Thermally insulated handle systems for wheeled items towable by a person

Abstract

A towing handle system for a wheeled item includes a handle attachable to the wheeled item and having a handle grip portion for a person's hand to tow the item. The handle grip portion is fabricated from a cellular solid thermal insulation material.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/690,632 filed Jun. 15, 2005, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various types of bags, from luggage items to briefcases and backpacks, now include wheels and a towing handle which allow the bags to be pulled or towed along a surface behind a person rather than being carried above the ground by the person. The towing handle is typically located on an end of the bag opposite the wheels, and the bag is pulled along the ground in an inclined position or rolled vertically on casters. Such handles can be very convenient and are now popular.

Typically, the towing handle is mounted to telescoping supports extending alongside a back panel of the bag, and the handle is extendible for towing or retractable into the bag in a generally flush position with an outer contour of the bag. Conventionally, the handles were rigidly mounted to the supports and when the supports were extended, the handle was in a fixed position relative to the supports. It has been found, however, that such handles can become uncomfortable to hold for an extended period of time.

Various types of handle systems have been developed to reduce user fatigue in towing baggage. For example, pivoting or rotatable handles have been employed in an effort provide more comfortable pulling positions. While known handle systems have had varying degrees of success in addressing such issues, none has yet to completely overcome comfortability issues for towing of baggage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

According to an exemplary embodiment, a towing handle system for a wheeled item is provided. The system includes a handle attachable to the wheeled item and comprising a handle grip portion for a person's hand to tow the item. The handle grip portion comprising a cellular solid thermal insulation material.

Optionally, the cellular solid thermal insulation material comprises cork, and more specifically a cork infused rubberized or plasticized material. The towable item may be selected from the group of a luggage item, an equipment carrier, and a golf bag carrier. At least one telescoping support post may be provided, with the handle being attached to the support post. Alternatively, the handle may be fixed to a surface of the wheeled item. Various shapes of the handle may be provided, including a T-shaped handle, a ball shaped handle, and U-shaped handle. A pivot mechanism may be configured to pivot the handle about at least one axis, and the handle may comprise a carrier, with the thermal insulation material overmolded on the carrier.

According to another exemplary embodiment, a wheeled bag is provided. The bag comprises a body defining at least one compartment for storing items therein for transport by a person, at least one wheel coupled to the body, and a towing handle mounted to the body and accessible to a user for towing of the bag by a person along a supporting surface. The towing handle comprises a solid cellular material defining at least a portion of a handle grip.

Optionally, the body may define one of a luggage item, an equipment carrier or a golf bag carrier. The shape of the handle may be selected from the group of an asymmetrical shape, a T-shape, a ball shape and a U shape. The bag may comprise a collapsible side wall.

According to still another embodiment, a baggage system is provided. The system includes a piece of baggage defining at least one storage compartment for storing items packed therein for transport; wheels coupled to the piece of baggage for rolling the baggage along a surface, and a towing handle mounted to the body and extendable therefrom to a towing position. The towing handle comprises an internal carrier element and a external thermal insulation material applied to the internal carrier element. The thermal insulation material comprises a cork infused rubberized material, and the thermal insulation material defines a handle grip for towing of the piece of baggage by a person along the surface.

Optionally, the system may further comprise at least one support post joining the handle to the baggage, and the support post may be curved along its length. The handle may be selectively positionable relative to the bag. The handle may be connected to a telescoping support, and the handle may be positionable relative to the support.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary towable baggage item according to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention with a towing arm in an extended position.

FIG. 2 illustrates the towable baggage item shown in FIG. 1 with the towing arm in a retracted position.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the towing handle shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 formed in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the towing handle shown in FIG. 3 taken along line 4-4.

FIG. 5 is a top view of the handle shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the handle shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a towing handle formed in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of the towing handle of FIG. 7 taken along line 8-8.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a towing handle formed in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 10 is a cross sectional view of the towing handle shown in FIG. 9 taken along line 10-10.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of a towing handle formed in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 12 is a cross sectional view of the towing handle shown in FIG. 11 taken along line 12-12.

FIG. 13 illustrates a fifth embodiment of a towing handle formed in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 14 is a cross sectional view of the towing handle shown in FIG. 13 taken along line 14-14.

FIG. 15 is a side elevational view of sixth embodiment of a towing handle assembly formed in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 16 is a cross sectional view of the towing handle shown in FIG. 15 taken along line 16-16.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a seventh embodiment of a towing handle formed in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a cross sectional view of the towing handle shown in FIG. 17 taken along line 18-18.

FIG. 19 is a side elevational view of an exemplary piece of baggage including the towing handle shown in FIG. 17.

