Dynamic ball joint handle system for towable item
A towing handle assembly for a towable item includes a support configured to be coupled to the towable item, a ball pivot joint coupled to the support, and a towing handle mounted to the ball joint and defining a hand grip for towing by a user. The ball pivot joint floats relative to the support in horizontal and vertical directions for a limited range of motion, thereby naturally positioning the hand grip vertically and horizontally to accommodate changing positions of the users hand when towing the towable item.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/659,972 filed Mar. 9, 2005, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates generally to handle systems for hand towable items having wheels attached thereto, and more particularly to dynamic towing handle assemblies selectively positionable in relation to telescoping supports of luggage.
Towing handles and systems are commonly fixed to telescoping supports of towable items such as, by way of example only, luggage and wheeled backpacks, that enable the user to stow the towing handle in a generally protected position within the outer confines of the towable item so that the luggage may be safely lifted, carried and moved, for example, by baggage handlers at an airport or by luggage owners loading and unloading the luggage to and from a vehicle. Alternatively, the towing handle may be to actuated to an extended position allowing the user to tow the luggage by hand behind the user on attached wheels as the user moves about.
In certain types of conventional towing handle systems, the towing handle and associated handle grip is rigidly fixed in relation to a portion of the item being towed, such as towing handles rigidly mounted in a stationary manner to telescoping posts or supports affixed to a luggage item. With such towing handles, users tend to frequently adjust and re-adjust their grasp of the handle grip while maneuvering through crowded spaces, negotiating turns and obstacles, starting and stopping while towing the item, and towing the item at varying speeds. As experienced by the user, such rigid handles tend to rotate relative to the user's hand while maneuvering the towable item, and in response, users tend to adjust their wrist with a twisting or flexing motion to maintain a firm grip on the handle. Frequent adjustment of the user's grasp in towing operation may result in discomfort when towing the item for extended periods.
In other types of conventional handle systems, sometimes referred to herein as dynamic handle systems, the handle grip is movable to different positions relative to one or more portions of the towable item, such as telescoping supports of luggage, to provide more comfort to users towing the item via the handle with the handle located in different towable positions relative to the item being towed. Such handle assemblies, however, tend to include many moving parts and can be difficult to construct in a cost effective and reliable manner to ensure proper operation thereof over the lifetime of the towable item. Additionally, certain dynamic handle systems can be difficult for new or infrequent users to operate, and require mechanical locking and unlocking of the components that can be confusing to some users.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIONIn an exemplary embodiment, a towing handle assembly for a towable item is provided. The towing handle assembly comprises a support configured to be coupled to the towable item, a ball pivot joint coupled to the support, and a towing handle mounted to the ball joint and defining a hand grip for towing by a user. The ball pivot joint floats relative to the support in at least one of a horizontal direction and a vertical direction, thereby naturally positioning the hand grip vertically and horizontally to accommodate changing positions of the users hand when towing the towable item.
Optionally, a socket assembly may be provided, and the socket assembly may be configured to limit movement of the ball pivot joint in at least one of the vertical and horizontal directions. The socket may comprise a shaped neck preventing float of the handle relative to the support beyond a predetermined amount. One of the socket and the ball pivot joint may include a projection and the other of the socket and the ball pivot joint may include a recessed area receiving the projection, and the projection and the recess may cooperatively prevent float of the handle beyond a predetermined amount in at least one the vertical and horizontal directions. The support may be curved along a longitudinal axis thereof.
In another embodiment, a towing handle assembly for a towable piece of luggage having a body adapted to roll along a surface is provided. The towing handle assembly comprises a telescoping support configured to be coupled to the body of the luggage, the support having a distal end operatively coupled to the body and a proximal end opposite the distal end, and the support being selectively postionable relative to the body between extended and retracted positions. A socket is fixedly mounted to the distal end of the telescoping support, and a ball pivot joint is received in the socket and configured to float relative to the support about first and second mutually perpendicular axes. A towing handle is fixed to the ball pivot joint and defines a hand grip for towing the body along the surface via pulling of the towing handle by a user, wherein the ball pivot joint naturally adjusts the hand grip relative the users hand when pulling the towing handle despite varying towing maneuvers and towing conditions. The ball pivot joint adjusts position of the hand grip without any actuation of the towing handle by the user other than pulling the towing handle.
