Patent Publication Number: US-9408449-B1

Title: Stepless retractable handle assembly for luggage

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to luggage technology, and more particularly, to a stepless retractable handle assembly for luggage. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     A luggage normally has rollers mounted at the bottom side thereof, and a retractable handle mounted at the back side thereof. By means of the rotation of the rollers and the draggable function of the retractable handle, the carrying convenience of the luggage is enhanced. 
     For enabling a luggage to be dragged with less effort, conventional retractable handles are commonly made in a multi-stage telescopic design. In the retractable handle adjustment process, it needs the help of positioning pins, positioning steel balls or other positioning structures to achieve the desired positioning effect. However, these positioning structures likely to cause a limitation in the adjustment process, making the user unable to adjust the retractable handle to the most appropriate height according to the actual needs. This will also affect the comfort of the use of the retractable handle with luggage. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is the main object of the present invention to provide a stepless retractable handle assembly for luggage, which is quite convenient in operation and allows adjustment to any desired height without structural limitations. 
     To achieve this and other objects of the present invention, a stepless retractable handle assembly for luggage comprises a handle grip, two retractable bars, a control unit, a transmission unit, and two positioning units. The handle grip comprises a bottom grip shell, and a top grip shell mounted on a top side of the bottom grip shell. The top grip shell comprises a button slot. Each retractable bar comprises an outer tube and an inner tube axially slidably inserted into the outer tube. The inner tube has a top end thereof fixedly connected to the bottom grip shell of the handle grip, and thus, the two inner tubes can be carried by the handle grip to move in the respective outer tubes up and down. The control unit comprises a press-button and a first teturn device. The press-button is vertically movably mounted in the button slot of the top grip shell of the handle grip, comprising two first pushing abutment portions located at a bottom side thereof. The first teturn device is mounted between the bottom grip shell of the handle grip and the press-button to impart an elastic restoring force to the press-button. The transmission unit comprises two transmission plates, two bearing blocks, and two connection shafts. The two transmission plates are transversely movably mounted in the bottom grip shell of the handle grip, each comprising two first bearing portions located at one end thereof and respectively abutted against the first pushing abutment portions of the press-button and a second pushing abutment portion located at an opposite end thereof. Thus, the two transmission plates can be moved transversely when the press-button is pressed by an external force. The two bearing blocks are respectively affixed to respective top ends of the inner tubes of the retractable bars, each comprising a second bearing portion abutted against the second pushing abutment portion of one respective transmission plate. The two connection shafts are respectively inserted into the inner tubes of the retractable bars, and respectively connected to respective bottom ends of the bearing blocks. Thus, the bearing blocks are drivable to move the connected connection shafts vertically. Each positioning unit is mounted in one respective retractable bar, comprising an anchor clamp holder, an anchor clamp and a second teturn device. The anchor clamp holder is mounted in the inner tube of one respective retractable bar and connected to a bottom end of one respective connection shaft for movement with the inner tube of the respective retractable bar relative to the associating outer tube. The anchor clamp is pivotally connected to the anchor clamp holder and disposed in the outer tube of the respective retractable bar and movable to abut against or release from an inside wall of the outer tube of the respective retractable bar subject to vertical displacement of the anchor clamp holder in the respective retractable bar. The second teturn device is stopped against the anchor clamp holder to impart an elastic restoring forced to the anchor clamp holder. Thus, when pressed on the press-button, the anchor clamps are released from the inside walls of the outer tubes of the respective retractable bars for allowing adjustment of the height of the inner tubes of the retractable bars. When released the press-button, the anchor clamps are extended out to abut against the inside walls of the outer tubes of the respective retractable bars, locking the inner tubes of the retractable bars in the adjusted position. 
     Preferably, the movable holder frame of the anchor clamp holder comprises a first lateral hole and a second lateral hole; the anchor clamp comprises a first clamping arm and a second clamping arm. The first clamping arm comprises a first transverse guide hole located in one end thereof, and a first pivot hole disposed adjacent to the first transverse guide hole. The second clamping arm comprises a second transverse guide hole located in one end thereof, and a second pivot hole disposed adjacent to the second transverse guide hole. Each positioning unit further comprises a first pivot bolt and a second pivot bolt. The first pivot bolt is inserted through the first lateral hole of the respective movable holder frame and the first transverse guide hole of the respective first clamping arm. The second pivot bolt is inserted through the second lateral hole of the respective movable holder frame and the second transverse guide hole of the respective second clamping arm. Thus, the first and second clamping arms of the anchor clamp can be biased to abut against or release from the inside wall of the outer tube of the respective retractable bar when the respective movable holder frame is moved vertically. 
