     Yet another problem is that with the fixed rigid luggage handle the trailing distance of the wheeled luggage behind the user (especially a user with shorter arms) can cause the user&#39;s feet to bump into the wheeled luggage behind them, which can be annoying and could cause the user to trip on the surface. 
     Looking at the prior art in wheeled pull luggage and related arts in U.S. Pat. No. 5,878,853 to DeRouen et al., discloses a wheeled luggage pull that basically extends the conventional handle of pulled luggage via a triangular piece with a semi-circular piece at the bottom to clamp on the inverted “U” handle of the wheeled luggage. In DeRouen, it looks as though the major benefit is to have the luggage trail behind the user at a greater distance to lessen the chance of the user&#39;s feet kicking the luggage as they walk and to have less torso twist on the user when pulling the wheeled luggage. 
     Further looking at the prior art in wheeled pull luggage and related arts in U.S. Pat. No. 4,838,396 to Krenzel, discloses a luggage handle that has a removably engagable section (see FIG. 6) utilizing a spring clip (element 40) with anchor loop (element 42). 
     Continuing to look at the prior art in wheeled pull luggage and related arts in U.S. Pat. No. 5,090,691 to Pollock, discloses a handle that could be used as a “T”-handle grip for luggage that would utilize that type of handle. 
     In addition looking at the prior art in wheeled pull luggage and related arts in U.S. Pat. No. 5,722,118 to Hansen et al, discloses a wheeled pull luggage handle conversion apparatus that includes a rotational pivot to give rotational freedom for manual grasping of the handle, wherein there are a number of embodiments that facilitate different attachments to the original luggage handle as shown in  FIGS. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 . 
     This helps to give the current state of the art in the wheeled luggage handle pull arts based on the above cited references, as there are many versions of handle modification shown, such that DeRouen has an extension to the original wheeled pull luggage to help alleviate awkward body twist and help prevent kicking of the pulled luggage by the user&#39;s feet and Hansen primarily allows twisting of the handle grasping angle for comfort. 
     None of the above cited references showed a “hands free” option for pulling the wheeled luggage nor the specific type of clamp that would enable “hands free” pulling of the wheeled luggage. Thus what is needed is a luggage towing apparatus that primarily allow for “hands free” pulling of the wheeled luggage, plus in addition the towing apparatus allows for towing of the wheeled luggage directly behind the user to accommodate straight tracking of the wheeled luggage behind the user and to create enough distance of the wheeled luggage and the user to help preclude the user&#39;s feet from hitting the wheeled luggage while the user is pulling the wheeled luggage. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     Broadly, the present invention is a luggage towing apparatus, wherein the luggage has a wheel to move on a surface and an opposing handle. The luggage apparatus includes a bracket constructed of a beam having a first end portion, a mid portion, and an opposing second end portion with a longitudinal axis spanning therebetween, the first end portion having an aperture, the second end portion having a flexible hook that is removably engagable to the luggage handle. Wherein the mid portion has a finger channel constructed of a partial sidewall that is about a channel axis that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, wherein the partial sidewall terminates in an open gap that operationally allows a user&#39;s finger to pass therethrough wherein the sidewall acts as a finger rest to facilitate finger movement thus moving the bracket along the longitudinal axis to engage and disengage the flexible hook from the luggage handle. 
     The luggage towing apparatus further includes a strap that is disposed therethrough the aperture, wherein operationally the strap is looped around a torso of the user to enable pulling the luggage across the surface hands free. 
