U.S. patent application number 10/223782 was filed with the patent office on 2004-02-19 for luggage case having inclined and readily usable handle.
Invention is credited to Chang, Wen Chen.
Application Number | 20040031654 10/223782 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 31715192 |
Filed Date | 2004-02-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040031654 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chang, Wen Chen |
February 19, 2004 |
Luggage case having inclined and readily usable handle
Abstract
A luggage case includes a handle device inclinedly secured in
the case and having a hand grip for moving and carrying the case
without inclining the case relative to a supporting ground. The
handle device includes a tube having a lower portion secured to the
lower and front portion of the case with a coupler, and an upper
portion secured to the upper and rear portion of the case with a
bracket. The coupler has a plate secured to the lower and front
portion of the case, and a housing attached to the lower portion of
the tube and pivotally secured to the plate with a shaft.
Inventors: |
Chang, Wen Chen; (Taichung,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Wen Chen Chang
P.O.Box 63-298
Taichung
406
TW
|
Family ID: |
31715192 |
Appl. No.: |
10/223782 |
Filed: |
August 15, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
190/18A ;
16/113.1; 190/115 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10T 16/451 20150115;
A45C 5/14 20130101; A45C 2009/007 20130101; A45C 13/262 20130101;
A45F 3/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
190/18.00A ;
190/115; 16/113.1 |
International
Class: |
A45C 013/30; A45C
013/00 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A luggage case comprising: a case body including a lower and
front portion, and an upper and rear portion, a handle device
inclinedly secured in said case body and including a lower portion
attached to said lower and front portion of said case body, and an
upper portion attached to said upper and rear portion of said case
body, and said handle device including a hand grip provided on top
thereof for moving and carrying said case body without inclining
said case body relative to a supporting ground.
2. The luggage case according to claim 1, wherein said handle
device includes a tube disposed between said lower and front
portion of said case body and said upper and rear portion of said
case body.
3. The luggage case according to claim 2, wherein said handle
device includes a bracket secured in said upper and rear portion of
said case body, and having a conduit extended therefrom and engaged
onto said tube for securing said tube to said upper and rear
portion of said case body.
4. The luggage case according to claim 3, wherein said bracket
includes an orifice formed therein, said handle device further
includes an extension slidably received in said tube and extendible
outwardly through said orifice of said bracket and having said hand
grip provided on top thereof.
5. The luggage case according to claim 2 further comprising a
coupler for securing a lower portion of said tube to said lower and
front portion of said case body.
6. The luggage case according to claim 5, wherein said coupler
includes a plate secured to said lower and front portion of said
case body, and a housing attached to said lower portion of said
tube and pivotally secured to said plate.
7. The luggage case according to claim 6, wherein said plate
includes two spaced ducts, said housing includes a barrel disposed
between said ducts, and said coupler includes a shaft engaged
through said ducts and said barrel for allowing said housing to be
rotated and adjusted relative to said plate.
8. The luggage case according to claim 1 further comprising a board
disposed between said lower and front portion of said case body and
said upper and rear portion of said case body, said handle device
being engaged onto said board.
9. The luggage case according to claim 8 further comprising a
covering layer engaged onto said handle device and said board for
shielding said handle device.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a luggage case, and more
particularly to a luggage case having an inclined and readily
usable handle device.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] Typical suitcases and luggage cases comprise a handle
attached to the rear portion, and retractable outwardly from the
upper portion thereof. The handle devices are normally
perpendicular to the suitcases or the luggage cases and may be
extended outwardly from the upper portion thereof.
[0005] While moving or carrying the suitcases or the luggage cases,
the suitcases and the luggage cases should be tilted for inclining
or tilting the suitcases or the luggage cases relative to the
ground, and for allowing the suitcases or the luggage cases to be
moved on the ground.
[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 4,995,487 to Plath, and U.S. Pat. No.
