Wheeled suitcase having dual extractable handle assemblies
A wheeled suitcase has dual extractable handle assemblies. The first extractable handle assembly is positioned immediately adjacent to the rear side of wheeled suitcase for pulling and wheeling the wheeled suitcase in inclined position. The second extractable handle assembly is positioned immediately adjacent to the bottom side of wheeled suitcase for loading an add-on traveling case.
Present invention relates to a wheeled suitcase having dual extractable handle assemblies. The first extractable handle assembly is used for pulling and wheeling the suitcase in inclined position, and the second extractable handle assembly is used for loading an add-on traveling case.
In prior art, a wheeled suitcase is provided with an extractable handle assembly for pulling/wheeling the suitcase. When user desires to carry an add-on traveling case on the wheeled suitcase, he or she may place the add-on traveling case on top side of wheeled suitcase (
In prior art, many wheeled suitcases provide carrying devices/straps at the top side of the wheeled suitcase for carrying an add-on traveling case on front side rather than top side of wheeled suitcase. These carrying devices/straps may help user to get a relief from the weight burden of the add-on case. However, some carrying devices/straps must be assembled prior to usage, which is time consuming and inconvenient. Since the size of the add-on case may vary, these carrying devices/straps may need to be readjusted in order to fit a particular add-on case. This is also time consuming and inconvenient.
During transport of the wheeled suitcase, these carrying devices/straps may cause transport problem, or may be damaged. When these carrying devices/straps are not fit or properly adjusted to the height of add-on case, the add-on case is likely to be hung in suspension. In this case, the wheeled suitcase can not possibly maintain its balance in a self-standing upright position, due to the fact that add-on case is positioned outwardly from the foot-stands of the wheeled suitcase.
The motive of present invention is to provide a wheeled suitcase that allows user to conveniently load and unload add-on traveling case in various sizes and weights, while the wheeled suitcase is capable of maintaining its balance in self-standing upright position. Another motive of present invention is to allow the wheeled suitcase to stably carry an add-on case in a balanced state during traveling, so that the weight of add-on case will mostly impose on the wheels of suitcase rather than user's hand. In present invention, in addition to the first extractable handle assembly positioned immediately adjacent to the front side of wheeled suitcase for pulling/wheeling the wheeled suitcase, a second extractable handle assembly is positioned immediately adjacent to the bottom side of wheeled suitcase. When the second extractable handle assembly is retracted to a compact position (
It is understood that, when the second extractable handle assembly of present invention is carrying an add-on case in various sizes and weights, the wheeled suitcase can still carry a second small and light weight traveling case on top side of wheeled suitcase without depriving the above advantages offered by the second extractable handle assembly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAn object of present invention is to provide a second extractable handle assembly for stably and conveniently loading an add-on case in various sizes, when the wheeled suitcase is in either a self standing upright position or an inclined traveling position.
Another object of present invention is to provide an anchoring means for the second extractable handle assembly, so that the wheeled suitcase is capable of sustaining the bending moment due to the combined weights of wheeled suitcase and add-on case when it is tilted from self-standing upright position to inclined traveling position.
Another object of present invention is to provide a locking and releasing means for operating the second extractable handle assembly between a fully retracted compact position and a fully extracted position.
Another object of present invention is to provide a pair of moveable foot stands capable of supporting wheeled suitcase in self-standing upright position while loading and unloading the add-on case.
Another object of present invention is to provide such foot stands with flat top surfaces flush to top surfaces of extracted bars of the second extractable handle assembly, so that add-on case can stably sit on the even top surfaces of the extracted bars and foot stands while loading the add-on case.
Another object of present invention is to provide such a second extractable handle assembly that is less likely to be accidentally damaged during transport of the wheeled suitcase.
Another object of present invention is to provide such a second extractable handle assembly that significantly reduces the weight imposed on user while pulling and wheeling the wheeled suitcase with add-on case.
It is understood that techniques for the first extractable handle assembly, the internal support structure of wheeled suitcase, and anchoring means for the first extractable handle assembly have been well known in prior art. It is not the intent of present invention to specify them in details.