     These and other objects of the present invention will become more readily appreciated and understood from a consideration of the following detailed description of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention when taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which; 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows an upper perspective view of a bracket that includes a beam with a first end portion, a mid portion, and an opposing second end portion with a longitudinal axis spanning therebetween, plus an aperture with a strap, also a flexible hook and a finger channel are shown; 
         FIG. 2  shows a side elevation view of the bracket that includes the beam with the first end portion, the mid portion, and the opposing second end portion with the longitudinal axis spanning therebetween, plus the aperture, the flexible hook, and the finger channel; 
         FIG. 3  shows a side elevation view of a clip that includes a “U” shaped extension element with a primary end portion and a secondary end portion that has a flexible catch; 
         FIG. 4  shows a perspective view of the clip that includes the “U” shaped extension element with the primary end portion and the secondary end portion that has the flexible catch, wherein the strap is shown attached to the secondary end portion; 
         FIG. 5  shows a perspective view of a cradle that includes a leg having a first end portion and an opposing second end portion with a longwise axis spanning therebetween, the leg first end portion having a clasp and the leg second end portion having a flexible hook, with the strap attached to the clasp; 
         FIG. 6  shows a side elevation view of the cradle that includes the leg having the first end portion and the opposing second end portion with the longwise axis spanning therebetween, the leg first end portion having the clasp and the leg second end portion having the flexible hook, with the strap attached to the clasp; 
         FIG. 7  shows a perspective view of the luggage towing apparatus in use on a surface with the user pulling the wheeled luggage from their waist (could be a belt also) utilizing the clip in conjunction with the strap and either the cradle or the bracket that is removably engaged to the handle of the wheeled luggage, wherein the user is able to pull the wheeled luggage across the surface hands free to enable the user to carry a cup of coffee and travel documents for instance; and 
         FIG. 8  shows a perspective view of the luggage towing apparatus in use on a surface with the user pulling the wheeled luggage from their torso (could be over or around the shoulder also) utilizing the strap and either the cradle or the bracket that is removably engaged to the handle of the wheeled luggage, wherein the user is able to pull the wheeled luggage across the surface hands free to enable the user to carry a cup of coffee and travel documents for instance. 
     
    
    
     REFERENCE NUMBERS IN DRAWINGS 
     
         
           50  Luggage towing apparatus 
           55  User 
           60  Torso of the user  55   
           65  Waist of the user  55  (belt or pants waist) 
           70  Finger of the user  55   
           75  Hand of the user  55   
           80  Hands free 
           85  Cup of coffee 
           90  Travel documents 
           95  Luggage 
           100  Wheel on the luggage  95   
           105  Handle on the luggage  95  positioned opposite of the wheel  100   
           110  Surface 
           115  Moving of the luggage  95  along the surface  110  via the wheel  100   
           120  Bracket 
           125  Beam of the bracket  120   
           130  First end portion of the beam  125   
           135  Mid portion of the beam  125   
           140  Opposing second end portion of the beam  125   
           145  Longitudinal axis of the beam  125   
           150  Aperture of the first end portion  130   
           155  Flexible hook of the second end portion  140   
           160  Removably engagable interface of the flexible hook  155  to the handle  105   
           165  Finger channel of the mid portion  135   
           170  Partial sidewall of the finger channel  165   
           175  Channel axis of the finger channel  165   
           180  Perpendicular position of the channel axis  175  to the longitudinal axis  145   
           185  Open gap of the partial sidewall  170  that can form a partial closure that terminates inwardly toward the channel axis  175   
           186  Each open gap  185  forming an inwardly terminating partial closure distance to the channel axis  175   
           187  Partial sidewall  170  maximum distance from the channel axis  175   
           190  Finger rest of the partial sidewall  170   
           195  Finger movement of the finger rest  190   
           200  Engage the flexible hook  155  to the handle  105   
           205  Disengage the flexible hook  155  to the handle  105   
           210  Strap that is conventionally adjustable in length, i.e. to accommodate either of  FIG. 7 or 8   
           215  Strap disposed therethrough the aperture  150   
           220  Strap looped around the user  55  torso  60   
           225  Pulling the luggage  95  along the surface  110  hands free  80   
           230  Clip 
           235  “U” shaped extension element of the clip  230   
           240  Primary end portion of the extension element  235   
           245  Secondary end portion of the extension element  235   
           250  Flexible catch of the of the second end portion  245   
           255  Adjacent end of the secondary end portion  245   
           260  Primary end portion removably engaging the users  55  hand  75   
           265  Primary end portion removably engaging the user&#39;s  55  waist  65   
           270  Cradle 
           275  Leg of the cradle  270   
           280  First end portion of the leg  275   
           285  Second end portion of the leg  275   
           290  Longwise axis of the leg  275   
           295  Clasp of the first end portion  280   
           300  Open arcuate section of the second end portion  285   
           305  Removably engagable of the open arcuate section  300  to the handle  105   
       
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     With initial reference to  FIG. 1  shown is the an upper perspective view of the bracket  120  that includes the beam  125  with the first end portion  130 , the mid portion  135 , and the opposing second end portion  140  with the longitudinal axis  145  spanning therebetween, plus the aperture  150  with the strap  210 , the flexible hook  155 , and the finger channel  165 . 
