Patent Publication Number: US-2022218080-A1

Title: Split handle, narrow rolling bag

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     The United States Luggage Company is generally credited with being the first company to place wheels on a suitcase almost fifty years ago. U.S. Pat. No. 3,653,474 (1970) entitled “Rolling Luggage” reflects this crowning achievement, and now almost every luggage piece is formed with some means for rolling. There has been many, many patents that have followed the &#39;474 Patent in trying to improve the manner in which luggage is used, especially the way it is carried. 
     The present application uses the term “suitcase” in a broad sense to describe a wide variety of bags, from soft cover to hard shell, and the term is to be considered in the broadest possible terms for the purposes of this application. 
     If a case when set down has the extendable handle on the top surface, the greater lateral dimension will be referred to as width and the lesser lateral dimension will be referred to as depth, with height being the top to bottom dimension. This nomenclature will remain, even though when the suitcase is laid flat and opened, the position is changed and height is no longer top to bottom and depth is no longer front to back. Maintaining this nomenclature will prevent confusion in the description of the invention. The usable volume of the suitcase is the effective height×the effective width×the effective depth. 
     Typical rolling suitcases today are equipped with a handle that extends or telescopes from a top portion of the case. The rods or poles that extend the handle are situated on the same half of the suitcase, and the case has at least two wheels at the bottom surface of the case along an edge defining the width. While this position requires that the case be rolled traverse to the width and thereby move the largest profile, this situation is necessary so that the two poles do not straddle the opening of the case. Travelers have often lamented the fact that while attempting to navigate crowded airports, walkways, sidewalks, and the like, the breadth of the rolling case is sometimes more inconvenient that carrying the case in the narrow (depth) direction. Unfortunately, heretofore placing a solid handle across the depth instead of the width precludes the case from opening properly. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a rolling suitcase that is pushed or pulled depthwise rather than in the width position. The suitcase of the present invention also employs several novel features to maximize storage capacity, facilitate easy and reliable locking and unlocking of the handle mechanism, and other features explained in greater detail below. 
     The centerpiece of the present invention is a split handle that separates when the case needs to be opened, and locks when the case is pulled or locked. In a first preferred embodiment, the handle splits in the middle to form two separate (albeit not necessarily equal) halves, such that the case can quickly open and close. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an elevated, perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an elevated, perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  in an ajar configuration; 
         FIG. 3  is a reverse elevated, perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is an elevated, perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  in the laid open configuration; 
         FIG. 5  is an enlarged, perspective view of the split handle; 
         FIG. 6  is an enlarged, perspective view of the split handle in the unlocked position; 
         FIG. 7  is an enlarged, perspective view of the split handle in the separated position; 
         FIG. 8  is an elevated, perspective view of the split handle locking mechanism; 
         FIG. 9  is an elevated, perspective view of the split handle with an unlocked indicator; 
         FIG. 10  is an enlarged, perspective view of the split handle in the extension lock position; 
         FIG. 11  is an enlarged, perspective view of the split handle in the extension unlock position; 
         FIG. 12  is an enlarged, perspective view of the split handle extended; 
         FIG. 13  is an enlarged, perspective view of the split handle extended and locked; 
         FIG. 14  is a cross sectional view of the cam locking mechanism for the extendible handle; 
         FIG. 15  is a cross sectional view of the cam locking mechanism in the released position; 
         FIG. 16  is a sectional view of the interlocking bumpers; 
         FIG. 17  is an elevated, perspective view of another embodiment with a side pocket; 
         FIG. 18  is an enlarged, perspective view of an alternate magnetic handle locking mechanism; 
         FIG. 19  is an enlarged, perspective view of the alternate magnetic handle locking mechanism in the attached configuration; 
         FIG. 20  is a cross sectional view of an alternate embodiment with a quick release button in the handle; 
         FIG. 21  is an elevated, perspective view of the cross section of  FIG. 20 ; 
         FIG. 22  is an enlarged, cross sectional view of the release button of  FIG. 20 ; 
         FIG. 23  is an enlarged, elevated perspective view of the cross section of  FIG. 22 ; and 
         FIG. 24  is a further enlarged sectional view of the button of  FIG. 20 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  is an elevated, perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of the present invention, depicting a suitcase  100  generally having a right half  101  and a left half  102 . The suitcase  100  is characterized by a height “H,” a width “W,” and a depth “D” when resting on its wheels as shown in  FIG. 1 . For purposes of describing the features of the invention, the suitcase has a top end  104 , a bottom end  106 , a front end  110 , a rear end  108 , a left side  112 , and a right side  114 . In a first embodiment, the suitcase  100  is equipped with multi-direction small wheels  116  (also known as “spinners”) at the front bottom edge, the wheels capable of swiveling about a vertical support to allow the wheels to turn three hundred sixty degrees in order to better steer the case. Opposite wheels  116  are two larger, inset wheels  118  at the rear bottom edge. Wheels  118  are inset from the left and right sides of the case so as to be fully within the profile of the case, i.e., within the planes defined by the left and right sides. The large wheels  118  roll over larger discontinuities/bumps/curbs/etc. and allow a user to easily establish the center of gravity of the case over the wheels for balancing purposes, reducing any moment of inertia and making the case seem more lightweight when it&#39;s center of mass is balanced over the wheels  118 . When rolling the case on two wheels, a user will push downward on the main handle rather than lifting the handle, which also involves bearing the weight on the user&#39;s arm. The large wheels also promote a straight direction of travel, as opposed to smaller wheels that can cause jitter or non-linear travel. 