Anchor 11 is for positioning the second extractable handle assembly 10 immediately adjacent to the bottom side of wheeled suitcase. Anchor 11 is preferably a molded piece comprising of a L-angle plate with vertical and horizontal plates 22 and 23, and two sockets 24 integrally connected to horizontal plate 23 for receiving and fixedly connecting to guide tracks 12 and 13. During installation, anchor 11 is interconnected to anchor 4 (
The above anchoring means provided by anchor 11 is intended for use under the condition when anchor 4 of the first extractable handle assembly alone is not capable of sustaining the above total moment. If anchor 4 is capable of sustaining the above total moment, it becomes apparent that anchor 11 can be in other alternative forms that allow the above total moment to be distributed to and carried by anchor 4 only. For example, one alternative form of anchor 11 is shown in
A pair of sliding gliders 26 fixedly connected to the rear ends of sliding tracks 14 and 15, and a pair of guiders/stoppers 27 fixedly connected to the front ends of guide tracks 12 and 13, so that sliding tracks 14 and 15 can slide freely within guide tracks 12 and 13 with minimum friction; and
A pair of spring-biased detent devices 28 inserted within the rear ends of sliding tracks 14 and 15, which provide a conventional detent means for engaging and disengaging sliding tracks 14 & 15 to and from their fully extracted position; and
Foot stands 29 and 30, which are preferably molded pieces, have square ends 31 and 32 for inserting and fixedly connecting to the front ends of sliding tracks 14 and 15, and socket ends 33 and 34 for receiving and fixedly connecting to handle bar 18. It must be noticed that foot stands 29 and 30 in
Locking assembly 35 can be operated as follows. When user pulls bar handle 18 and pull bar 36 simultaneously, movement of pull bar 36 causes a counter clockwise rotation of sleeve 38, and thus causes the front hook of second finger 40 to disengage from latch 21. As a result, the locking engagement of locking assembly 35 is released. Compressed spring 42 imposes a biased force on the third finger 41, which allows the front hook of second finger 40 to automatically engage with latch 21 when the profiled end of front hook of second finger 40 is pressed against latch 21. As a result, locking assembly 35 is automatically engaged into a locked position when user pushes bar handle 18 and moves the second extractable handle assembly to the fully retracted compact position.
It is understood that techniques of spring biased detent means and locking means have been well known in prior art. The above described spring biased detent device 28 and locking assembly 35 are not intended to limit the scope of present invention. Variations and modifications are allowed within the scope of present invention, provided they meet the functional requirements of the second extractable handle assembly specified in present invention. For example, in prior art, the spring biased detent device typically provides a positive locking means, so that user needs to pull a trigger, which remotely operates the spring biased detent device through a connecting rod, to release the positive locking means. Such prior techniques have been commonly used in the extractable handle assembly for pulling and wheeling the wheeled suitcase. This is because the extractable handle assembly must transmit large force and torque during pulling and wheeling the wheeled suitcase. Therefore, it is necessary to positively lock the extractable handle assembly in fully extracted position to allow such large force and torque to be transmitted. However, the above condition does not exist in the second extractable handle assembly of present invention. As a result, the above described spring biased detent device 28 and locking assembly 35 become more desirable since they offer advantages of cost saving and convenience.
In the second extractable handle assembly 10 of present invention, some components are preferably connected by a fast connecting means without using mechanical fasteners. These components include but not limit to: gliders 26 (connected to sliding tracks 14 and 15), guiders/stoppers 27 (connected to guide tracks 12 and 13), sockets 24 of anchor 11 (connected to guide tracks 12 and 13), and cross plate 16 (connected to guide tracks 12 and 13). Fast connecting means without using mechanical fastener has been well known in prior art. It is not the intent of present invention to specify it in details. However, for illustrating purpose, the following fast connecting means can be an example for connecting socket 24 of anchor 11 to guide track 12. First, prefabricate a snap hook projected outwardly from the top surface of guide track 12. (This can be done by a metal stamping method if track 12 is metal, or by an injection molding method if track 12 is plastic.) Second, form a dent or a hole on the internal surface of socket 24 during plastic injection molding of anchor 11. Third, insert guide track 12 into socket 24 to form a fixed connection when the snap hook snaps and engages into the dent or hole. It is understood that these fast connecting connections are not intended to be clearly identified in the drawings of present invention.
It is understood that, according to present invention, the overall size of second extractable handle assembly in fully retracted compact position does not exceed that of the bottom side of wheeled suitcase. This is necessary to protect the second extractable handle assembly from being damaged during transport of the wheeled suitcase, and to prevent it from causing a transport problem. The height of second extractable handle assembly does not exceed the height of wheels. This is necessary to provide a clearance from the ground for pulling and wheeling the wheeled suitcase. Due to the restricted clearance, user may preferably tilt the wheeled suitcase slightly when she or he needs to access bar handle of the second extractable handle assembly.
It is also understood that the above described first preferred embodiment of second extractable handle assembly of present invention is intended for use for a large size wheeled suitcase. This is because the overall size of second extractable handle assembly in fully retracted compact position is restricted by that of the bottom side of wheeled suitcase. Therefore, the size of the extended platform for loading the add-on case is also restricted by the bottom size of wheeled suitcase.
