Combination carrying handle and retractable handle

Abstract

A combination carrying handle and retractable handle of luggage is provided wherein the carrying handle is provided on the top center while retractable handle is provided within the compartments. This eliminates protruding tubes of prior art retractable handle system, resulting in an aesthetic design. Further, the combination is capable of being either upright to serve as carrying handle/retractable handle when in use or laid down on either side for saving space in storage.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to luggage and more particularly to a combination carrying handle and retractable handle of attache case.

[0003] 2. Description of Related Art

[0004] Attache cases have been popular among travelers in recent years. Conventionally, a carrying handle is provided on the top center while a retractable handle is provided on the rear. Such dual handle provision is not aesthetic. Also, retractable handle is redundant and even formed as obstruction when user carries the carrying handle to walk. Thus improvement is needed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] It is an object of the present invention to provide a combination carrying handle and retractable handle of luggage wherein the combination is upright to serve as carrying handle/retractable handle or laid down on either side for saving space in storage.

[0006] It is another object of the present invention to provide a combination carrying handle and retractable handle of luggage wherein carrying handle is provided on the top center while retractable handle is provided within the compartments. This eliminates protruding tubes of prior art retractable handle system, resulting in an aesthetic design.

[0007] To achieve the above and other objects, the present invention provides a luggage comprising a main body, two sets of wheels, a handle consisting of an upper bar and a lower bar, a pair of buttons on two sides of the handle respectively, a bezel for supporting the handle on the top of luggage, a hinge hinged between two ends of handle and two sides bezel, respectively for effecting the upright or lying position of handle, a pair of sliding tubes coupled to the hinge, a pair of support tubes with the sliding tubes slidable therein, a pair of locking devices on the lower ends of the sliding tubes, and a pair of connecting devices having upper ends secured to the buttons of the handle and lower ends passed through hinge and the sliding tubes to secure to the locking devices wherein the buttons are depressible for effecting the extension or extraction of the handle, thereby enabling a carrying or towing of the luggage.

[0008] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of combination carrying handle and retractable handle mounted on luggage according to the invention;

[0010] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the FIG. 1 combination carrying handle and retractable handle;

[0011] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the assembled FIG. 2 combination carrying handle and retractable handle;

[0012] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of combination carrying handle and retractable handle according to the invention;

[0013] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the assembled FIG. 2 combination carrying handle and retractable handle wherein the combination is upright;

[0014] FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 wherein the combination is laid down;

[0015] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the combination of the first preferred embodiment capable of being laid down on either side of luggage;

[0016] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the combination of second preferred embodiment laid down on luggage;

[0017] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the handle system of the invention;

[0018] FIG. 10 is another cross-sectional view of FIG. 9;

[0019] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the invention wherein button is depressed; and

[0020] FIG. 12 is top schematic view showing the interior features with upper bar removed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0021] Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a combination carrying handle and retractable handle mounted on a luggage in accordance with the invention wherein carrying handle is provided on the top center while retractable handle is provided within luggage. This eliminates protruding tubes of prior art retractable handle system, resulting in an aesthetic design.

[0022] Referring to FIGS. 2, 9 and 11, the handle assembly comprises a handle 10 consisting of an upper bar 10a and a lower bar 10b, a bezel 20 for supporting the handle 10 on the luggage, a hinge 30 hinged between two ends of handle 10 for effecting the upright or lying position of handle 10, a pair of sliding tubes 40 coupled to the hinge 30, a pair of support tubes 50 with the sliding tubes 40 slidable therein, a pair of locking devices 60 on the lower ends of the sliding tubes 40, and a pair of connecting devices 70. Upper bar 10a is generally oval shape comprising a center hole 101 (see FIG. 11), a through hole 102 on either side, a slot 103 on either side, and a first pivot member 104 on either side having a first through aperture 105a. Lower bar 10b is a mating member of upper bar 10a. Lower bar 10b comprises a center pin 106 having a gear 12 put on, a hole 107 on either side, a protruded arcuate groove 108 on either side, a pair of blocks 108b having groove 108 sandwiched therebetween on either side, and a second downward extended pivot member 109 on either side having a second through aperture 105b. Button 11 is provided on slot 103 of upper bar 10a being engaged with groove 108 of lower bar 10b (see FIGS. 2 and 11). Button 11 comprises an actuation member 110 shaped as cutout part of upper bar 10a, an opening 111, an extension 112 on the internal end, a toothed member 113 on the extension 112 engaged with the gear 12 such that one button 11 and one connecting device 70 on the same side is capable of being actuated by the actuation of the other button 11 on the other side, and a recess 114 on a slope connected between opening 111 and actuation member 110.

[0023] Connecting device 70 comprises a cable section 71, a first engagement member 72, a second engagement member 73, and a connecting cable 74. Preferably, cable section 71 and connecting cable 74 are made of steel. Upper enlargement 711 is secured to the recess 114 of button 11, while lower enlargement 712 is secured to the recess 7211 of first engagement member 72. First engagement member 72 and second engagement member 73 are pivotably engaged. First engagement member 72 comprises a thin body 721 having a recess 7211 and a slit 7212 such that lower enlargement 712 is secured to the recess 7211 through a slit 7212 and a half-circular lower connecting member 722 having an enlogate hole 7221 and a horizontally extending arcuate flange 7222 on the bottom. Second engagement member 73 comprises a top vertical member 731 having a hook 7311 on the end engaged with flange 7222 and a lower body 732 having an elongate hole 7321, an aperture 7322, and a recess 7323. Connecting cable 74 comprises a top hook 741 inserted into aperture 7322 of lower body 732 of second engagement member 73 to engage with recess 7323 such that connecting cable 74 may not contact with the inner wall of sliding tube 40 during operation and a bottom hook 742 secured to the top of locking device 60 for either unlocking the locking device 60 when locking device 60 is pulled by connecting cable 74 or locking the locking device 60 when locking device 60 is not pulled by connecting cable 74. Note that locking device 60 is prior art, thus omitting its detailed description for the sake of brevity.