FIG. 20 illustrates an embodiment of an equipment carrier in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 21 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a towable golf bag formed in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 22 is a cross sectional view of the towing handle shown in FIG. 21 taken along line 20-20.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein that overcome notable disadvantages of conventional towing handle systems. In order to fully appreciate the invention, Part I of this disclosure discusses problems and disadvantages of conventional towing handle systems, and Part II of this disclosure discusses exemplary embodiments of the invention overcoming the problems and disadvantages of known handle assemblies.

I. Introduction to the Invention

Traditionally, hand grips for towable luggage handle systems have been made of hard injection molded plastics. In recent years, quality manufacturers have begun the use of Thermo Plastic Rubber (TPR) molded over the hard plastic grip surfaces, giving a softer contact surface for the luggage user's hand. Such TPR materials are not without disadvantages, however.

For example, known TPR materials tend to absorb ambient temperatures and maintain ambient temperatures for some time before acclimating to a new environment. When, for example, luggage is stowed in baggage compartments of aircraft and/or is transported to and from the aircraft via an outdoor location in cold weather, handles fabricated from TPR may become quite cool, or even cold, to the touch. Moreover, the handle grips can stay cold for a lengthy period of time. The cold handles may result in some discomfort for user's when towing the luggage.

Additionally, TPR materials, while being softer than injection molded plastics, nonetheless can transmit vibration to a user's hand as the luggage is being towed. In combination with the above-noted temperature effects of TPR materials, dissatisfaction with the luggage handle system may result.

II. Embodiments of the Invention

To overcome these and other difficulties in the art, items towable by a person may include embodiments of towing handle assemblies having thermal insulation materials provided thereon to avoid noticeable temperature effects in use. With the use of such thermal insulation materials, handle grip portions for the user's hand when towing the bags may more capably resist short-term temperature changes and may therefore provide an enhanced level of comfort in use.

Additionally, the thermal insulation materials utilized in the present invention may provide for vibration dampening, thereby reducing vibration experienced at the user's hand while towing the baggage. Reducing vibration, in part, alleviates user fatigue when towing the baggage for extended distances or for extended time periods. The combination of thermal insulation in the handle and vibration dampening and shock absorbing properties of the handle construction is believed to provide superior towing performance and comfortability for a person towing the bag in relation to known handle assemblies.

The handle may be fabricated into any desired shape or configuration, and may be used with a variety of towable items, including luggage items such as suitcases, backpacks, briefcases, garment bags, and duffel bags. Handles according to the invention may also be utilized with, for example, sports equipment bags and sports equipment carriers, such as golf bag carriers and the like. It is also understood that the towing handle assembly described further below may be used on other types of hand towable items, aside from luggage items or sports equipment bags, for storing or transporting other items without limitation and while achieving substantially the same benefits described hereinbelow. Therefore, the examples described below are provided for purposes of illustration rather than limitation.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary towing member handle system 100 secured to a towable item 102. As illustrated in the Figures, the towable item 102 is a piece of luggage having a body 104 defining a compartment 105 (shown in phantom in FIG. 1) with one or more points of access for receiving personal effects and items of a traveler, such as clothes, shoes, toiletries, gear and accessories etc. that one may need for an outing or trip away from home. The body 104 may be sized and dimensioned appropriately for transport in an aircraft or vehicle, and includes one or more wheels 106 on a lower edge thereof that allow the body to be rolled along a surface when desired. While illustrated as a backpack in FIG. 1, it is understood that the towable item 102 may assume various alternative shapes and styles of luggage items, including but not limited to substantially rectangular general purpose luggage bags or suitcases, briefcases, duffel bags, equipment bags and the like, some examples of which are discussed further below.

The handle system 100 may include an extendible arm or support 110 and a towing handle 112. The arm or support 110 may be positioned in an extended position relative to the backpack 102 and the handle 112 may be positioned at an end of the support arm 110 opposite from the backpack 102. The support arm 110 includes telescoping members positionable between an extended position (FIG. 1) and a retracted position (FIG. 2). FIG. 2 illustrates the support arm 110 in the retracted position and with the towing handle 112 rotated relative to the arm portion such that the hand grip of the towing handle is horizontally oriented.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the towing member handle system 100 may further include a pivot mechanism 114. The towing handle 112 may be rotatable about an axis of A-A of the support arm 110 via the pivot mechanism 114 between a towing position at a first angle relative to the arm portion 110 as shown in FIG. 1 and a stowed position at a second angle relative to the arm portion 110 as shown in FIG. 2, although in other embodiments the handle 112 may be rigidly fixed to the support arm 110 if desired.