It is understood that the above fifth preferred embodiment is intended for use under the condition that anchor 4 of the first extractable handle assembly (
Claims
1. A wheeled suitcase comprising of:
- a front side for accessing interior of said wheeled suitcase, a rear side opposite and parallel to said front side, a top and bottom sides opposite and parallel to each other, and a left and right sides opposite and parallel to each other; and
- a pair of wheel assemblies anchored to said bottom side immediately adjacent to said rear side of said wheeled suitcase; and
- a first extractable handle assembly fixedly anchored immediately adjacent to said rear side of said wheeled suitcase, capable of being retracted to a fully retracted compact position, and extracted to a fully extracted position for pulling and wheeling said wheeled suitcase in an inclined traveling position; and
- a second extractable handle assembly fixedly anchored immediately adjacent to said bottom side of said wheeled suitcase, capable of being retracted to a fully retracted compact position, and extracted to a fully extracted position to form a landing area for loading an add-on case; and
- a pair of foot stands fixedly connected to said second extractable handle assembly, capable of supporting said wheeled suitcase in a self standing upright position when said second extractable handle assembly is in said fully retracted compact position, and when said second extractable handle assembly is in said fully extracted position for loading said add-on case; and
- a first and second anchoring means for fixedly anchoring said first and second extractable handle assemblies respectively, capable of being interconnected to each other to sustain a bending moment due to the combined weight of said wheeled suitcase and said add-on case when said wheeled suitcase being tilted from said self standing upright position to said inclined traveling position; and
- a first and second locking and releasing means for operating said first and second extractable handle assemblies respectively between said fully retracted compact position and said fully extracted position.
2. The wheeled suitcase according to claim 1, in which:
- said first anchoring means comprises of a L-angle plate having a vertical and horizontal sectional plates, and two sockets integrally connected to said vertical sectional plate of said L-angle plate for receiving and fixedly connecting to a pair of guide tracks of said first extractable handle assembly; and
- said second anchoring means comprises of a L-angle plate having a vertical and horizontal sectional plates, and two sockets integrally connected to said horizontal sectional plate of said L-angle plate for receiving and fixedly connecting to a pair of guide tracks of said second extractable handle assembly; and
- said first and second anchoring means are interconnected by overlapping and fixedly connecting said vertical and horizontal sectional plates of said L-angle plate of said second anchoring means to said vertical and horizontal sectional plates of said L-angle plate of said first anchoring means respectively.
3. The wheeled suitcase according to claim 1, in which:
- said first anchoring means comprises of a L-angle plate having a vertical and horizontal sectional plates, and two sockets integrally connected to said vertical sectional plate of said L-angle plate for receiving and fixedly connecting to a pair of guide tracks of said first extractable handle assembly; and
- said second anchoring means comprises of a horizontal plate, and two sockets integrally connected to said horizontal plate for receiving and fixedly connecting to a pair of guide tracks of said second extractable handle assembly; and
- said first and second anchoring means are interconnected by overlapping and fixedly connecting said horizontal plate of said second anchoring means to said horizontal sectional plate of said L-angle plate of said first anchoring means.
4. The wheeled suitcase according to claim 1, in which:
- said first anchoring means comprises of a L-angle plate having a vertical and horizontal sectional plates, and two sockets integrally connected to said vertical sectional plate of said L-angle plate for receiving and fixedly connecting to a pair of guide tracks of said first extractable handle assembly; and
- said second anchoring means comprises of a horizontal plate, and a pair of guide tracks of said second extractable handle assembly fixedly connected to said horizontal plate; and
- said first and second anchoring means are interconnected by overlapping and fixedly connecting said horizontal plate of said second anchoring means to said horizontal sectional plate of said L-angle plate of said first anchoring means.
5. The wheeled suitcase according to claim 1, in which:
- said second extractable handle assembly comprises of a pair of guide tracks, a pair of sliding tracks capable of sliding freely within said guide tracks, and a cross bar handle fixedly connected to the front ends of said sliding tracks; and
- said foot stands are fixedly connected to said second extractable handle assembly at the joints between said sliding tracks and said cross bar handle.
6. The second extractable handle assembly according to claim 5, in which:
- said guide tracks are made of u-shape channel bars, and said sliding tracks are made of box-shape channel bars integrally connected to a center plate, so that said sliding tracks and said center plate form an integral piece slidable along said guide tracks.
7. The wheeled suitcase according to claim 1, in which:
- said second extractable handle assembly comprises of a pair of guide tracks, a first pair of sliding tracks capable of sliding freely within said guide tracks, a second pair of sliding tracks capable of sliding freely within said first pair of sliding tracks, and a cross bar handle fixedly connected to the front ends of said second pair of sliding tracks; and
- said foot stands are fixedly connected to said second extractable handle assembly at the joints between said second pair of sliding tracks and said cross bar handle.
8. The second extractable handle assembly according to claim 7, in which:
- said guide tracks are made of u-shape channel bars; and
- said first and second pairs of sliding tracks are made of box-shape channel bars; and
- said first pair of sliding tracks are integrally connected to a center plate, so that said first pair of sliding tracks and said center plate form an integral piece slidable along said guide tracks.
Type: Application
Filed: May 4, 2009
Publication Date: Nov 4, 2010
Inventor: Ue-Ming Yang (Chicago, IL)
Application Number: 12/387,344
International Classification: A45C 5/14 (20060101); A45C 13/26 (20060101);