5,167,306 to Carrigan, Jr., disclose two of the typical suitcases
or luggage cases each having a handle perpendicularly attached to
the rear portion of the suitcases or the luggage cases, and
extended outwardly from the upper portion thereof.
[0007] However, while inclining or tilting the suitcases or the
luggage cases relative to the ground, the center of gravity of the
suitcases or the luggage cases may be moved forwardly and offset
from the suitcases or the luggage cases, such that the suitcases or
the luggage cases have a good chance to fall down
inadvertently.
[0008] The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate
the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional luggage
cases.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The primary objective of the present invention is to provide
a luggage case including an inclined and readily usable handle
device that may be used for moving or carrying the suitcases or the
luggage cases without inclining or tilting the suitcases or the
luggage cases.
[0010] In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is
provided a luggage case comprising a case body including a lower
and front portion, and an upper and rear portion, a handle device
inclinedly secured in the case body and including a lower portion
attached to the lower and front portion of the case body, and an
upper portion attached to the upper and rear portion of the case
body, and the handle device including a hand grip provided on top
thereof for moving and carrying the case body without inclining the
case body relative to a supporting ground.
[0011] The handle device includes a tube disposed between the lower
and front portion of the case body and the upper and rear portion
of the case body.
[0012] The handle device includes a bracket secured in the upper
and rear portion of the case body, and having a conduit extended
therefrom and engaged onto the tube for securing the tube to the
upper and rear portion of the case body.
[0013] The bracket includes an orifice formed therein, the handle
device further includes an extension slidably received in the tube
and extendible outwardly through the orifice of the bracket and
having the hand grip provided on top thereof.
[0014] A coupler may further be provided for securing a lower
portion of the tube to the lower and front portion of the case
body. The coupler includes a plate secured to the lower and front
portion of the case body, and a housing attached to the lower
portion of the tube and pivotally secured to the plate.
[0015] The plate includes two spaced ducts, the housing includes a
barrel disposed between the ducts, and the coupler includes a shaft
engaged through the ducts and the barrel for allowing the housing
to be rotated and adjusted relative to the plate.
[0016] A board may further be provided and disposed between the
lower and front portion of the case body and the upper and rear
portion of the case body, the handle device being engaged onto the
board. A covering layer may further be provided and engaged onto
the handle device and the board for shielding the handle
device.
[0017] Further objectives and advantages of the present invention
will become apparent from a careful reading of a detailed
description provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to
accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a luggage case in
accordance with the present invention;
[0019] FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the luggage case;
[0020] FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken along lines 3-3 of
FIG. 2;
[0021] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a handle device of the
luggage case;
[0022] FIG. 5 is a plan schematic view illustrating a portion of
the handle device of the luggage case;
[0023] FIG. 6 is a partial exploded view of the handle device of
the luggage case;
[0024] FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view of the handle device of
the luggage case;
[0025] FIG. 8 is a side schematic view illustrating the operation
of the luggage case;
[0026] FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating the operation of
the luggage case; and
[0027] FIG. 10 is a partial cross sectional view illustrating the
operation of the luggage case.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0028] Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIGS. 1-4, a
luggage case in accordance with the present invention comprises a
case body 1 including an upper portion or panel 10, a bottom
portion or panel 20, a rear portion or panel 30, and a front
portion or panel 11 having one or more door panels 12 encloseable
with zipper devices 14 (FIG. 1), for engaging into or for removing
various objects from the case body 1.
[0029] A board 40 is inclinedly or tiltedly secured in the case
body 1, and is secured between the front or the middle portion of
the bottom panel 20 thereof and the middle or the rear portion of
the upper panel 10 thereof. The rear panel 30 may be secured to the
board 40 with one or more stitches 70 (FIG. 2), for suitably
recessing the rear panel 30 (FIGS. 1-3, 8-10), and for comfortably
engaging the case body 1 onto the users.
[0030] One or more fastener straps 31 may be attached to the rear
portion of the case body 1, for carrying the case body 1. The case
body 1 may include one or two side portions 80 each having one or
more pouches or bags 81 provided thereon and closable with zipper
devices 82, for engaging into or for removing various objects, such
as the shoes 83 (FIG. 9) from the bags 81 or the inner portions of
the case body 1.
[0031] A handle device 60 includes a tube 62 having a lower portion
secured to the front or middle portion of the bottom panel 20 of
the case body 1, and having an upper portion secured to the middle
or rear portion of the upper panel 10 of the case body 1. For
example, the handle device 60 may be engaged or secured onto the
board 40, such that the handle device 60 may also be inclinedly or
tiltedly secured in the case body 1.
[0032] A bracket 63 includes a conduit 631 extended downwardly
therefrom, and inclined relative to the bracket 63 (FIG. 5) with
such as an angle ranging between 96 to 110 degrees, for receiving
or securing the upper portion of the tube 62. The bracket 63 may be
secured to the upper panel 10 directly, or indirectly with a pad 64
or the like, for securing the upper portion of the tube 62 to the
case body 1.
[0033] The handle device 60 may further include an extension 61
slidably received in the tube 62, and extendible upwardly through
an orifice 633 of the bracket 63, for allowing the extension 61 to
be extended upwardly beyond the upper panel 10 of the case body 1.
A hand grip 66 may be secured on top of the extension 61 for
carrying the case body 1, and/or for engaging the extension 61 into
or out of the tube 62.
[0034] Alternatively, the extension 61 may be secured in the tube
62, or the hand grip 66 may be directly secured on top of the tube
62 for moving or carrying the case body 1. A covering layer 50
(FIGS. 3, 10) may further be provided and engaged onto the tube 62
and/or the board 40, for shielding or covering the tube 62, and for
preventing the objects received in the case body 1 from contacting
with the tube 62.
[0035] As shown in FIGS. 1-4 and 6-10, a coupler 65 may further be
provided for securing the lower portion of the tube 62 to the front
or middle portion of the bottom panel 20 of the case body 1, and
includes a plate 652 secured to the front or middle portion of the
bottom panel 20 of the case body 1, and a housing 651 for receiving
the lower portion of the tube 62, and pivotally secured to the
plate 652.
[0036] For example, the plate 652 includes two ducts 654 provided
on the rear portion thereof and spaced away from each other. The
housing 651 includes a rear portion 653 having a barrel 655
provided on the bottom portion thereof and engageable between the
ducts 654. A shaft 656 may be engaged through the ducts 654 and the
barrel 655 for rotatably or pivotally securing the housing 651 to
the plate 652.
[0037] As best shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the housing 651 may be
rotated or adjusted relative to the plate 652, such that the tube
62 may be easily adjusted relative to the bottom panel 20 of the
case body 1, and such that the tube 62 of the handle device 60 may
be easily secured to various case bodies 1 in different angular
positions relative to the case bodies 1 when the case bodies 1 have
different widths or thicknesses.
[0038] The case body 1 may include one or more wheels or wheel
devices 17 attached to the bottom thereof for allowing the case
body 1 to be easily moved or carried with the users. The handle
device 60 and the case body 1 may both be disposed inclinedly or
tiltedly relative to the ground, best shown in FIG. 10. The handle
device 60 may also be directly secured in the case body 1 without
the board 40 and the covering layer 50.
[0039] In operation, as shown in FIG. 10, the case body 1 may be
easily or readily moved or carried with the users by the wheel
devices 17, and with the hand grip 66, without inclining or tilting
the case body 1 relative to the supporting ground. The extension 61
may be partially or fully moved or extended out of the tube 62, for
facilitating the moving or carrying of the case body 1 by the
users.
[0040] Accordingly, the inclined handle device of the luggage case
may carry the luggage case without tilting or inclining the luggage
cases relative to the ground.
[0041] Although this invention has been described with a certain
degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present
disclosure has been made by way of example only and that numerous
changes in the detailed construction and the combination and
arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the
spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.
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