In an exemplary embodiment, the arm portion 110 of the preferred embodiment may be a curved, retractable single-pole telescoping member formed by a plurality of slidably engaged tubular sections 116, 118, 120. The tubular sections 116, 118, 120 may have an elliptical or oval cross-section and may be configured to slide one inside the other in a telescoping manner. To reduce wear and provide sufficient strength, the tubular sections 116, 118, 120 are preferably made of steel, aluminum, or other suitable materials. The tubular section 120 having the largest cross-section is fixed to inside of the baggage 102 and the remaining tubular sections 116, 118 telescope therefrom along an arcuate path that defines a center-axis A—A along the length of the arm portion 118. A known locking mechanism including, for example, spring loaded pins, is preferably configured to automatically lock the arm portion 110 in the extended position once the arm portion is fully extended.

Opposite the tubular section 120 that is fixed to the backpack 102, the distal tubular section 116 having the smallest cross-section has an end 122 that remains free to support the towing handle 112. A pair of holes 124 are provided adjacent the free end 122 to secure the towing handle 112 to the arm portion 110 as described below.

As best shown in FIG. 3, the towing handle 112 may be T-shaped. The T-shape of the towing handle 112 may be formed by a stem 130 that preferably extends perpendicularly from a crossbar or hand grip 132 along a center axis B—B of the stem 130. The stem 130 of the towing handle 112 may terminate at a flat, circular bearing surface 134 that is perpendicular to the center axis. A cylindrical through-hole 136 extends along the center axis through the stem 130 and hand grip 132. The bearing surface 134 and the through-hole 136 partly define the pivot mechanism 114 (FIG. 1). One exemplary pivot mechanism is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,651,791, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. Other exemplary pivot mechanisms allowing relative motion of the handle 112 about more than one axis, and locking mechanisms to lockably maintain the handle 112 in more than one position relative to the arm 110, are disclosed in commonly owned and copending U.S. application Ser. No. 10/238,390 filed Sep. 10, 2002, the disclosure of which is also incorporated by reference in its entirety. Alternatively, other pivoting or positioning mechanisms may be employed to provide different pulling or towing positions of the handle 112 relative to the backpack 102.

Although one embodiment of the towing handle 112 is T-shaped as shown in the FIGS. 1-3, the handle 112 may alternatively be fabricated into virtually any desired shape or configuration. As one example, the handle 112 may be used with more than one support arm 110 to interconnect parallel supports and define a gripping surface for a user to tow the backpack 102.

Unlike conventional handle assemblies, the towing handle 112 is fabricated at least in part from materials having greater thermal insulation and thermal resistance properties than TPR materials and conventional plastic materials used to fabricate conventional towing handles. Preferably, the thermal insulation material also has a low density and is lightweight, while being highly resilient and chemically stable and having low permeability to provide a durable handle construction. More specifically, an advantageous thermal insulator material for the handle 112 may be a cellular solid material having low modulus and low thermal conductivity such as, for example, natural cork. Cork, for example, has a geometry of solid cell walls that are generally prismatic with, on average, six lateral faces. The cellular structure of cork provides for thermal resistance to temperature changes, as well as vibration dampening. While cork is one example of a cellular solid material having such properties desirable for construction of the handle 112, it is recognized that other cellular solid materials may also provide similar properties and be beneficial in other embodiments of the present invention.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the handle 112 and more particularly the handle grip portion 132, may be fabricated from a molded cork-infused rubberized or plasticized material 140 to provide comfort and insulation from dramatic temperature changes commonly encountered during air travel. The natural cork material provides a pleasing contact surface, but also offers performance characteristics superior to traditional material applications, including thermal insulation properties and vibration dampening properties. The rubberized cork material 140 also provides for resilience and durability of the handle grip.

More particularly, ground cork may be combined with a binding material in a known manner to provide the rubberized cork material 140 and the rubberized cork material 142 may be overmolded on an internal carrier part 142 (as shown in FIG. 4) to serve as an ergonomic contact surface for the user's hand. The relative amounts of cork and binding material in the material 140, and the thickness of the material 140 applied to the carrier part 142, may be appropriately selected to provide an optimum amount of thermal insulation and vibration dampening for the handle 112 in use In other embodiments, the material 140 may be applied to the carrier part 142 by other known techniques in lieu of overmolding processes, or alternatively the entire handle 112 may be fabricated from the material 140 without utilizing an internal carrier part.

In an exemplary embodiment, the binder material used to fabricate the material 140 may comprise, for example, a resinous plastic such as polypropylene, and a catalyst may be used to produce a rubbery thermoplastic elastomer in a known manner. A cellular solid material, such as cork, may then be mixed with the thermoplastic elastomer and molded into an appropriate shape over the carrier 142. While polypropylene is believed to be particularly appropriate for the invention, it is understood that other binding materials may likewise be employed.

