US 4,561,526 A · Steering and support handle for wheeled luggage

Abstract

A steering and support handle for a wheeled luggage case is operatively pivotably connected to the wheeled luggage case to pivot to an operative or extended position in front of the case or to an inoperative or closed position adjoining the case. Means operative on the pivoted end of the handle biases the handle to maintain the operative position upon movement of the handle into the operative position and biases the handle to maintain the inoperative position upon movement of the handle into the inoperative position. The pivoted end of the handle is connected to the case by connecting means which provides a shoulder which is contacted by a surface on the pivoted end of the handle when the handle is moved to the operative position. The handle is T-shaped and its crossed end piece can be conveniently gripped in the hand of the user. The handle is preferably located in an indented marginal area at the closure location of the two opposed case halves or shells.

Claims23

Dependent claims

An improved steering device for a luggage case having wheels upon which the case can be rolled, comprising in combination therewith:

a handle having a pivoted end and an end adapted to be grasped for steering the case on its wheels;
means connecting the pivoted end of the handle to the case and retaining the handle for pivotiing movement between an inoperative position wherein the handle extends generally adjacent a side of the case and an operative position wherein the handle extends outward from the side of the case to be gripped for steering the case on its wheels;
and
means operative on the pivoted end of the handle for biasing the handle to maintain the operative position upon movement of the handle into the operative position and for biasing the handle to maintain the inoperative position upon movement of the handle to the inoperative position, said biasing means comprising a spring having opposite ends and operatively developing an operative force effective between its ends;
and wherein
the pivoted end of the handle includes a lever extending radially outward therefrom with respect to a pivot axis of the handle, one end of the spring is mechanically connected to the lever at a fixed position eccentrically located with respect to the pivot axis of the handle, the lever extends from the handle at a predetermined angle by which the spring is operative on the lever when the handle is in the operative position to develop a rotational torque in one rotational direction and by which the spring is operative on the lever when the handle is in the inoperative position to develop a rotational torque in the opposite rotational direction.

3 more elements

An improved steering device for a luggage case having wheels upon which the case can be rolled, comprising in combination therewith:

a handle having a pivoted end and an end adapted to be grasped for steering the case on its wheels;
means connecting the pivoted end of the handle to the case and retaining the handle for pivoting movement between an inoperative position wherein the handle extends generally adjacent a side of the case and an operative position wherein the handle extends outward from the side of the case to be gripped for steering the case on its wheels;
and
means operative on the pivoted end of the handle for biasing the handle to maintain the operative position upon movement of the handle into the operative position and for biasing the handle to maintain the inoperative position upon movement of the handle to the inoperative position, said biasing means comprising a spring having opposite ends and operatively developing an operative force effective along a line between its ends;
and wherein
the pivoted end of the handle includes a lever extending at a predetermined angle radially outward with respect to a pivot axis of the handle, one end of the spring pivotably connected to the lever at a position eccentrically spaced with respect to the pivot axis of the handle, the other end of the spring mechanically connected in a stationary location spaced from the pivot axis of the handle, the predetermined angle operatively locating the position at which the one end of the spring is connected to the lever on one transverse side of a reference line extending between the other end of the spring and the pivot axis of said handle when the handle is in one position to develop a rotational torque in one direction and operatively locating the position at which the one end of the spring is connected to the lever on the other opposite side of the reference line when the handle is in the inoperative position to develop a rotational torque in the opposite rotational direction about the pivot axis.

3 more elements

An improved steering device for a luggage case having wheels upon which the case can be rolled, comprising in combination therewith:

a handle having a pivoted end and an end adapted to be grasped for steering the case on its wheels;
means connecting the pivoted end of the handle to the case and retaining the handle for pivoting movement between an inoperative position wherein the handle extends generally adjacent a side of the case and an operative position wherein the handle extends outward from the side of the case to be gripped for steering the case on its wheels, the pivoted end of the handle including a lever extending at a predetermined angle outward with respect to a pivot axis of the handle;
and
means operative on the pivoted end of the handle for biasing the handle to maintain the operative position upon movement of the handle into the operative position and for biasing the handle to maintain the inoperative position upon movement of the handle to the inoperative position, said biasing means comprising a spring having a pair of lever arms joined together by a coil, the end of one lever arm being operatively connected to the lever at the pivoted end of the handle, the end of the other lever arm being operatively connected to said connecting means, the lever arms normally extending at an oblique angle with respect to one another, the coil developing force when the lever arms extend at a lesser oblique angle than the normal oblique angle and the lever arms extending at a lesser oblique angle when the handle is in the operative and inoperative positions. PG,18