     Next,  FIG. 2  shows a side elevation view of the bracket  120  that includes the beam  125  with the first end portion  130 , the mid portion  135 , and the opposing second end portion  140  with the longitudinal axis  145  spanning therebetween, plus the aperture  150 , the flexible hook  155 , and the finger channel  165 . 
     Continuing,  FIG. 3  shows a side elevation view of a clip  230  that includes a “U” shaped extension element  235  with the primary end portion  240  and the secondary end portion  245  that has the flexible catch  250 . 
     Further,  FIG. 4  shows a perspective view of the clip  230  that includes the “U” shaped extension element  235  with the primary end portion  240  and the secondary end portion  245  that has the flexible catch  250 , wherein the strap  210  is shown attached to the secondary end portion  245 . 
     Moving onward,  FIG. 5  shows a perspective view of the cradle  270  that includes the leg  275  having the first end portion  280  and the opposing second end portion  285  with the longwise axis  290  spanning therebetween, the leg  275  first end portion  280  having the clasp  295  and the leg  275  second end portion  285  having the open arcuate section  300 , with the strap  210  attached to the clasp  295 . 
     Continuing further,  FIG. 6  shows a side elevation view of the cradle  270  that includes the leg  275  having the first end portion  280  and the opposing second end portion  285  with the longwise axis  290  spanning therebetween, the leg  275  first end portion  280  having the clasp  295  and the leg  275  second end portion  285  having the open arcuate section  300 , with the strap  210  attached to the clasp  295 . 
     Next,  FIG. 7  shows a perspective view of the luggage towing apparatus  50  in use on the surface  110  with the user  55  pulling  115  the wheeled  100  luggage  95  from their waist  65  (could be a belt also) utilizing the clip  230  in conjunction with the strap  210  and either the cradle  270  or the bracket  120  that is removably engaged  160 ,  305  to the handle  105  of the wheeled  100  luggage  95 , wherein the user  55  is able to pull  115  the wheeled  100  luggage  95  across the surface  110  hands free  80  to enable the user  55  to easily carry a cup of coffee  85  and travel documents  90  for instance. 
     Further,  FIG. 8  shows a perspective view of the luggage towing apparatus  50  in use on the surface  110  with the user  55  pulling  115  the wheeled  100  luggage  95  from their torso  60  (could be over or around the shoulder also) utilizing the strap  210  and either the cradle  270  or the bracket  120  that is removably engaged  160 ,  305  to the handle  105  of the wheeled  100  luggage  95 , wherein the user  55  is able to pull  115  the wheeled  100  luggage  95  across the surface  110  hands free  80  to enable the user  55  to easily carry a cup of coffee  85  and travel documents  90  for instance. 