The internal carrier 142 may be fabricated from known materials, such as known injection molded plastic materials and the like providing structural strength and rigidity in a lightweight construction. The internal carrier 142 may have a solid construction or a hollow construction as desired. When the carrier 142 is overmolded with the rubberized thermal insulation material 140, the thermal insulation material provides an overlay, coating, or encapsulation of the internal carrier 142 with thermal insulation and vibration dampening material. When the thermal insulation material 140 is a rubberized cork material, vibration dampening and shock absorption may also be provided. The handle grip portion 132 may optionally be ergonomically shaped with a curved finger engagement surface defining finger rests 144. Enhanced user comfort is thereby achieved, and when the thermal insulation material is a rubberized cork material, the cork provides a unique aesthetic appearance to the handle 112, in addition to the mechanical properties described above.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are top and bottom views, respectively, of the handle 112, wherein it is seen that the thermal insulation material 140 extends over substantially the entire outer surfaces of the handle grip portion 132, while the stem 130 and the handle release button assembly 150 are exposed or otherwise not covered by the thermal insulation material 140. In other embodiments, only selected portions of the handle grip 132, or other portions of the handle 112, may be provided with the thermal insulation material 140 as desired.

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate another embodiment of a towing handle 200 that may be used, for example, with a piece of baggage such as the baggage 102 shown in FIG. 1. Like the handle 112, the handle 120 includes a handle grip portion 202 and a stem 204 that may be attached to a distal end of an arm portion, such as the arm portion 110 shown in FIG. 1. The handle 200 is also T-shaped in an exemplary embodiment, but is generally cylindrical or tubular in the handle grip portion 202, and slots 206 may be provided in a lower side of the handle grip 202 to provide additional resilience to the handle 200. The handle grip portion 202 and the stem 204 may be covered with the thermal insulation material 142 described above. FIG. 8 depicts a cylindrical carrier 208 upon which the material 140 may be overmolded as described above. By virtue of the material 140, the handle 200 provides similar advantages to those described above.

FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate another embodiment of a towing handle 220 including a handle grip portion 222 and a stem 224 that may be mounted to a support or arm 226 that may, in turn, be affixed to a piece of baggage such as the baggage 102 (FIG. 1). The handle 220 is T-shaped in an exemplary embodiment, and the handle grip portion 222 is formed into a generally rectangular shape with rounded corners. The handle grip portion 222 may be covered with the thermal insulation material 142 described above. FIG. 10 depicts a carrier 208 upon which the material 140 may be overmolded as described above, and the carrier 208 imparts the generally rectangular shape to the handle grip 222. By virtue of the material 140, the handle 220 provides similar advantages to those described above.

FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate another embodiment of a towing handle 230 including a handle grip portion 232 and a stem 234 that may be mounted to a support or arm 236 that may, in turn, be affixed to a piece of baggage such as the baggage 102 (FIG. 1). The handle 230 is formed with the grip portion 232, side supports 238a and 238b extending from opposed ends of the grip portion 232, and a lower portion 240 interconnecting the side supports 238a and 238b. Some or all of the handle grip portion 232, the side supports 238 and 238b and the lower portion 240 of the handle 230 may be covered with the thermal insulation material 140 described above. FIG. 12 depicts a tubular carrier 242 upon which the material 140 may be overmolded as described above, and the carrier 242 imparts a tubular shape to the handle grip 232. By virtue of the material 140, the handle 230 provides similar advantages to those described above.

FIG. 13 illustrates another embodiment of a towing handle system 250 that may be used on a piece of baggage, such as the baggage 102 (FIG. 1). In an exemplary embodiment, the handle system 250 includes a telescoping arm or support 252 having a proximal a distal end 254. The support 252 may be curved or bowed along its axial length, although the support 252 need not be curved in other embodiments of the invention Various cross sectional shapes and configurations of the support 252 may be provided. Additionally a non-telescoping support 252 may alternatively be used.

A towing handle 256 is mounted to the distal end 254 of the support 252, and a ball pivot joint 258 couples the towing handle 256 to the support 252 at the distal end 254. In one embodiment, the support 252 defines 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 256. In a parallel post support structure embodiment, the handle 256 may be carried on a cross bar or other joining structure between the parallel posts. The support 252 may be fabricated from known materials, such as aluminum, according to known techniques.