In another embodiment, a towable piece of luggage is provided. The luggage comprises a body defining a compartment to store personal effects of a traveler for transport, and the body comprises a wheel for rolling the body along a surface without lifting of the body from the ground. A telescoping support is coupled to the body, and the support has a distal end operatively coupled to the body and a proximal end opposite the distal end. The support is selectively postionable relative to the body between extended and retracted positions relative to the body, and a socket is fixedly mounted to the distal end of the telescoping support. A ball pivot joint is received in the socket and is configured to float relative to the support, and a towing handle is fixed to the ball pivot joint and defines a hand grip for towing the body along the surface via pulling of the towing handle by a user, wherein the ball pivot joint naturally floats in position relative to the socket to avoid relative rotation of the handle with respect to the user's hand as the handle is being pulled and as the position of the user's hand is changed.
In still another embodiment, a towable piece of luggage is provided. The luggage comprises a body defining a compartment to store personal effects of a traveler for transport, the body comprising a wheel for rolling the body along a surface. A telescoping support is coupled to the body, the support having a distal end operatively coupled to the body and a proximal end opposite the distal end, and the support being selectively positionable relative to the body between extended and retracted positions relative to the body. A socket is fixedly mounted to the distal end of the telescoping support, and a ball pivot joint is received in the socket and configured to float relative to the socket. A towing handle is fixed to the ball pivot joint and defines a hand grip for towing the body along the surface via pulling of the towing handle by a user, wherein the ball pivot joint naturally floats in position relative to the socket to move the handle in horizontal and vertical directions. The ball pivot joint is movable relative to the socket with sliding engagement for a limited range of motion in each of the horizontal and vertical directions without locking of the handle in any one position
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In an exemplary embodiment, the handle assembly 102 includes a base support 108 (shown in phantom in
When in the retracted position (
A towing handle 126 is mounted to the distal end 122 of the telescoping 112, and a ball pivot joint 128 (
In one embodiment, the supports 108 and 112 define a single post support structure for the handle 126, sometimes referred to as a monopole support structure. It is understood, however, that parallel post support structures known in the art could likewise be utilized in alternative embodiments as desired to support the handle 126. In a parallel post support structure embodiment, the handle 126 may be carried on a cross bar or other joining structure between the parallel posts. The supports 108 and 112 may be fabricated from known materials, such as aluminum, according to known techniques.
In the extended position,
In the towing position, however, the body 104 is inclined with respect to the rolling surface 150 and is freely movable in the direction of arrow A parallel to the plane of the rolling surface 150 where the wheels 106 engage the surface 150. The telescoping support 112 is located closer to the rolling surface 150 than in the upright position, and the handle 126 is located a much greater horizontal distance, measured parallel to the plane of the rolling surface 150 in the direction of arrow A, from the body 104 than when in the upright position. The greater horizontal distance and separation from the body 104 in the towing position provides for ease of towing the body 104 in the direction of arrow A along the surface 150 without significant risk of the body 104 interfering with the user's feet when walking in the direction of arrow A and towing the body 104 via the handle 126.
Further, in the towing position, the handle 126, via the ball pivot joint 128, is movable relative to the support 112 and the rolling surface 150 in the direction of arrow B at the distal end 122 of the support 112. That is, the handle 126 is movable in the direction of arrow B about an axis parallel to the axis of the wheels 106 or, alternatively in the direction of arrow B about an axis normal to the longitudinal axis 152 of the support 112. As depicted in
Additionally, and in the manner explained below, the ball pivot joint 128 permits the handle to be movable in the direction of arrow C about the longitudinal axis 152 of the telescoping support 112. That is, the handle 126 is pivotable about an axis parallel to, and in exemplary embodiment coincident with, the longitudinal axis 152 of the support 112 to position the handle 126 in a horizontal plane extending parallel to the plane of the rolling surface 150. Thus, the handle 126 is movable about two different and generally perpendicular axes of motion, as indicated by the arrows B and C, and may be moved simultaneously about each of the respective axes within a predetermined range of motion as the handle 126 is gripped and the body 104 is towed along the surface 150. Because the handle 126 floats with a limited degree of freedom about each of the two axes of movement indicated by the arrows B and C, the handle 126 may naturally float relative to the support 112 to an optimal position during towing operation and maintain a consistent orientation with respect to the user's hand, thereby avoiding discomfort and inconvenience associated with a user having to frequently adjust a position of the hand relative to the handle 126 when towing the body 104.
