Patent Publication Number: US-2011062196-A1

Title: Wagon and luggage pull

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This non-provisional divisional patent application claims priority from patent application Ser. No. 11/849,318 titled WAGON PULL, filed on 3 Sep. 2007, which was still pending at the time of this filing. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to an apparatus that allows users to pull things without using their hands. The present invention allows users to connect wagons, carts, luggage or other wheeled or easily slidable devices to a belt and adjustable sleeve assembly. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The relevant art includes golf carts that attach to the belt of users, such as United States Patent Application Publication no. 2004/0016781 (“the &#39;781 publication”), and U.S. Pat. No. 6,131,917 (“the 917 patent”). Neither reference teaches or discloses an assembly that has an adjustable length, and can attach to different devices, such as different wagons or carts of varying size or height. Neither reference teaches or discloses using the apparatus for pulling luggage or children. 
     There further exists a need for a wagon pull, and an apparatus that is capable of pulling children and luggage that has the comfort and adaptability features such as a feature to accommodate for handles or wagons of varying height or reach of the handle. Another feature is to allow for reduced impact to due compression or tension caused by inertia shifting of the wagon, or other device being pulled. 
     Multiple embodiments of the system are disclosed herein. It will be understood that other objects and purposes of the invention, and variations thereof, will be apparent upon reading the following specification and inspecting the accompanying drawings. 
     REFERENCE NUMERALS LIST 
     
         
           10  wagon pull 
           20  arm assembly 
           30  sleeve 
           32  sleeve top side 
           40  insert 
           44  bar first portion 
           48  bar second portion 
           46  hinge 
           50  support 
           60  belt 
           70  connector 
           72  connector opening 
           74  connector flange 
           75  pressing member 
           80  gripping device 
           90  pad 
           100  arm assembly adjustment member 
           110  slot 
           120  connector pivot member 
           130  angle between the bar first portion and bar second portion 
           140  adjustable threaded rod assembly 
           142  tube bracket 
           144  tube 
           146  threaded knob receptacle 
           148  adjustment knob 
           150  extension rod 
           152  attachment member 
       