As shown in FIG. 13, the handle 256 and ball pivot joint 258 may coupled to the distal end 254 of the support 152 via a socket 260. The socket 260 is fixedly mounted to the end 254 of the support 252, and the socket 260 receives the ball pivot joint 258 and permits floating movement of the ball pivot joint 258 with respect to the socket 260. The ball pivot joint 258 permits a natural float in the relative position of the towing handle 256 and the support 252. That is, the towing handle 256 enjoys a limited freedom of movement relative to the support 252 and is generally self-adjusting in position to different towing conditions independent of any conscious action by the user. That is, the natural float of the handle 256 tends to present a relatively constant pulling orientation of the towing handle 256 with respect to the user's hand despite changing towing conditions and maneuvering of the bag that would otherwise cause the relative position of the handle 256 and the user's hand to change. Therefore, and unlike known dynamic handle assemblies, the float in positioning of the handle 256 by virtue of the ball pivot joint 258 eliminates the need and the tendency of users to adjust and readjust their grip on the handle 256 when towing an item, such as the piece of baggage 102. Accordingly, the float of the handle 256 avoids user discomfort associated with frequent hand grip adjustment inevitably incurred with conventional towing handle assemblies. The handle float is further disclosed in co-pending and commonly owned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/346,705 filed Feb. 3, 2006, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

The handle 256 may include a stem 262 coupled in a stationary manner to the ball pivot joint 258, and an asymmetrical shaped handle grip 264 extending from the stem 262. The handle grip 264 generally includes a top surface 266 having a generally flat end 268 and a rounded trailing end 270 each extending laterally outwardly from the stem 262. Curved finger grips 272, 274 extend opposite the flat end 268 of the top surface 266 and the trailing end 270 of the top surface 266. In use, a user may grasp the handle 256 with the palm of the hand facing the upper surface 266 and the thumb generally on the trailing end 270, with the user's fingers wrapped around the handle 256 and engaging the finger grips 272, 274. When gripped in such a manner, the asymmetric shape of the handle 256 is believed to provide a natural and comfortable towing orientation.

Some or all of the handle grip portion 264 may be covered with the thermal insulation material 140 described above. FIG. 14 depicts a carrier 272 having a medallion shaped cross section upon which the material 140 may be overmolded as described above, and the carrier 272 imparts a medallion shape to the handle grip 266. By virtue of the material 140, the handle 256 provides similar advantages to those described above.

FIGS. 15 and 16 illustrate another embodiment of a towing handle assembly 280 including a towing handle 282 and towing arm support post 284. The support post 284 has a trapezoidal shaped profile or cross section, and in an exemplary embodiment includes a front face or surface 286, side faces or surfaces 288 extending rearwardly from and at an angle to the front face 286, and a rear face 290 extending opposite the front face 286 and interconnecting the side surfaces 288.

The towing handle 282 is attached to an upper end 292 of the support post 284 in a known manner, such as with screw fasteners (not shown). The towing handle 282 includes a stem 294 that is mounted to the support post 284, a lower grip housing 296, and a stationary grip housing 298. The lower housing 296 extends between the stem 294 and the stationary housing 298, and the lower housing 296 is rotatable about the longitudinal axis 300 of the towing handle 282 and the support post 284 in the direction of arrows A and B. The upper housing 298, however, is mounted stationary to the support post 284 and the stem 294. A portion of the stem 294 is received within the support post 184, and the trapezoidal shape of the support post 284 prevents the stem 294 from rotating relative to the support post 284. However, while the support post 284 is trapezoidal in an exemplary embodiment, it is recognized that in alternative embodiments other cross sectional shapes and profiles may be employed in the support post 284.

The towing handle 282 in an exemplary embodiment is rounded and shaped like a ball such that a user may comfortably grasp the lower housing 296 with his or her fingers while cradling the upper housing 298 with the palm of his or her hand. A push button 302 is readily accessible at the top edge of the upper housing 298 and may be depressed, for example, with a user's thumb to release the telescoping support 284 and move the support 284 between extended and retracted positions relative to a price of baggage, such as the baggage 102 (FIG. 1). Further details regarding the construction and operation of the handle 282 are disclosed in commonly owned and co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/142,041 filed Jun. 1, 2005, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

Some or all of the handle 282 may be covered with the thermal insulation material 140 described above. FIG. 16 depicts carrier elements 304, 306 upon which the material 140 may be overmolded as described above, and the carriers 304, 306 impart a ball shape to the handle 282. By virtue of the material 140, the handle 282 provides similar advantages to those described above.