     The top  104  of the case may be equipped with a grip or strap  120  fixed at each end to allow the case  100  to be quickly grasped and lifted up. The strap  120  has some slack to allow the fingers of a user to slip under to grasp the strap. The case is also equipped with an extendable/telescoping handle  122  that is used to pull/steer/push/maneuver the suitcase. The extendable handle  122  attaches to the case through left and right inset rails, tubes, or shafts  124  that are each seated in a conforming channel  126  formed in the right and left sides. The shafts  124  move entirely within the channels  126  so as to add nothing to the depth of the case, while extending out and away from the body of the case while remaining within the frame of the sides  112 ,  114 . That is, the shafts  124  do not extend outside of the plane defined by the left and right sides of the suitcase. The shafts  124  and channels  126  are shown in the figures to be diagonal and straight, but in alternate embodiments can be curved or oriented in other directions. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates the embodiment of  FIG. 1  in a slightly ajar position. The left half  102  and right half  101  are pivoted open about hinges  128  to expose the interior of the suitcase  100 . It can be seen that the top rear corner  130  of the suitcase  100  is truncated with a bevel such that the split handle  122  is within the exterior space formed by the truncation of the corner. It can also be seen in  FIG. 2  that the handle  122  separates into left and right components to allow the left half  102  and right half  101  of the suitcase to separate and open. Heretofore, a handle would be located exclusively on one of the halves, allowing the case to be pulled/pushed breadthwise. The present design allows the case to be pulled/pushed depthwise, significantly reducing the profile of the suitcase in the moving direction.  FIG. 3  shows the same configuration from the opposite side. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates the embodiment of  FIG. 1  is the splayed or fully open position with the interior exposed. From this view, some features of the invention become more readily apparent. There is no lost volume in the interior due to a transverse axle for the large wheels (which are instead mounted on mounted hubs  123 ). Also, by inserting the shafts  124  in the channels  126 , the depth of the suitcase is enlarged to the maximum depth allowed by Federal regulations. If the shafts  124  were outside the sides  112 ,  114 , then then entire volume accommodating the dimension of the shaft would be lost. It can also be seen that the wheels  116  are protected within a cavity  132  to reduce the opportunity for sideways impact of the wheels. It is well known in the industry that the wheels are a major fault point for premature breakage or for disabling the suitcase, and that lateral impact is the leading cause of wheel breakage. The design of the present invention to locate the wheels in the cavity  132  protects the wheels from lateral forces that can bend, break, or incapacitate the wheels&#39; function. 
       FIGS. 5-8  illustrate a first embodiment of a split handle  122  and locking mechanism for use with the present invention. The outsides of the top rear corners include shield plates  134  that enclose and protect the split handle  122 . As with the wheels  116 ,  118  the handle  122  is a location that can easily break or malfunction from lateral impact due to normal baggage handling, being dropped on a corner, impact from other baggage being stacked or collected, etc. The shield plates  134  prevent direct impact laterally on the handle  122 , while keeping within the frame of the suitcase so as not to add any unnecessary depth. The top  104  and rear end  108  of the suitcase  100  also cooperate to form C-shaped barriers  138  that enclose and protect the ends of the split handle  122 . The C-shaped barriers  138  occupy the space formed by the beveling of the corner  130  so that no additional space is used for this purpose. The C-shaped barriers  138  leave exposed a portion of the middle of the split handle  122 , allowing it to be easily grasped due to the spacing between the beveled corner  130  and the split handle  122 . When the handle  122  is pulled along the direction of the channels  126 , the handle  122  and the shafts  124  extend away from the body of the suitcase and permit the handle  122  to assume the towing configuration (see, e.g.,  FIG. 12 ). 
     To prevent the split handle  122  from inadvertently separating, a novel locking mechanism is incorporated into the handle  122  in a first embodiment. The handle  122  may be formed with an ovular or egg-shaped profile (or any other ergonomic shape) having a substantially circular or oval portion and an angled or wedge-shaped portion. In the locked configuration of  FIG. 5 , the circular or oval portion is adjacent the surface of the corner  130  such that, when grasped, it will bear against the user&#39;s pad of the palm. A centrally disposed rotatable actuator  140  shares the profile of the handle  122 , and rotates about an axis co-linear with the handle itself so as to pivot out of conformity with the rest of the handle (see  FIG. 6 ). A release button  149  is disposed on the front of the actuator, and when depressed releases the actuator  140  to permit the rotation to the unlocked position. The actuator  140  will only rotate when the release button  149  is depressed, and rotation is made against the bias of the spring. The release button  149  allows a user to press the release button  149  to release the actuator  140  and rotate the actuator all in one motion with one finger. In one preferred embodiment, a spring biases the actuator  140  in the conformed, or locked position, so that a manual force is needed to overcome the spring and unlock the handle for separating. This prevents the handle from inadvertently separating and potentially allowing the case to open. 
       FIGS. 7 and 8  illustrate the split handle  122  is the separated condition, with the actuator  140  in the rotated, unlocked position. The right side  122   a  of the handle at the interface  142  includes a cylindrical projection  144  with an open center  146 . The end of the cylindrical projection  144  includes a plurality of radial tabs  148  spaced around the circumference of the projection. The left side  122   b  of the handle comprises a support pin  150  that, when inserted into the open center  146  of the cylindrical projection  144 , serves to reinforce the connection between the left and right sides of the handle, and by this create a solid unified handle grip. The left side  122   b  of the handle also comprises an opening  152  about the support pin  150  with channels  154  coinciding with the tabs  148  of the cylindrical projection  144  so that the handle can open and close only when the actuator  140  is rotated to the unlocked position of  FIG. 8 . That is, the cylindrical projection  144  passes through the opening  152  and the tabs  148  align with the channels  154  to close the split handle  122 , and when the actuator is rotated to the unlocked position the left side  122   b  and the right side  122   a  can separate. However, with the cylindrical projection  144  inserted into the opening  152  and the actuator  140  rotated to the locked position, the cylindrical projection  144  is captured and cannot be removed due to the misalignment of the tabs  148  with the channels  154 . In this manner, the handle  122  can be secured in the locked position without opportunity to inadvertently separate, and with the push of a thumb against the actuator  140  the handle can be easily separated to allow the suitcase to open. In  FIG. 9 , the exposed sides  160  of the actuator  140  can be colored or marked with a bright or eye-catching color (e.g., red, yellow, phosphoric, etc.) to ensure that the user is aware of the actuator&#39;s position is in the unlocked position where it can separate. This prevents the suitcase from accidentally opening and prevents the handle from accidentally separating when the case is supposed to remain locked. 
     The handle  122  extraction from the case is now described with reference to  FIGS. 10-15 . The shafts  124  of the suitcase  100  are initially locked in the channels  126  and cannot be extended until the handle is “released” by rotating the handle downward.  FIG. 10  shows the handle  122  in the locked position with the wedge-shaped portion of the handle facing away from the C-shaped barriers and toward the user. If the user manually rotates the handle (including the actuator  140 ) downward (i.e., clockwise in  FIG. 10 ) to the position shown in  FIG. 11 , the shafts  124  become “released” from their respective channels  126  and the handle can be pulled out ( FIG. 12 ) as long as the handle is rotated in the downward position of  FIGS. 11 and 12 . Once the handle is released or rotated back to the locked position of  FIGS. 10 and 13 , the shafts can no longer extend or retract from their channels and the handle&#39;s extension is fixed. This allows a user to establish a comfortable handle separation distance based on the height of the user, the weight of the suitcase, etc. The mechanism by which the handle is released, locked, and fixed, as described below, allows the handle to be located anywhere between a fully extended and fully retracted position by rotating the handle  122  into the locked position. 
       FIGS. 14 and 15  illustrate one type of actuating and locking mechanism for the handle release and extension system of the present invention. The central axis of the handle  122  mounts a an axle  171  that supports a cam member  170  in contact with a spring back mechanism actuated pin  172 . The pin  172  is coupled to a locking mechanism for locking the shafts within the channel when the pin is in an extended position. That is, when the handle  122  is in the locked position of  FIG. 14 , the cam member  170  is rotated such that the pin  172  bears against the cam member and is fully extended. With the pin  172  in this position, the locking mechanism is engaged and the shaft  124  of the suitcase is locked and cannot extend or retract into the channel  126 . In  FIG. 15 , handle  122  has been rotated to the unlocked position, and the cam member  170  has driven the pin  172  downward against the bias of the spring  174 . With the pin  172  in this retracted position, the locking mechanism is disengaged and the shaft  124  can extend from or retract into the channel  126 . 
       FIG. 16  illustrates a pair of mating bumpers  190  on the front panel  110  of each side  101 ,  102 . The bumpers are generally L shaped and are sized such that the opposed bumpers  190  slightly touch each other when the suitcase is in the open configuration of  FIG. 4 . The shape of the bumpers  190  ensure that the projection portion of the bumpers makes contact with the flat portion of the opposed bumpers, eliminating the opportunity for wear due to contact of the bumpers with the body of the case. 
       FIG. 17  illustrates an optional feature of a convenient side pocket  200  that can store an electronic device  205 , keys, wallet, and the like. The side pocket can be closed with a zipper, flap, or other closure means to secure the contents of the pocket  200 . 
       FIGS. 18 and 19  illustrate an alternate locking mechanism for the split handle  222 . A first component of the handle includes a locking pin  230  having a non-circular profile, and the opposing component includes a cavity  231  having a matching non-circular profile, such that the locking pin  230  can insert into the cavity  231  when the first and second components are engaged. The two components can be held in place by a magnetic coupling, such that the components are magnetically attracted to each other but can be separated by breaking the magnetic attachment. 
       FIGS. 20-24  illustrate a preferred embodiment of the operation of the release button  149  on the split handle. The button  149  is incorporated into the actuator  140  and its exposed surface is slightly curved and biased to sit slightly out of the plane of the handle ( FIG. 20 ). Opposite the slightly curved exposed surface is an angled member  305  that bears against a similarly angled surface of a drive pin  310 . The drive pin  310  is biased in the handle by a spring  320  that pushes the button  149  out of the handle. The spring  320  also places the end  325  of the drive pin  310  into an interference position with the end  330  of the split handle  122 , such that the actuator  140  cannot rotate as shown in  FIG. 6 . However, when the button  149  is depressed, the angled member  305  bears against and forces the drive pin  310  toward the spring  320  and out of interference with the split handle end  330 . This removal of the interference between the drive pin end  325  and the split handle end  330  then allows the actuator  140  to rotate about the central locking pin. The quick release button allows the split handle to safely remain closed until the user depresses the button  149 , whereupon the actuator can be rotated and the handle separated as shown in FIG. 
     The present invention is not limited to either hard shell or soft shell bags, and may include wheels of different types and numbers than those illustrated herein. Alternatively, the invention may include sliders, hinged fixed wheels, casters, track wheels, ski-type supports, or even motorized wheels. The split handle can employ locking mechanisms different from those described and depicted herein, including mechanical, electrical, electromechanical, magnetic, etc. locking mechanisms. The handle may split evenly, or non-symmetrically, and the locking mechanism may be centrally disposed or non-centrally located. The case may include a motorized system for following a user or tracking purpose. The shafts that connect the handle may be linear or curvilinear, where a curvilinear shaft can avoid the channel passing directly across the middle of the packing space. The shafts may operate independently of each other, extending to different lengths if needed. 
     The present invention is capable of many alternations, substitutions, and modifications that are readily appreciated by a person of ordinary skill in the art, and the scope of the invention is intended to include all such alterations, substitutions, and modifications. Accordingly, unless expressly stated, the invention is not limited to any description or depiction in the figures, but rather the invention is to be governed by the claims accompanying the application.