1 more element

An improved steering and support device for a luggage case having wheels at a lower bottom corner adjacent a rear side thereof upon which to roll the case and its contents when the case is supported from the wheels, comprising in combination:

a handle having a pivoted end and a gripping end adapted to be grasped for levering and supporting the weight of the case and its contents on the rear wheels and for steering the case as it is rolled on its rear wheels, said handle being generally T-shaped having a longitudinal portion extending from the pivoted end to the gripping end, and the gripping end being defined substantially by a cross piece extending transversely from the end of the longitudinal piece opposite the pivoted end;
a hinge block connected to the case on a front side near an upper corner, the hinge block operatively connecting the handle to the case substantially only at the pivoted end, said hinge block operatively retaining the handle for pivoting movement between an inoperative position wherein the handle extends generally downward toward the bottom of the case adjacent a front side of the case and an operative position wherein the handle extends forward and slightly upward from the hinge block;
the pivoted end of the handle comprising a pair of transversely spaced apart extensions extending longitudinally forward on opposite transverse sides of the pivoted end of the longitudinal piece of the handle, a pivot shaft extending transversely across the space between the extensions, and a shaft lever extending from the pivot shaft;
the hinge block comprising a base portion and a neck portion of reduced transverse width extending from the base portion, the base and neck portions defining an interior opening within the hinge block, the neck portion having a pivot opening extending transversely therethrough to receive the pivot shaft of the handle, the shaft lever fitting within the interior of the opening in the hinge block when the pivot shaft is received in the pivot opening;
a spring retained within the interior opening of the hinge block and operative between the shaft lever and the hinge block to develop a torsional force on the handle in a rotational direction for maintaining the handle in the inoperative position when the handle is manually moved to the inoperative position and operative to develop a torsional force in the opposite rotational direction for maintaining the handle in the operative position when the handle is manually moved to the operative position.

2 more elements

An improved steering device for a luggage case having wheels upon which the case can be rolled, comprising a combination therewith:

a handle having a pivoted end and an end adapted to be grasped for steering the case on its wheels;
means connecting the pivoted end of the handle to the case and retaining the handle for pivoting movement between an inoperative position wherein the handle extends generally adjacent a side of the case and an operative position wherein the handle extends outward from the side of the case to be gripped for steering the case on its wheels;
and
means operative on the pivoted end of the handle for biasing the handle to maintain the operative position upon movement of the handle into the operative position and for biasing the handle to maintain the inoperative position upon movement of the handle to the inoperative position, said biasing means comprising a torsion spring having opposite ends and operatively developing an operative force effective between its ends;
and wherein
one end of the spring is connected to the pivoted end of the handle at a location eccentrically spaced with respect to an axis about which the handle pivots.

3 more elements

An improved steering device for a luggage case having wheels upon which the case can be rolled, comprising in combination therewith:

a handle having a pivoted end and an end adapted to be grasped for steering the case on its wheels;
means connecting the pivoted end of the handle to the case and retaining the handle for pivoting movement between an inoperative position wherein the handle extends generally adjacent a side of the case and an operative position wherein the handle extends outward from the side of the case to be gripped for steering the case on its wheels;
and
means operative on the pivoted end of the handle for biasing the handle to maintain the operative position upon movement of the handle into the operative position and for biasing the handle to maintain the inoperative position upon movement of the handle to the inoperative position, said biasing means comprising a spring having opposite ends and operatively developing an operative force effective between its ends;
and wherein
one end of the spring is connected to the pivoted end of the handle at a location eccentrically spaced with respect to an axis about which the handle pivots;
the other end of the spring is mechanically connected in a stationary location spaced from the pivot axis of the handle, and
the one end of the spring is located on one transverse side of a reference line between the pivot axis of the handle and the other end of the spring when the handle is in the operative position and is located on the opposite transverse side of the reference line when the handle is in the inoperative position.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Steering and support handle for wheeled luggage

Life of this patent

Steering and support handle for wheeled luggage

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims23