U.S. patent application number 14/166777 was filed with the patent office on 2015-07-30 for luggage handle structure.
The applicant listed for this patent is Joy Tong. Invention is credited to Joy Tong.
Application Number | 20150208779 14/166777 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 53677848 |
Filed Date | 2015-07-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150208779 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Tong; Joy |
July 30, 2015 |
LUGGAGE HANDLE STRUCTURE
Abstract
A luggage handle structure is coupled to a retractable pull rod
of a luggage to control extension and retraction of the retractable
pull rod. The luggage handle structure includes a handle, a button,
a transmission member, and a pull rope. The handle has an
accommodation space therein and a button hole at one side thereof
to communicate with the accommodation space. The button is disposed
in the button hole of the handle. The button has a rear end
inserted into the accommodation space. The rear end has a first
transmission portion. The transmission member is disposed in the
accommodation space. The transmission member has a second
transmission portion to mesh with the first transmission portion.
The transmission member is driven by the button. One end of the
pull rope is coupled to the transmission member, and another end is
to bring the engaging mechanism to lock or unlock.
Inventors: |
Tong; Joy; (Boca Raton,
FL) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Tong; Joy |
Boca Raton |
FL |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
53677848 |
Appl. No.: |
14/166777 |
Filed: |
January 28, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
16/113.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10T 16/451 20150115;
A45C 13/26 20130101; A45C 2013/267 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A45C 13/26 20060101
A45C013/26 |
Claims
1. A luggage handle structure, coupled to a retractable pull rod of
a luggage to drive an engaging mechanism in the retractable pull
rod, comprising: a handle having an accommodation space therein,
the handle having a top, a bottom opposite to the top, two sides
connected between the top and the bottom, and two ends connected
between the top and the bottom, one of the two sides having a
button hole communicating with the accommodation space; a button
disposed in the button hole of the handle, the button having a
front end protruding out of the button hole and a rear end inserted
into the accommodation space, at least one side of the rear end
having a first transmission portion; a transmission member disposed
in the accommodation space, the transmission member having a second
transmission portion to mesh with the first transmission portion,
the transmission member being driven by the button; and a pull
rope, one end of the pull rope being coupled to the transmission
member, another end of the pull rope being adapted to bring the
engaging mechanism to lock or unlock.
2. The luggage handle structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
handle has a main body and an upper cover, the main body having the
sides and the button hole, the main body being formed with the
accommodation space, the upper cover being mounted on top of the
main body to cover the accommodation space.
3. The luggage handle structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
first transmission portion is a plurality of teeth arranged in a
line, and the second transmission portion is a plurality of teeth
arranged in a fan.
4. The luggage handle structure as claimed in claim 3, wherein the
transmission member comprises a circular wheel disc and a wire
guide portion adjacent the wheel disc, an edge of the wheel disc
having the second transmission portion and a coupling portion.
5. The luggage handle structure as claimed in claim 4, wherein the
coupling portion has a through hole and a slot from the edge of the
wheel disc to the through hole, the slot communicating with the
through hole.
6. The luggage handle structure as claimed in claim 5, wherein the
handle has two conical shafts disposed in the accommodation space,
and a central portion of the transmission member has a conical hole
to mate with one of the conical shafts.
7. The luggage handle structure as claimed in claim 6, wherein one
end of the pull rope has a stop portion, the pull rope being
inserted through the through hole, the stop portion leaning against
one end of the through hole, the pull rope being wound on the wire
guide portion.
8. The luggage handle structure as claimed in claim 7, wherein two
sides of the rear end of the button each have the first
transmission portion, two transmission members each having the
second transmission portion to mesh with the first transmission
portion, two pull ropes being respectively coupled with the two
transmission members.
9. The luggage handle structure as claimed in claim 1, further
comprising an elastic member, one end of the elastic member being
against the rear end of the button.
10. The luggage handle structure as claimed in claim 9, further
comprising an arc fixing member to fix the elastic member.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] (a) Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a luggage handle structure,
and more particularly to a luggage handle structure able to control
extension and retraction of a retractable pull rod of a
luggage.
[0003] (b) Description of the Prior Art
[0004] In general, a luggage is provided with a retractable handle
having one or two retractable pull rods. The retractable pull rod
is provided with an engaging mechanism therein. When the engaging
mechanism is locked, the retractable pull rod cannot be extended.
When the engaging mechanism is unlocked, the retractable pull rod
can be extended or retracted. The end of the retractable pull rod
is coupled with a handle. The handle is provided with at least one
button. The button is able to touch a link mechanism to lock or
unlock the engaging mechanism, such that the user can extend or
retract the extractable pull rod as desired.
[0005] However, the button of the handle applied to the retractable
handle of the luggage is disposed at the center of the top of the
handle. The user must push the button with his/her thumb, as
disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,499,417, US5,727,898, U.S. Pat. No.
6,128,806, U.S. Pat. No. 6,470,529, U.S. Pat. No. 6,802,409, U.S.
Pat. No. 6,918,475, U.S. Pat. No. 7,886,404, U.S. Pat. No.
8,141,204, U.S. Pat. No. 6,332,242, U.S. Pat. No. 6,530,459, U.S.
Pat. No. 6,550,102, U.S. Pat. No. 5,636,410, U.S. Pat. No.
6,026,542, U.S. Pat. No. 5,781,965, U.S. Pat. No. 5,692,266, U.S.
Pat. No. 5,669,103, U.S. Pat. No. 6,061,871, U.S. Pat. No.
6,295,698. The button may be disposed at the center of the bottom
of the handle as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,713,441, U.S. Pat.
No. 5,502,876, U.S. Pat. No. 5,628,088, U.S. Pat. No. 6,874,604,
U.S. Pat. No. 5,689,854; or at one end of the handle as disclosed
in U.S. Pat. No. 6,508,344, U.S. Pat. No. 5,862,572, U.S. Pat. No.
6,830,135, U.S. Pat. No. 6,857,512; or at both ends of the handle
as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,200,896, U.S. Pat. No. 6,920,666,
U.S. Pat. No. 7,188,715. Thus, it is necessary to push the button
of most luggage handles with the thumb. It is not easy to push the
button with the forefinger or the middle finger when the user
grasps the handle. The position of the button is designed for the
link mechanism to bring a pull rod. The pull rod is a metallic rod
which cannot be bent. The pull rod is to touch the engaging
mechanism in the retractable pull rod. If the pull rod is replaced
with a pull rope which is cost-effective, the position of the
button and the design of the link mechanism are more difficult.
[0006] Accordingly, the inventor of the present invention has
devoted himself based on his many years of practical experiences to
solve these problems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The primary object of the present invention is to provide a
luggage handle structure. Through the button and the link mechanism
of the handle, the button is located at a position to be pushed
easily. The link mechanism is simple and cost-effective.
[0008] In order to achieve the aforesaid object, the luggage handle
structure of the present invention is coupled to a retractable pull
rod of a luggage to drive an engaging mechanism in the retractable
pull rod. The luggage handle structure comprises a handle, a
button, a transmission member, and a pull rope. The handle has an
accommodation space therein. The handle has a top, a bottom
opposite to the top, two sides connected between the top and the
bottom, and two ends connected between the top and the bottom. One
of the two sides has a button hole communicating with the
accommodation space. The button is disposed in the button hole of
the handle. The button has a front end protruding out of the button
hole and a rear end inserted into the accommodation space. At least
one side of the rear end has a first transmission portion. The
transmission member is disposed in the accommodation space. The
transmission member has a second transmission portion to mesh with
the first transmission portion. The transmission member is driven
by the button. One end of the pull rope is coupled to the
transmission member, and another end of the pull rope is adapted to
bring the engaging mechanism to lock or unlock.
[0009] The button of the luggage handle structure of the present
invention is located at the side of the handle. This is beneficial
to push the button when the user grasps the handle. The handle has
a fashionable top. The luggage handle structure of the present
invention can be used conveniently and has a simple structure and
can lower the cost.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is an exploded view according to a preferred
embodiment of the present invention;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a perspective view according to the preferred
embodiment of the present invention;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line A-A according to
the preferred embodiment of the present invention;
[0013] FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line B-B according to
the preferred embodiment of the present invention;
[0014] FIG. 5 is a schematic view taken along line A-A showing the
operation of the preferred embodiment of the present invention;
and
[0015] FIG. 6 is a schematic view taken along line B-B showing the
operation of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0016] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described,
by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
[0017] As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the luggage handle structure
of the present invention is coupled to a retractable pull rod 10 of
a luggage to drive an engaging mechanism in the retractable pull
rod 10. The luggage handle structure is able to control extension
and retraction of the retractable pull rod 10. The luggage handle
structure according to a preferred embodiment of the present
invention comprises a handle 1, a button 2, a transmission member
3, and a pull rope 4. Preferably, the luggage handle structure of
the present invention further comprises an elastic member 5 and a
fixing member 6.
[0018] As shown in FIG. 1, the handle 1 is coupled to the upper end
of the retractable pull rod 10 (as shown in FIG. 2). The handle 1
has an accommodation space 11 therein. The handle 1 has an inclined
top 12, a bottom 13 opposite to the top 12, two sides 14 connected
between the top 12 and the bottom 13, and two ends 15 connected
between the top 12 and the bottom 13. One of the two sides 14 has a
button hole 16 communicating with the accommodation space 11.
Preferably, the handle 1 has a main body 17 and an upper cover 18.
The main body 17 has the sides 14 and the button hole 16. The main
body 17 is formed with the accommodation space 11. The upper cover
18 is mounted on top of the main body 17 to cover the accommodation
space 11. The upper cover 18 is to form the top 12.
[0019] As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, the button 2 is moveably
disposed in the button hole 16 of the side 14 of the handle 1. The
button 2 has a front end 21 protruding out of the button hole 16
and a rear end 22 inserted into the accommodation space 11. At
least one side of the rear end 22 has a first transmission portion
23. As shown in FIG. 1, preferably, two sides of the rear end 22
each have the first transmission portion 23. Preferably, the first
transmission portion 23 is a plurality of teeth 231 arranged in a
line. The button 2 drives the transmission member 3 through the
first transmission portion 23.
[0020] As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 4, the transmission member 3 is
disposed in the accommodation space 11. The edge of the
transmission member 3 has a second transmission portion 31 to mesh
with the first transmission portion 23. Preferably, the second
transmission portion 31 is a plurality of teeth 311 arranged in a
fan. When the second transmission portion 31 meshes with the first
transmission portion 23 by pushing the front end 21 of the button
2, the transmission member 3 is driven by the button 2. As shown in
FIG. 1, preferably, the transmission member 3 comprises a circular
wheel disc 32 and a wire guide portion 33 adjacent the wheel disc
32. The edge of the wheel disc 32 has the second transmission
portion 31 and a coupling portion 34. The coupling portion 34 is
adapted to fix one end of the pull rope 4. Preferably, the coupling
portion 34 has a through hole 341 and a slot 342 from the edge of
the wheel disc 32 to the through hole 341. The slot 342
communicates with the through hole 341. The wire guide portion 33
is a semicircular groove for guiding the pull rope 4 when the
transmission member 3 pulls the pull rope 4. Furthermore, the
handle 1 has two conical shafts 111 disposed in the accommodation
space 11. The center of the transmission member 3 has a conical
hole 35 to mate with one of the conical shafts 111, so that the
transmission member 3 is driven by the button 2 to rotate so as to
bring the pull rope 4.
[0021] As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 4, the pull rope 4 is a steel
rope or a plastic rope. Preferably, the present invention has two
pull ropes 4. One end of the pull rope 4 is coupled to the coupling
portion 34 of the transmission member 3, and another end of the
pull rope 4 passes through the a connecting portion 19 protruding
from the bottom 13 of the handle 1 and enters the retractable pull
rod 10 to be connected with the engaging mechanism (not shown in
the drawings) so as to lock or unlock the engaging mechanism in the
retractable pull rod 10. Preferably, one end of the pull rope 4 has
a stop portion 41. When the pull rope 4 is inserted through the
through hole 341 of the coupling portion 34, the stop portion 41
will lean against one end of the through hole 341 so that the pull
rope 4 can be wound on the wire guide portion 33.
[0022] As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, the elastic member 5 is a
spiral spring or other elastic structures. One end of the elastic
member 5 is against the rear end 22 of the button 2, and another
end of the elastic member 5 is against the inner wall of the
accommodation space 11 of the handle 1. After the button 2 is
pushed, the button 2 is biased by the elastic member 5 to return to
the original position. The fixing member 6 is in an arc shape or
other shapes, and is coupled in the accommodation space 11 of the
handle 1 to fix the elastic member 5.
[0023] As shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, when the luggage handle
structure of the present invention is used, the connecting portion
19 of the handle 1 is inserted into the retractable pull rod 10 of
the luggage. When the user wants to drag the luggage or to put away
the luggage, the user can grasp the handle 1 and push the front end
21 of the button 2 with his/her forefinger or middle finger. When
the button 2 is pushed inward relative to the handle 2, the teeth
231 of the first transmission portion 23 drive the teeth 311 of the
second transmission portion 31 of the transmission member 3, such
that the transmission member 3 is rotated to bring the pull rope 4
to ascend so as to unlock the engaging mechanism in the retractable
pull rod 10. In this way, the retractable pull rod 10 can be
extended or retracted. On the contrary, when the button 2 is
released, the button 2 is biased by the elastic member 5 to return
to the original position and the transmission member 3 is also
driven to return to the original position. Thereby, the pull rope 4
is descended to lock the engaging mechanism in the retractable pull
rod 10 again, so that the retractable pull rod 10 cannot be
extended or retracted.
[0024] Although particular embodiments of the present invention
have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various
modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from
the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the
present invention is not to be limited except as by the appended
claims.
* * * * *