     Preferably, each positioning unit further comprises a supplementary anchor clamp pivotally connected the bottom end of the respective movable holder frame below the associating anchor clamp. Thus, the supplementary anchor clamp can be biased to abut against or release from the inside wall of the outer tube of the respective retractable bar when the associating movable holder frame is moved vertically, enhancing the functioning of the respective positioning unit to lock the inner tube of the respective retractable bar. 
     Other advantages and features of the present invention will be fully understood by reference to the following specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference signs denote like components of structure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an oblique top elevational view of a stepless retractable handle assembly for luggage in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a partial exploded view of the stepless retractable handle assembly for luggage in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is another partial exploded view of the stepless retractable handle assembly for luggage in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded view of one positioning unit of the stepless retractable handle assembly for luggage in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a sectional view of a part of the first embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the internal arrangement of the handle grip before pressing of the press-button. 
         FIG. 6  is similar to  FIG. 5 , illustrating the press-button pressed. 
         FIG. 7  is a sectional view of a part of the first embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the anchor clamp and the supplementary anchor clamp abutted against the inside wall of the outer tube of the associating retractable bar. 
         FIG. 8  is similar to  FIG. 7 , illustrating the anchor clamp and the supplementary anchor clamp released from the inside wall of the outer tube of the associating retractable bar. 
         FIG. 9  is similar to  FIG. 1 , illustrating the height of the inner tubes of the retractable bars adjusted. 
         FIG. 10  is a sectional view of one retractable bar of a stepless retractable handle assembly for luggage in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 5 , a stepless retractable handle assembly  10  for luggage in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention is shown. The c stepless retractable handle assembly  10  comprises a handle grip  20 , two retractable bars  30 , a control unit  40 , a transmission unit  50 , and two positioning units  60 . 
     The handle grip  20  comprises a bottom grip shell  21 , and a top grip shell  22  affixed to a top side of the bottom grip shell  21 . The top grip shell  22  defines therein a button slot  23 . 
     Each retractable bar  30  comprises an outer tube  31 , and an inner tube  32  slidably axially inserted into the outer tube  31 . As shown in  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 5 , the outer tube  31  has a bottom end thereof affixed to a luggage (not shown), and an opposing top end thereof affixed to the bottom grip shell  21  of the handle grip  20 . Thus, the inner tube  32  is movable with the handle grip  20  up and down relative to the outer tube  31 . 
     The control unit  40  comprises a press-button  41  and a first teturn device  42 . As illustrated in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 5 , the press-button  41  is mounted in the button slot  23  of the top grip shell  22  of the handle grip  20 . Further, the press-button  41  has two first pushing abutment portions  43  spaced at a bottom side thereof. The first teturn device  42  (for example, compression spring) is mounted between the bottom grip shell  21  and the press-button  41 , and adapted to provide an upward elastic restoring force to the press-button  41 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 5  again, the transmission unit  50  comprises two transmission plates  51 , two bearing blocks  52 , and two connection shafts  53 . The two transmission plates  51  are symmetrically mounted in the bottom grip shell  21  of the handle grip  20  at two opposite sides, each having one end thereof provided with two spaced first bearing portions  54  respectively abutted against the first pushing abutment portions  43  of the press-button  41  of the control unit  40  and an opposite end thereof provided with a second pushing abutment portion  55 . The bearing blocks  52  are respectively fixedly mounted at respective top ends of the inner tubes  32  of the retractable bars  30 , each comprising a second bearing portion  56  abutted against the second pushing abutment portion  55  of the second pushing abutment portion  55  of one respective transmission plate  51 . The connection shafts  53  are respectively inserted into the inner tubes  32  of the retractable bars  30 , each having a top end thereof fixedly connected to a bottom side of one respective bearing block  52 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 3  again, each positioning unit  60  comprises an anchor clamp holder  61 , an anchor clamp  62 , and a second teturn device  63 . The anchor clamp holder  61  comprises a fixed holder frame  64  and a movable holder frame  65 . The fixed holder frame  64  consists of a first frame half  66   a  and a second frame half  66   b . The first frame half  66   a  comprises a mounting hole  661  located in an upper part thereof. The second frame half  66   b  comprises a lower bearing wall  663  located at an upper part thereof. The first frame half  66   a  and the second frame half  66   b  are assembled together by plugging the lower bearing wall  663  into the mounting hole  661 . Further, the first frame half  66   a  and the second frame half  66   b  are affixed to a bottom end of the inner tube  32  of one respective retractable bar  30  with a plug pin  67  that is inserted into the lower bearing wall  663  of the second frame half  66   b  (see  FIG. 7 ). Further, the two frame halves  66   a ; 66   b  each have a first locating hole  665  located in a lower part thereof and a second locating hole  667  spaced below the first locating hole  665 . The movable holder frame  65  comprises an opening  651  located in an upper part thereof, and an upper bearing wall  652  located in the opening  651 . The lower bearing wall  663  of the second frame half  66   b  is inserted through the opening  651  so that the movable holder frame  65  is kept between the first and second frame halves  66   a ; 66   b  of the fixed holder frame  64 . The movable holder frame  65  further comprises opposing first lateral hole  653  and second lateral hole  654  located in a lower part thereof, a first longitudinal sliding slot  655  spaced between the first lateral hole  653  and the second lateral hole  654 , a third lateral hole  656  spaced below the first lateral hole  653 , a fourth lateral hole  657  spaced below the second lateral hole  654 , and a second longitudinal sliding slot  658  spaced between the third lateral hole  656  and the fourth lateral hole  657 . 