In an exemplary embodiment, the handle 126 includes a stem 162 coupled in a stationary manner to the ball pivot joint 128, and an asymmetrical shaped handle grip 164 extending from the stem 162. The handle grip 164 generally includes a top surface 166 having generally flat end 168 and a rounded trailing end 170 each extending laterally outwardly from the stem 162. Curved finger grips 172, 174 extend opposite the flat end 168 of the top surface 166 and the trailing end 170 of the top surface 166. In use, a user may grasp the handle 126 with the palm of the hand facing the upper surface 166 and the thumb generally on the trailing end 170, with the user's fingers wrapped around the handle 126 and engaging the finger grips 172, 174. When gripped in such a manner, the asymmetric shaped of the handle 126 is believed to provide a natural and comfortable towing orientation.
While one exemplary shape and configuration of the towing handle 126 has been described and illustrated, it is understood that various shapes and configurations of towing handles may likewise be used in alternative embodiments.
The horizontal and vertical float of the handle 126 shown in
Notably, the floating handle 126 does not require conscious actuation of locking or unlocking mechanisms by the user that some known dynamic towing handle assemblies require. In other words, the floating and positioning of the handle 126 relative to the support 112, and also with respect to the body 104 and the rolling surface 150 (
As also shown in
In the illustrated embodiment, the support portion 194 is generally non-circular and complementary in shaped to the support 112, the ball portion 192 is generally spherical, and the transition portion 196 bridges the two very different shapes of the support portion 194 and the ball portion 192. It is understood, however, that the particular shapes of the different portions of the socket 160 described and illustrated herein are exemplary only, and other shapes may likewise be used in alternative embodiments.
As seen in
The ball portion 192 of each socket section 210 defines a generally spherically shaped recess or cavity 214 that receives the outer surface of the ball 200 of the ball joint pivot 128. The ball portion 192 of each socket section 210 also defines a shaped neck or collar portion 216 at an upper edge thereof that forms a stop surface for movement of the ball 200 beyond a predetermined amount dependent upon that shape of the neck 216.
A cylindrical neck 218 is formed integrally with the ball 200 at the upper portion thereof, and a connecting shaft 220 extends upwardly from the ball neck 218 for coupling of the handle stem 162 (
Likewise, the socket neck 216 is shaped to define a stop surface that prohibits movement of the ball neck 218 (
Once the socket sections 210, the ball joint pivot 128, and the socket ring 250 are assembled. The support portions 194 of the socket sections 210 may be received in and joined to the distal end 122 of the support 112. The exposed handle stem 162 may then be joined or secured to the handle grip 164. A handle cover 252 may be separately fabricated and coupled to the handle grip 164, and the handle cover may define the flat end 168 and the trailing end 170 of the handle upper surface 166. The release button 180 is received in an opening 254 in the trailing end of the cover 270.
When the pin 272 is moved in the direction of arrow D as shown in
The above described ball and socket type joint coupling the handle 126 to the telescoping support 112 allows the handle 126 to be adjusted to comfortable towing positions for user's of varying height, and provides flexibility in the position of the user's hand while towing the wheeled device. The handle 126 may be gripped in a left or right-handed mode of use, and the amount of float in the handle position may be damped and limited for an optimum range of uses. The float allows for the handle 126 to rotate back, toward the user, so that the handle 126 in parallel to the ground when the wheeled item is being towed, facilitating an in line palm facing body hand position when in use. This offers significant ergonomic benefits, as well as greatly improved control, to the user. The ball and socket type joint system simplifies the construction and function of the handle, and allows for a greater level of flexibility and comfort than known dynamic towing handle systems.
The shape of the socket section of the joint, as well as the shape of the ball section of the joint may be designed in such a way as to limit the rotation in all directions to an optimum range for the specific application. The limiting effect of the joint can be modified to allow for more or less float and rotation, depending on the particular application. The limiting shape of the socket is designed to prevent unwanted rotation or to limit unnecessary float in the system. It is recognized that varying proportions of the ball outer surface and socket inner surface could be utilized with similar effect to provide float in the handle assembly. That is, only a portion of the ball joint pivot need have a generally spherical or ball-shaped outer surface that slidably engages a portion of the socket inner surface to provide the float and limited freedom of movement discussed above, as opposed to the illustrative embodiment wherein substantially an entire ball is utilized to effect the desired motion and achieve the advantages of the invention.