     Broadly in looking at  FIGS. 1 to 6 , the present invention is the luggage towing apparatus  50 , wherein the luggage  95  has the wheel  100  to move  115 ,  225  on the surface  110  and the opposing handle  105 , see also  FIGS. 7 and 8 . The luggage apparatus  50  includes the bracket  120  constructed of the beam  125  having the first end portion  130 , the mid portion  135 , and the opposing second end portion  140  with the longitudinal axis  145  spanning therebetween, the first end portion  130  having the aperture  150 , the second end portion  140  having the flexible hook  155  that is removably engagable  160  to the luggage  95  handle  105 , see primarily  FIGS. 1 and 2 , plus also  FIGS. 7 and 8 . 
     Wherein the mid portion  135  has the finger channel  165  constructed of a partial sidewall  170  that is about a channel axis  175  that is perpendicular  180  to the longitudinal axis  145 , wherein the partial sidewall  170  terminates in an open gap  185  that operationally allows a user&#39;s  55  finger  70  to pass therethrough wherein the sidewall  170  acts as a finger  70  rest  190  to facilitate finger  70  movement  195  thus moving the bracket  120  along the longitudinal axis  145  to engage  200  and disengage  205  the flexible hook  155  from the luggage  95  handle  105 , again see primarily  FIGS. 1 and 2 , plus also  FIGS. 7 and 8 . 
     The luggage towing apparatus  50  further includes the strap  210  that is disposed  215  therethrough the aperture  150 , wherein operationally the strap  210  is looped  220  around the torso  60  of the user  55  to enable pulling  115 ,  225  the luggage  95  across the surface  110  hands free  80 , see in particular  FIG. 8 . 
     In specifically looking at  FIG. 7  for the luggage towing apparatus  50 , wherein the luggage  95  has a wheel  100  to move  115 ,  225  on the surface  110  and the opposing handle  105 , the luggage apparatus  50  includes the bracket  120  as previously described. Further included is the strap  210  that is disposed  215  therethrough the aperture  150 , wherein operationally the strap  210  enables pulling  115 ,  225  the luggage  95  across the surface  110  hands free  80  by the user  55 , again see  FIG. 7 . 
     Further included in the luggage towing apparatus  50  as shown in  FIG. 7 , is the clip  230  constructed of the “U” shaped extension element  235  having the primary end portion  240  and the secondary end portion  245 , wherein the secondary end portion  245  terminates in the flexible catch  250  with an adjacent end  255 , see in particular  FIGS. 3 and 4 . Wherein operationally the catch  250  removably engages the strap  210 , see  FIGS. 3 and 4 , and the primary end portion  240  can removably engage  260  the user&#39;s  55  hand  75  or can removably engage  265  the pants waist  65  for hands free  80  luggage  95  pulling  115 ,  225  across the surface  110 , see  FIG. 7 . 
     In specifically looking at  FIG. 7 or 8 , for the luggage towing apparatus  50 , wherein the luggage  95  has a wheel  100  to move  115 ,  225  on the surface  110  and the opposing handle  105 , the luggage apparatus  50  includes the cradle  270  constructed of the leg  275  having the first end portion  280  and the opposing second end portion  285  with the longwise axis  290  spanning therebetween, the first end portion  280  having the clasp  295  and the second end portion  290  having the flexible open arcuate section  300  that is removably engagable  305  to the luggage  95  handle  105 , see in particular  FIGS. 5 and 6 , plus  FIGS. 7 and 8 . 
     Also for the cradle  270  the strap  210  is disposed therethrough the clasp  295 , see  FIGS. 5 and 6 , wherein operationally the strap  210  enables pulling  115 ,  225  the luggage  95  across the surface  110  hands free  80  by the user  55 , see  FIGS. 7 and 8 . 
     CONCLUSION 
     Accordingly, the present invention of a luggage towing apparatus has been described with some degree of particularity directed to the embodiments of the present invention. It should be appreciated, though; that the present invention is defined by the following claims construed in light of the prior art so modifications of the changes may be made to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention without departing from the inventive concepts contained therein.