FIGS. 17-19 illustrate another embodiment of a towing handle assembly 320 including a handle 322 and parallel telescoping support posts 324a and 324b. In accordance with known telescoping supports, the support posts 324 include sliding support members arranged in a concentric fashion, and the sliding members include spring loaded pins (not shown) which engage apertures (not shown) to lock the supports in an extended position or a retracted position relative to a piece of baggage 326. The handle assembly 320 includes a push button 328 which, among other things, releases the pins from the apertures in the posts 324 and allows the posts 324 to telescope to the extended or retracted positions. The support posts 324 may be fabricated from, for example, aluminum, according to a known process.

As shown in FIG. 19, the pushbutton 328 also releases a locking latch mechanism which allows the handle assembly 322 to move between an upright position (shown in phantom in FIG. 19) substantially parallel to the support posts 324, and a towing position at a predetermined angle α with respect to the axis of the support posts 324. Thus, in the towing position, the handle assembly 322 leans at the angle α with respect to the bag 326, and further, the handle assembly 322 leans in a direction away from an axis 330 of the bag 326 and extends away from and beyond the back panel 332 of the bag 326. The bag 326 is illustrated as a generally rectangular, general purpose luggage bag, although it is appreciated that a variety of other types of bags and luggage items may alternatively be employed.

Referring now to FIG. 17 the towing handle 320 is configured to be coupled to an end of the support posts 324. The handle 320 includes a handle retainer housing 340 which is mounted stationary to the support posts 324 with known fasteners 342, such as rivets. The handle retainer housing 340 extends between and connects the support posts 324a, 324b to one another, thereby maintaining the support posts 324 in a spaced apart relation to one another. In an exemplary embodiment, the handle retainer housing 340 is fabricated in two halves from, for example, plastic according to known techniques. The halves of the retainer housing 340 encase a locking latch mechanism which permits the handle 322 to move between the upright and towing positions. The locking latch mechanism is described in detail in commonly owned and co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/882,369 filed Jul. 1, 2004, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

The handle 322 includes a U-shaped frame or shell 344 which is pivotally mounted to the handle retaining housing 340. The shell 344 is movable relative to the handle retainer housing 340, and is selectively positionable between the upright and towing positions. Thumb rests 346 are provided in the shell 344 and the push button 328 extends through an outer surface 348 of the shell 344. The shell 344 may be fabricated from, for example, plastic according to a known molding operation.

Some or all of the handle shell 344 may be covered with the thermal insulation material 140 described above. As shown in FIG. 18, the shell 344 serves as a carrier element upon which the material 140 may be overmolded as described above, and the shell 344 imparts an outwardly flared shape to the handle 322. By virtue of the material 140, the handle 322 provides similar advantages to those described above.

FIG. 20 illustrates another embodiment of a towable item in the form of a bag 360 having a towable handle 362 formed in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Unlike the embodiments described above, the handle 362 is not mounted to a telescoping support or supports.

In an exemplary embodiment, the bag 360 is an equipment bag or equipment carrier that is configured for carrying oversized athletic equipment which may not be accommodated in conventional luggage bags due to size and weight constraints. It is understood that the bag 360 can be utilized in and for a variety of athletic endeavors, including, but not limited to, bags for transporting hockey gear, ball bags (e.g. baseballs, soccer balls and basketballs), and other items associated with athletic and recreational activity. It is appreciated that the benefits and advantages of the invention may occur in a variety of equipment carriers, and while the invention is described and illustrated in the context of exemplary athletic equipment carriers, the invention is not intended to be limited thereto. For example, the bag 360 may alternatively be a duffel bag or another luggage item.

In an exemplary embodiment, the equipment bag 360 includes a back wall 364 which is at least partially fabricated from a rigid material, such as, for example, molded plastic. The rigid back wall 364 has a generally flat or planar outer surface which is generally placed upon a supporting surface when the equipment bag 360 is in a resting position. Collapsible side walls 366 are fabricated from a flexible material, such as, by way of example only, canvas or nylon materials. The collapsible side walls 366 allow the equipment bag 360 to fold or gather when the equipment bag 360 is emptied so that the equipment bag 360 can be stored while occupying a reduced amount of storage space when not in use. It is contemplated, however, that in alternative embodiments the side walls 366 need not be collapsible.

When the equipment bag 360 is in a standing position as illustrated in FIG. 20, wheels 368 support the equipment bag 360. In use, when the equipment bag 360 is being transported, the equipment bag 360 is inclined so that the equipment bag 360 has an angle of inclination with respect to the supporting surface 370 so that the equipment bag 100 can be pulled via the handle 360 can be rolled along the supporting surface 370.