The grip assembly structure may incorporate, but is not limited by, the following features and aspects: (1) a push-button mechanism to lock and unlock the pull telescoping supports, (2) resistance elements and mechanisms (not shown) to dampen the rotation of the top section and enhance the users ability to regulate motion, (3) a wider flanged area on the top section to reduce the possibility of the users hand sliding off of the grip in the event of obstacle or disruption, and (4) stops engineering into the swivel mechanism (i.e., the ball joint pivot and socket) to limit the range of rotation of the handle.
While the invention has been described in terms of various specific embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the claims.
Claims
1. A towing handle assembly for a towable item, the towing handle assembly comprising:
- a support configured to be coupled to the towable item;
- a ball pivot joint coupled to the support; and
- a towing handle mounted to the ball joint and defining a hand grip for towing by a user, wherein the ball pivot joint floats relative to the support in at lest one of a horizontal direction and a vertical direction, thereby naturally positioning the hand grip vertically and horizontally to accommodate changing positions of the users hand when towing the towable item.
2. A towing handle assembly in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a socket assembly coupled to the support and receiving the ball joint.
3. A towing handle assembly in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a socket assembly configured to limit movement of the ball pivot joint in at least one of the vertical and horizontal directions.
4. A towing handle assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein the ball joint comprises at least one peg projecting from an outer surface thereof, the peg preventing float of the handle relative to the support beyond a predetermined amount.
5. A towing handle assembly in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a socket fixed to the support, the ball pivot joint received in the socket, and the socket comprising a shaped neck preventing float of the handle relative to the support beyond a predetermined amount.
6. A towing handle assembly in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a socket fixed to the support, the socket comprising an inner surface receiving the ball pivot joint, said inner surface comprising at least one recess engaging a portion of the ball pivot joint when the ball pivot joint floats in position beyond a predetermined amount, thereby preventing further float of the handle in at least one of the vertical and horizontal directions.
7. A towing handle assembly in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a socket fixed to the support and receiving the ball pivot joint, wherein one of the socket and the ball pivot joint includes a projection and the other of the socket and the ball pivot joint includes a recessed area receiving the projection, and wherein the projection and the recess cooperatively prevent float of the handle beyond a predetermined amount in at least one of the vertical and horizontal directions.
8. A towing handle assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein the support is a telescoping support selectively positionable in an extended position and a retracted position.
9. A towing handle assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein the support is curved along a longitudinal axis thereof.
10. A towing handle assembly in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a release button and a release element, wherein displacement of the button also displaces the release element, and wherein the release element extends through the ball pivot joint.
11. A towing handle assembly for a towable piece of luggage having a body adapted to roll along a surface, the towing handle assembly comprising:
- a telescoping support configured to be coupled to the body of the luggage, the support having a distal end operatively coupled to the body and a proximal end opposite the distal end, and the support being selectively postionable relative to the body between extended and retracted positions;
- a socket fixedly mounted to the distal end of the telescoping support;
- a ball pivot joint received in the socket and configured to float relative to the support about first and second mutually perpendicular axes; and
- a towing handle fixed to the ball pivot joint and defining a hand grip for towing the body along the surface via pulling of the towing handle by a user, wherein the ball pivot joint naturally adjusts the hand grip relative the users hand when pulling the towing handle despite varying towing maneuvers and towing conditions, wherein the ball pivot joint adjusts position of the hand grip without any actuation of the towing handle by the user other than pulling the towing handle.
12. A towing handle assembly in accordance with claim 11, wherein the socket and the ball pivot joint are configured to cooperatively limit floating of the handle about the first and second axes beyond a predetermined degree.
13. A towing handle assembly in accordance with claim 11, wherein the socket is formed in first and second mirror image parts.
14. A towing handle assembly in accordance with claim 11, wherein the ball joint comprises at least one peg projecting from an outer surface thereof, the peg preventing float of the ball pivot joint relative to the socket beyond a predetermined amount.
15. A towing handle assembly in accordance with claim 11, wherein the socket comprises a shaped neck preventing float of the handle relative to the support beyond a predetermined amount.
16. A towing handle assembly in accordance with claim 11, wherein the socket comprises an inner surface receiving the ball pivot joint, said inner surface comprising at least one recess engaging a portion of the ball pivot joint and preventing further float of the ball pivot joint when the ball pivot joint moves relative to the socket beyond a predetermined amount.