     The anchor clamp  62  comprises a first clamping arm  68 . The first clamping arm  68  comprises a first transverse guide hole  682  extended through two opposite lateral sides of one end thereof, and a first pivot hole  684  disposed adjacent to the first transverse guide hole  682 . The first clamping arm  68  is pivotally connected to a bottom end of the movable holder frame  65  with a first pivot bolt  70 . The first pivot bolt  70  is inserted through the first lateral hole  653  of the movable holder frame  65  and the first transverse guide hole  682  of the first clamping arm  68 . The anchor clamp  62  further comprises a second clamping arm  69 . The second clamping arm  69  comprises a second transverse guide hole  692  extended through two opposite lateral sides of one end thereof, and a second pivot hole  694  disposed adjacent to the second transverse guide hole  692 . The second clamping arm  69  is pivotally connected to the bottom end of the movable holder frame  65  with a second pivot bolt  71 . The second pivot bolt  71  is inserted through the second lateral hole  654  of the movable holder frame  65  and the second transverse guide hole  692  of the second clamping arm  69 . Further, the first clamping arm  68  and the second clamping arm  69  are pivotally connected together by a first pivot pin  72 . The first pivot pin  72  is inserted through the first locating hole  665  of the fixed holder frame  64 , the first pivot hole  684  of the first clamping arm  68 , the second pivot hole  694  of the second clamping arm  69  and the first longitudinal sliding slot  655  of the movable holder frame  65 . The anchor clamp  62  further comprises a first friction member  73  and a second friction member  74 . The first friction member  73  is mounted at an opposite end of the first clamping arm  68 . The second friction member  74  is mounted at an opposite end of the second clamping arm  69 . The second teturn device  63  (for example, compression spring) is mounted in the opening  651  of the movable holder frame  65  and stopped between the lower bearing wall  663  of the fixed holder frame  64  and the upper bearing wall  652  of the movable holder frame  65  to impart an upward pressure to the movable holder frame  65 . 
     Each positioning unit  60  further comprises two first torsion springs  75 . The first torsion springs  75  are respectively mounted on two opposite ends of the first pivot pin  72  and respectively accommodated in a first spring groove  686  in the first clamping arm  68  and a second spring groove  696  in the second clamping arm  69 . The first spring groove  686  extends around the first pivot hole  684 . The second spring groove  696  extends around the second pivot hole  694 . Thus, the first torsion springs  75  can simultaneously impart an outward elastic restoring force to the first and second clamping arm  68 ; 69 . 
     Each positioning unit  60  further comprises a supplementary anchor clamp  80 . The supplementary anchor clamp  80  comprises a third clamping arm  81 , a third friction member  77 , a fourth clamping arm  82 , and a fourth friction member  78 . The third clamping arm  81  has a third pivot hole  812  extended through two opposite lateral sides of one end thereof. The third friction member  77  is mounted at an opposite end of the third clamping arm  81 . The fourth clamping arm  82  has a fourth pivot hole  822  extended through two opposite lateral sides of one end thereof. The fourth friction member  78  is mounted at an opposite end of the fourth clamping arm  82 . The third clamping arm  81  and the fourth clamping arm  82  are pivotally connected to the bottom end of the movable holder frame  65  by a second pivot pin  79 . The second pivot pin  79  is inserted through the second locating hole  667  of the fixed holder frame  64 , the third pivot hole  812  of the third clamping arm  81 , the fourth pivot hole  822  of the fourth clamping arm  82  and the second longitudinal sliding slot  658  of the movable holder frame  65 . Each positioning unit  60  further comprises a third pivot bolt  83 , a fourth pivot bolt  84 , and two second torsion springs  76 . The third pivot bolt  83  is inserted into the third lateral hole  656  of the movable holder frame  65  and stopped at the outer perimeter of the third clamping arm  81 . The fourth pivot bolt  84  is inserted into the fourth lateral hole  657  of the movable holder frame  65  and stopped at the outer perimeter of the fourth clamping arm  82 . The two second torsion springs  76  are respectively mounted on two opposite ends of the second pivot pin  79  and respectively accommodated in a third spring groove  814  in the third clamping arm  81  and a fourth spring groove  824  in the fourth clamping arm  82 . The third spring groove  814  extends around the third pivot hole  812 . The fourth spring groove  824  extends around the fourth pivot hole  822 . Thus, the second torsion springs  76  can simultaneously impart an outward elastic restoring force to the third and fourth clamping arm  81 ; 82 . 