The back wall 364 of the bag 360 includes a skid plate 372 extending along an outer surface of the back wall 364 at least partially between the end edges and the side wall edges of the back wall 364. In an exemplary embodiment, the skid plate 372 includes a plurality of ridges 374 extending longitudinally along the skid plate 372, and a central recess 376 located within the skid plate 372. The plurality of ridges 374 elevate the planar back wall 364 from the supporting surface 370 and protect the back wall 364 from wear and damage from external forces when the equipment bag 360 is being transported. Accordingly, the ridges 374 are fabricated from a durable, rigid material, such as, for example, molded plastic.

The recess 376 is integrally formed with the skid plate 372 and has a depressed surface 378 that is recessed a distance 380 from the outer surface of the rigid side wall 364. The recess 378 houses and protects the handle 362 when the handle 362 is in the stowed position. The recess 378 has an upper end that corresponds to the top end of the equipment bag and a lower end that corresponds to the bottom end of the equipment bag.

The handle 362 includes first and second longitudinal sides, respectively, and first and second lateral sides, respectively. The longitudinal sides extend between the first and second lateral sides. A support plate 382 is positioned between the longitudinal sides and extends a distance 384 from the first lateral side of the handle 362. The support plate 382 provides support to the handle 362 between the longitudinal sides of the handle 362. The handle 362 is pivotably mounted to the rigid side wall 364 and is movable between a stowed position and a pulling position as shown in FIG. 20. In the stowed position, the handle 362 is exposed to the exterior of the rigid side wall 364, and is substantially flush with the outer surface of the rigid side wall 364, which protects the handle 362 from bending forces when the equipment bag 360 is being handled, such as when the equipment bag 360 is being inserted or removed from a vehicle, or when the equipment bag 360 is being placed on the supporting surface 370.

In an exemplary embodiment, a first lateral side 386 of the handle 362 is pivotably mounted within the recess 376. A second lateral side 388 of the handle 362 includes a hand grip that faces the bottom end of the equipment bag 360 when the handle 362 is in the stowed position. In an exemplary embodiment, the handle 362 is lockable in the stowed position to protect the handle 362 from being damaged by inadvertently extending out of the recess 376, thereby being exposed to external elements and forces. The second lateral side 388 of the handle 362 can be rotatably removed from the recess 376 to the pulling position for towing the equipment bag 360. When the handle 362 is in the pulling position, as shown in FIG. 20, the second lateral side 388 of the handle 362 is substantially parallel with the first lateral side 386 and the longitudinal sides of the handle 362 are substantially parallel with the supporting surface 370. In an exemplary embodiment, the recess 376 includes a grip area 290 that allows a user's hand to wrap partially around the hand grip 388 of the handle 362 and remove the hand grip 388 from the recess 376. Further details of the bag 360 and the handle 362 are disclosed in commonly owned and co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/885,264 filed Jul. 6, 2004, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

Some or all of the handle grip 388 may be covered with the thermal insulation material 140 described above. By virtue of the material 140, the handle 362 provides similar advantages to those described above.

FIG. 21 illustrates another embodiment of an equipment bag or carrier 400, which is particularly suited for transporting oversized items such as a golf bag which may not be accommodated in general purpose bags, such as luggage bags and duffel bags commonly used by travelers to carry smaller items, such as, clothing items, personal items, and the like. The golf bag carrier 400 includes an elongated, flexible body 402 having a generally rectangular shape with opposing front and rear sides 404 and 406, opposing side portions 408, and opposing top and bottom portions 412 and 414 which in an exemplary embodiment are fabricated from a flexible or resilient material, yet generally maintain the shape of the carrier 400. Stiffeners and the like may be included internal to the body 402 to help maintain the overall shape of the carrier 400.

The bottom portion 414 has a rigid wheel casing 418 attached, located at the rear side 406 of the carrier 400. Attached to the wheel casing 416 is a pair of wheels 418 located on each side 408 of the carrier 400. The bottom portion 414 also has legs 422 which allow the golf bag carrier 100 to stand upright.

The front side 404 of the carrier 400 includes a storage pouch 424 located near the bottom portion 414. The storage pouch 424 is accessed through a storage pouch zipper member 426. The front portion 404 also includes a lower handle 428 at or near the bottom portion 414 of the carrier 400. The lower handle 428 is used to help a user to carry, lift, or move the carrier 400. The carrier 400 further includes a carrying strap assembly 430 which is located at or near the middle of the front portion 404, and carrying strap locking clips 432.

The front portion 404 is attached to the side portions 408 via a zipper member 434. More than one zipper member may be provided in varying configurations to define an opening to insert or remove a golf bag 450 (shown in phantom in FIG. 21) from the carrier 400 through the front side 404.