[0024] The assembly and operation of the invention will now be described. Button 11 is located on the arcuate portion of handle 10. User may use thumb to press button 11 and other four fingers to hold handle 10 such that button 11 may move inward as indicated by arrow A (FIG. 11). At the same time, second button 11 is moved inward a small distance as well. Then upper enlargement 711 of cable section 71 secured in recess 114 of button 11 is pulled which in turn causes first engagement member 72 to move upward by lower enlargement 712 of cable section 71. At the same time, second engagement member 73 is moved upward. As a result, locking device 60 is pulled by connecting cable 74 thus unlocking the locking device 60 (FIG. 11). At this state, user may pull the sliding tubes 40 up to a desired position and lock the handle assembly. This is an operating position of luggage. To the contrary, press button 11 again to unlock the lock pin 61 of locking device 60. At this state, user may push sliding tubes 40 down to a lowest position and lock the handle assembly again (not further shown).

[0025] Referring to FIG. 4, there is shown a second embodiment of hinge 30. Correspondingly, an elongate recessed portion 21A is provided on bezel 20A for receiving the body 300 of hinge 30. This design can enhance the structural strength of larger luggage.

[0026] One characteristics of the invention is that the combination is capable of being upright to serve as carrying handle or retractable handle or laid down on either side for saving space in storage. For achieving above purpose, first pivot members 104 of upper bar 10a and second pivot members 109 of lower bar 10b are formed as arc corner (FIGS. 2-4 and 7). In another configuration as shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 8, both first pivot member 104 and second pivot member 109 comprise an arc corners 104a, 109a and an about 90-degree corners 104b, 109b such that handle 10 is only allowed to lay down on one side.

[0027] Referring to FIGS. 2, 9 and 11 again, hinge 30 comprises an upper body and a lower hollow body, the upper body has an upper hole 31 and the lower hollow body has a vertical aperture 32. A rivet 75 is used to secure the through aperture 105a of upper bar 10a, upper hole 31 of hinge 30, elongate hole 7221 of first engagement member 72, and through aperture 105b of lower bar 10b together so as to rotatably fix the hinge 30 and the first engagement member 72 between the first and second pivot members 104 and 109 of upper bar 10a and lower bar 10b. As such rivet 75 is served as pivot pin. Further, a bolt 76 is driven through a side aperture 33 of the lower hollow body of hinge 30, the lower body 732 of second engagement member 73, elongate aperture 7321, and top hole 41 of sliding tube 40 for securing them together. This may enhances the pivotable movement of handle 10 (i.e., upright or laid down on either side). Also, first engagement member 72 is thus vertically movable between hinge 30 and through aperture 105b of lower bar 10b. Likewise, the vertically movable first engagement member 72 causes second engagement member 73 to freely move in the vertical aperture 32 of lower body. As stated above, first engagement member 72 and second engagement member 73 are pivotably engaged. As such, handle 10 can be laid down on either side for saving space while packed for storage.

[0028] In brief, the handle of the invention is a combination of carrying handle and retractable handle. That is, user may carry the handle or tow the handle along the ground when in use. Alternatively, user may lay down the handle on either side for saving storage space when not in use.

[0029] While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention set forth in the claims.

Claims

1. A luggage comprising:

a main body;

two sets of wheels;

a handle including of an upper bar and a mating lower bar;

a pair of buttons on two sides of the handle respectively;

a bezel for supporting the handle on the top of body;

a pair of hinges hinged between two lower ends of the handle and two sides of the bezel, respectively for effecting the upright or the lying position of the handle;

a pair of sliding tubes coupled to the hinge;

a pair of support tubes with the sliding tubes slidable therein;

a pair of locking devices on the lower ends of the sliding tubes; and

a pair of connecting devices having upper ends secured to the buttons of the handle and lower ends passed through the hinge and the sliding tubes to secure to the locking devices,

wherein the buttons are depressible to either cause the connecting devices to move up to unlock the locking devices such that the sliding tubes is operable to pull up to an extended while locked position, thereby enabling the handle to serve as retractable handle, or unlock the locking devices for pushing the sliding tubes down to a lowest while locked position, thereby enabling the handle to serve as carrying handle which is capable of being either upright or laid down on both sides of the luggage.

2. The luggage of claim 1, wherein the handle is provided on the top center of the luggage.

3. The luggage of claim 1, wherein the connecting device comprises a first connecting cable made of steel including an upper enlargement secured to a recess of the button and a lower enlargement, a first engagement member including a thin body having a recess and a slit such that the lower enlargement of the first connecting cable is secured to the recess of the first engagement member through the slit and a half circular lower connecting member having an elongate hole and a horizontally extending arcuate flange on the bottom, a second engagement member including a top vertical member having a top end hook engaged with the flange of the first engagement member and a lower body having an elongate hole, an aperture, and a recess, and a second connecting cable including a top hook inserted into the aperture of the lower body of the second engagement member to engage with recess of the second engagement member and a bottom hook secured to the top of the locking device for actuating the locking of the locking device.

4. The luggage of claim 1, wherein the handle further comprises a center pin and a gear put on the center pin, the button comprises an extension on the internal end and a toothed member on the extension engaged with the gear such that one button and one connecting device on the same side is capable of being actuated by the actuation of the other button on the other side.

5. The luggage of claim 1, wherein the second engagement member is pivotably engaged with the first engagement member in the hinge.

6. The luggage of claim 3, wherein the first connecting cable is a flexible steel wire and the second connecting cable is a rigid steel rod.