     Thus, when going to adjust the height of the retractable bars  30 , press on the press-button  41 , as illustrated in  FIG. 6 . At this time, the first pushing abutment portion  43  of the press-button  41  is forced to push the first bearing portions  54  of the transmission plates  51 , moving the transmission plates  51  transversely in two reversed directions away from the press-button  41 . During transverse movement of the transmission plates  51 , the second pushing abutment portions  55  of the transmission plates  51  will be forced to push the second bearing portions  56  of the respective bearing blocks  52 , moving the bearing blocks  52  and the respective connection shafts  53  downwards. During downward movement of the connection shafts  53 , the connected movable holder frames  65  are lowered with the respective connection shafts  53 , as shown in  FIG. 8 . When the movable holder frames  65  are being lowered, the first and second pivot bolts  70 ; 71  are respectively forced to downwardly move the hole wall of the first transverse guide hole  682  of the first clamping arm  68  and the hole wall of the second transverse guide hole  692  of the second clamping arm  69 , causing the first and second clamping arms  68 ; 69  of the anchor clamp  62  of each positioning unit  60  to turn about the associating first pivot pin  72 . At this time, the first and second friction members  73 ; 74  of the anchor clamp  62  of each positioning unit  60  are moved away from the inside wall of the outer tube  31  of the associating retractable bar  30 . On the other hand, during downward movement of the movable holder frames  65 , the respective third and fourth pivot bolts  83 ; 84  are forced to downwardly move the respective third clamping arms  81  and the respective fourth clamping arms  82 , causing the third and fourth clamping arms  81 ; 82  of the supplementary anchor clamp  80  to inwardly turn about the pivot pin  79 , as shown in  FIG. 8 . At this time, the third and fourth friction members  77 ; 78  are moved away from the inside wall of the outer tube  31  of the associating retractable bar  30 . Thus, as shown in  FIG. 9 , the user can pull the handle grip  20  to move the inner tubes  32  of the retractable bars  30  relative to the respective outer tubes  31 , thereby adjusting the retractable bars  30  to the desired height. 
     After the retractable bars  30  are adjusted to the desired height, release the pressure from the press-button  41 , allowing the press-button  41  to be returned to its former position by the elastic restoring force of the first teturn device  42 , as shown in  FIG. 5 . After the press-button  41  returned to its former position, the transmission plates  51  are released from the pressure of the press-button  41 . At this time, the movable holder frames  65  are moved upwards by the respective second teturn devices  63 . During upward movement of the movable holder frames  65 , the connection shafts  53  are carried upwards by the respective movable holder frames  65 . During upward movement of the connection shafts  53 , the respective bearing blocks  52  are forced to move the respective transmission plates  51 , thereby returning the respective transmission plates  51  to their former position. Further, during upward movement of the movable holder frames  65 , the respective first and second pivot bolts  70 ; 71  are released from the respective first and second clamping arms  68 ; 69 , allowing the respective first and second clamping arms  68 ; 69  to be respectively forced outwards by the respective first torsion springs  75  to abut the respective first and second friction members  73 ; 74  against the inside walls of the outer tubes  31  of the respective retractable bars  30 . At the same time, the respective third and fourth pivot bolts  83 ; 84  are released from the associating third and fourth clamping arms  81 ; 82 , allowing the respective third and fourth clamping arms  81 ; 82  to be respectively forced outwards by the respective second torsion springs  76  to abut the respective third and fourth friction members  77 ; 78  against the inside walls of the outer tubes  31  of the respective retractable bars  30 , as shown in  FIG. 7 , thereby locking the inner tubes  32  to the respective outer tubes  31 . 
     It is to be noted that the supplementary anchor clamps  80  can be eliminated from the positioning units  60  according to actual requirements. In this case, as illustrated in  FIG. 10 , the second pivot pins  79 , the third pivot bolts  83  and the fourth pivot bolts  84  can be eliminated from the positioning units  60  and, the third lateral hole  656 , the fourth lateral hole  657  and the second longitudinal sliding slot  658  can be eliminated from each movable holder frame  65 . The simplified positioning units  60  can still effectively let the inner tubes  32  of the retractable bars  30  be conveniently adjusted to the desired height in a stepless manner and then locked in the adjusted position. 
     In conclusion, the stepless retractable handle assembly  10  of the present invention is quite convenient in operation. The most important is the ability to meet the needs of different users for adjustment to any desired height without structural limitations, achieving the purpose of increasing user comfort.