The golf bag 450 is but one example of an oversized item which may be stowed, transported and/or carried in the equipment carrier 400, and which, due to its size, shape, and weight, may not be accommodated in general purpose bags, such as luggage bags and duffel bags commonly used by travelers to carry smaller items, such as, clothing items, personal items, and the like. In an exemplary embodiment, the golf bag 450 includes an elongated body 452 having a longitudinal axis extending from an upper end 454 to a lower end 456 of the body 452. A golf club compartment extends between the ends 454 and 456, and the compartment is sized and dimensioned to receive a set of golf clubs 460 therein. The golf clubs have heads positioned proximate the upper end 454 of the golf bag 450. The golf bag 450 may be inserted and fitted into a cavity defined by the body 402 of the carrier 400.

The rear side 406 of the carrier 400 may includes a skid plate 372 (FIG. 20) and the handle 362 as described above with respect to FIG. 20. In use, the handle 362 is rotated outwardly from a closed position to a pulling position similar to the position shown in FIG. 21. In the pulling position, the user pulls the carrier 400 via the handle 362 in a direction of Arrow C with the wheels 418 rolling on the supporting surface 370.

Some or all of the handle 362 may be covered with the thermal insulation material 140 described above. FIG. 22 depicts a carrier element 472 upon which the material 140 may be overmolded as described above, and the carrier 472 imparts the final shape to the handle 362. By virtue of the material 140, the handle 362 provides similar advantages to those described above.

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 system for a wheeled item, the system comprising:

a handle attachable to the wheeled item and comprising a handle grip portion for a person's hand to tow the item, the handle grip portion comprising a cellular solid thermal insulation material.

2. The handle system of claim 1, wherein the cellular solid thermal insulation material comprises cork.

3. The handle system of claim 1, wherein the cellular solid thermal insulation comprises a cork infused rubberized material.

4. The handle system of claim 1, wherein the item is selected from the group of a luggage item, an equipment carrier, and a golf bag carrier.

5. The handle system of claim 1, wherein the system further comprises at least one telescoping support post, the handle being attached to the support post.

6. The handle system of claim 1, wherein the handle is fixed to a surface of the wheeled item.

7. The handle system of claim 1, wherein the handle is asymmetrical.

8. The handle system of claim 1, wherein the handle is T-shaped.

9. The handle system of claim 1, wherein the handle is ball shaped.

10. The handle system of claim 1, wherein the handle is U-shaped.

11. The handle system of claim 1, further comprising a pivot mechanism configured to pivot the handle about at least one axis.

12. The handle system of claim 1, wherein the handle comprises a carrier, the thermal insulation material overmolded on the carrier.

13. A wheeled bag comprising:

a body defining at least one compartment for storing items therein for transport by a person,

at least one wheel coupled to the body, and

a towing handle mounted to the body and accessible to a user for towing of the bag by a person along a supporting surface, wherein the towing handle comprises a solid cellular material defining at least a portion of a handle grip.

14. The handle system of claim 13, wherein the cellular solid thermal insulation comprises cork.

15. The handle system of claim 13, wherein the cellular solid thermal insulation comprises a cork infused rubberized material.

16. The handle system of claim 13, wherein the body defines one of a luggage item, an equipment carrier or a golf bag carrier.

17. The handle system of claim 13, wherein the system further comprises at least one telescoping support post.

18. The handle system of claim 13, wherein the handle has a shape, the shape being selected from the group of an asymmetrical shape, a T-shape, a ball shape and a U shape.

19. The handle system of claim 13, wherein the bag comprises a side wall, the side wall being collapsible.

20. The handle system of claim 13, wherein the handle comprises a carrier, the thermal insulation material overmolded on the carrier.

21. A baggage system:

a piece of baggage defining at least one storage compartment for storing items packed therein for transport;

wheels coupled to the piece of baggage for rolling the baggage along a surface, and

a towing handle mounted to the body and extendable therefrom to a towing position, the towing handle comprising an internal carrier element and a external thermal insulation material applied to the internal carrier element, the thermal insulation material comprising a cork infused rubberized material, the thermal insulation material defining a handle grip for towing of the piece of baggage by a person along the surface.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the piece of baggage is selected from the group of a luggage item, an equipment carrier, and a golf bag carrier.

23. The handle system of claim 21, wherein the system further comprises at least one support post joining the handle to the baggage.

24. The handle system of claim 22, wherein the support post is curved along its length.

25. The handle system of claim 21, wherein the handle has a shape, the shape being selected from the group of an asymmetrical shape, a T-shape, a ball shape and a U shape.

26. The handle system of claim 21, wherein the handle is selectively positionable relative to the bag.

27. The handle system of claim 21, wherein the handle is connected to a telescoping support, the handle being positionable relative to the support.