17. A towing handle assembly in accordance with claim 11, wherein one of the socket and the ball pivot joint includes a projection and the other of the socket and the ball pivot joint includes a recessed area receiving the projection, and wherein the projection and the recess -cooperatively prevent float of the handle about at least one of the first and second axes beyond a predetermined amount.
18. A towing handle assembly in accordance with claim 11, wherein the support includes an axial length extending between the proximal and distal ends, and the support is curved along its axial length.
19. A towing handle assembly in accordance with claim 11, further comprising a release button and a release element, wherein displacement of the button also displaces the release element, and wherein the release element extends through the ball pivot joint.
20. A towable piece of luggage comprising:
- a body defining a compartment to store personal effects of a traveler for transport, said body comprising a wheel for rolling the body along a surface without lifting of the body from the ground;
- a telescoping support coupled to the body, the support having a distal end operatively coupled to the body and a proximal end opposite the distal end, and the support being selectively postionable relative to the body between extended and retracted positions relative to the body;
- a socket fixedly mounted to the distal end of the telescoping support;
- a ball pivot joint received in the socket and configured to float relative to the support; and
- a towing handle fixed to the ball pivot joint and defining a hand grip for towing the body along the surface via pulling of the towing handle by a user, wherein the ball pivot joint naturally floats in position relative to the socket to avoid relative rotation of the handle with respect to the user's hand as the handle is being pulled and as the position of the user's hand is changed.
21. A towable piece of luggage in accordance with claim 20, wherein the socket and the ball pivot joint are configured to cooperatively limit floating of the handle beyond a predetermined degree.
22. A towable piece of luggage in accordance with claim 20, wherein the socket is formed in first and second mirror image parts.
23. A towable piece of luggage in accordance with claim 20, wherein the ball joint comprises at least one peg projecting from an outer surface thereof, the peg preventing float of the ball pivot joint relative to the socket beyond a predetermined amount.
24. A towable piece of luggage in accordance with claim 20, wherein the socket comprises a shaped neck preventing float of the handle relative to the socket beyond a predetermined amount.
25. A towable piece of luggage in accordance with claim 20, wherein the socket comprises an inner surface receiving the ball pivot joint, said inner surface comprising at least one recess engaging a portion of the ball pivot joint and preventing further float of the ball pivot joint when the ball pivot joint moves relative to the socket beyond a predetermined amount.
26. A towable piece of luggage in accordance with claim 20, wherein one of the socket and the ball pivot joint includes a projection and the other of the socket and the ball pivot joint includes a recessed area receiving the projection, and wherein the projection and the recess cooperatively prevent float of the handle.
27. A towable piece of luggage in accordance with claim 20, wherein the support includes an axial length extending between the proximal and distal ends, and the support is curved along its axial length.
28. A towable piece of luggage in accordance with claim 20, further comprising a release button and a release element coupled to the button, wherein displacement of the button also displaces the release element, and wherein the release element extends through the ball pivot joint.
29. A towable piece of luggage in accordance with claim 20 wherein the handle is asymmetric.
30. A towable piece of luggage in accordance with claim 20, wherein the ball pivot joint naturally floats about first and second mutually perpendicular axes.
31. A towable piece of luggage in accordance with claim 20 wherein the telescoping support comprises a single telescoping support.
32. A towable piece of luggage comprising:
- a body defining a compartment to store personal effects of a traveler for transport, said body comprising a wheel for rolling the body along a surface;
- a telescoping support coupled to the body, the support having a distal end operatively coupled to the body and a proximal end opposite the distal end, and the support being selectively positionable relative to the body between extended and retracted positions relative to the body;
- a socket fixedly mounted to the distal end of the telescoping support;
- a ball pivot joint received in the socket and configured to float relative to the socket; and
- a towing handle fixed to the ball pivot joint and defining a hand grip for towing the body along the surface via pulling of the towing handle by a user, wherein the ball pivot joint naturally floats in position relative to the socket to move the towing handle in horizontal and vertical directions, the ball pivot joint movable relative to the socket with sliding engagement for a limited range of motion in each of the horizontal and vertical directions without locking of the handle in any one position.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 3, 2006
Publication Date: Nov 23, 2006
Inventors: Andrew Burgess (St. Louis, MO), Jason Gifford (St. Louis, MO)
Application Number: 11/346,705
International Classification: A47B 95/02 (20060101); A45C 13/30 (20060101);