    
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A first aspect of the present invention is a wagon pull, to allow users to pull a wagon by a means to removably attach a wagon to a person. 
     Another aspect of the present invention is a wagon pull having a telescoping portion. 
     Another aspect is A wagon pull, comprising: an adjustable rod assembly having a tube ( 144 ) that is secured at one end to a support ( 50 ) via a tube bracket ( 142 ), said tube ( 144 ) has a threaded knob receptacle ( 146 ) at another end; an adjustment knob ( 148 ) that is capable of threadably mating with said threaded knob receptacle ( 146 ); an extension rod ( 150 ) that is capable of being slidably disposed within said tube ( 144 ), said extension rod ( 150 ) is capable of being received through said adjustment knob ( 148 ), said extension rod ( 150 ) capable of connecting to an attachment member  152 , said attachment member capable of connecting to a luggage handle, whereby said extension rod ( 150 ) is capable of being secured within said tube ( 144 ) by tightening of said adjustment knob ( 148 ), and said extension rod ( 150 ) can slide within said tube ( 144 ) when the adjustment knob ( 148 ) is not tightened. 
     These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a pictorial view of one embodiment of the present invention while being used to connect a wagon with a person; 
         FIG. 2  is a pictorial view of one embodiment of the present invention being connected to a wagon handle; 
         FIG. 3  is a pictorial view on one embodiment of the present invention with the belt not being fully illustrated; 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates one embodiment of the present invention is use, showing an angle a; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates one embodiment of the present invention in use, showing a different angle a than that of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  illustrates one embodiment of the present invention in use, showing a different angle a, than that shown in  FIG. 6  or  7 ; 
         FIG. 8  illustrates one embodiment of the present invention, comprising an adjustable rod assembly; 
         FIG. 9  illustrates a sectional side view of an embodiment having an adjustable rod assembly; and 
         FIG. 10  illustrates a side view of an embodiment having an adjustable rod assembly. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
     Certain terminology will be used in the following description for convenience and reference only, and will not be limiting. For example, the words “upwardly,” “downwardly,” “rightwardly,” and “leftwardly” will refer to directions in the drawings to which reference is made. The words “inwardly” and “outwardly” will refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the system and designated parts. Said terminology will include the words specifically mentioned, derivatives, and similar words. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates one embodiment of the present invention. The wagon pull  10  is shown with a pedestrian pulling a wagon. 
       FIG. 2  shows the wagon pull assembly  10  attached to a wagon handle. An arm assembly  20  includes a sleeve  30  that may slidably receive an insert  40 . The sleeve may have a slot  110  therein. The slot  110  may be an elongated slot on the sleeve top side  32 . The insert  40  may be able to be secured in place by use of an arm assembly adjustment member  100  that is disposed in the slot  110 . The arm assembly adjustment member  100  may be a threaded bolt and nut which, when tightened, would cause the sleeve  30  to compress against the insert  40 , to restrict or prevent movement or sliding. 
     The insert  40  may have a connector  70  that is capable of securely connecting to a wagon handle or luggage. The connector  70  may have a gripping device  80  disposed on its inside surface, which may be compressible, like soft rubber or foam rubber, or sponge-like, so that it may be able to be tightly secured to a wagon handle when the connector  70  is around a handle. The connector  70  may have a connector hinge or hinge, or pivoting member  120 , also referred to as a connector pivot member  120  herein, so that the connector  70  can be opened at the connector opening  72  around a wagon handle or luggage, then closed so that a connector flange  74  may be disposed at an end of the insert  40 . The arm assembly  20  may have a bar first portion  44  extending away from the connector  70 . The bar first portion  44  may be secured to a support  50 , and the support  50  may be connected to a belt  60 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates the wagon pull  10 , with a closer perspective relative to  FIG. 2 . The connector flange  74  may be disposed at one end of the insert  40 . A bar second portion  48  may be disposed between the support  50  and the bar first portion  44 . The support  50  may have a pad  90  on the side nearest the user. 
       FIG. 4  is a side view. In one embodiment of the present invention, the angle between the bar first portion  44  and the bar second portion  48 , shown as α, can be 90°. In another embodiment, α may be greater than 90°. In another embodiment, α may be less than 90°. In one embodiment of the present invention, a hinge (not illustrated) may be disposed at a point  46 , and the hinge may be operatively connected to the bar first portion  44  and the bar second portion  48  so that the angle α can vary during use, as illustrated in  FIGS. 5 ,  6 , and  7 . 
       FIG. 4  also illustrates the orientation of elements. For example, the connector  70  may be able to be opened and closed about a connector pivot member  124 , by pushing a pressing member  75 . The area designated as  92  is the space that can receive items, such as a luggage handle, or wagon handle. The connector pivot member  124  may incorporate a spring to force the connector  70  to remain closed at the connector opening  72 , and allow the connector  70  to be opened by pressing on the pressing member  75 . 
     In a further embodiment of the invention, the arm assembly  20  may not be connected to a pad  50  or belt  60 , but may have a loop capable of receiving a belt therein. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates a further embodiment of the present invention having an adjustable threaded rod assembly  140 . The adjustable rod assembly  140  comprises a tube  144  that may be secured to the support  50  via a tube bracket  142 . The adjustable rod assembly  140  may have an adjustment knob  148  that can tighten or loosen to allow the extension rod  150  to be extended or retracted. The extension rod  150  extends to an attachment member  152 , that may be secured to a luggage handle, or wagon handle. 
       FIG. 9  illustrates a sectional view of the adjustable rod assembly  140 . From this view, one can see how the tightening of the adjustment knob  148  may enclose when being threaded with a threaded knob receptacle  146 , to enclose on the extension rod  150 , to secure the extension rod  150  in place relative to the tube  140 . 
       FIG. 10  is a non-sectional view of  FIG. 9 , showing the adjustment knob  148   
     It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.