Patent ID: 6948601

Claim:
An apparatus for an ergonomic handle with a wheeled piece of luggage in combination, comprising: a) a wheeled piece of luggage to which the apparatus is attached, said luggage having a lower wheeled end and an upper end, said upper end having a docking recess therein and a pair of parallel channels therein, wherein the apparatus is attached to said upper end; b) a pair of parallel retractable shafts disposed on said upper end of said luggage, said shafts each having a first and second opposing end, wherein one of each pair of said retractable shafts are disposed in one of each pair of said parallel channels to permit said first end of said shafts to be extended from said channels while said second end of said shafts remain securely disposed internal said channels; c) a handle device being connected to each of said first ends of said shafts whereby the handle device is 360 degrees rotatable axially and 90 degrees pivotal from the axial direction with respect to said retractable shafts; and, d) wherein said handle device is docked in said docking recess when said first end of said shafts are retracted into said channels to permit the handle device to be stored in the docking recess of the piece of luggage, wherein said handle device i) a handle frame having first and second opposing ends, wherein said first end is connected to a first member of said pair of retractable shafts and said second end is connected to a second member of said pair of retractable shafts, said handle frame having a top side oriented away from said piece of luggage and a bottom side oriented toward said piece of luggage; ii) a handle disposed intermediate said first and second ends of said handle frame, said handle having a top side and a bottom side; and, iii) means for connecting said handle to said handle frame whereby said handle is 360 degrees rotatable axially and 90 degrees pivotal from the axial direction with respect to said pair of retractable shafts, said means for connecting said handle to said handle frame comprises a ball joint assembly housing disposed on said handle frame intermediate said first and second ends thereof said housing having a pivot channel therein; and a ball joint assembly disposed internal said ball joint assembly housing to permit the handle to be 360 degree axially rotatable and 90 degree pivotal with respect to the pair of retractable shafts, said ball joint assembly comprising a ball and a joint, wherein said handle frame is offset intermediate said first and second ends thereof toward said bottom side thereof a distance effective to permit said top of said handle to be substantially level with said top of said handle frame and said handle is ergonomically shaped to permit the handle to be held safely by a user.