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US 7,093,323 B2Granted
Ergonomic handle for a carrying case
AssigneeACCO Brands USA LLC
InventorsJosh Morenstein, Gad Amit
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An ergonomic handle that includes a male portion and a female portion. The male portion nest in the female portion to form a single, preferably rigid, form. The stiffness of the handle spreads the load of the case more evenly across all the fingers thereby helping to reduce fatigue.
Claims20
A handle for attachment to a carrying case, the handle comprising:
- a first rigid plastic portion comprising an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion defining a substantially horizontal receiving area and the lower portion defining a first carrying case engagement portion;
- and
- a second rigid plastic portion comprising an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion defining a substantially horizontal nesting part that is configured to nest within the substantially horizontal receiving area and the lower portion defining a second carrying case engagement portion,
- wherein the nesting part is configured to pivot within the receiving area, and the handle is configured to continue to be ergonomic as the substantially horizontal nesting part pivots within the substantially horizontal receiving area, and
- wherein the first carrying case engagement portion is adapted to pivot inwardly with respect to the carrying case, and
- wherein the second carrying case engagement portion is adapted to pivot inwardly with respect to the carrying case while the first carrying case engagement portion pivots inward;
- wherein the first and second carrying case engagement portions each comprise an elongated horizontal portion that is configured to be attached to the carrying case.
4 more elements
An apparatus comprising:
- a carrying case;
- at least two handle engagement portions;
- and
- a handle comprising
- a first rigid plastic portion comprising an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion defining a substantially horizontal receiving area and the lower portion defining a first carrying case engagement portion that engages at least one of the at least two handle engagement portions, and
- a second rigid plastic portion comprising an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion defining a substantially horizontal nesting part that is configured to nest within the substantially horizontal receiving area and the lower portion defining a second carrying case engagement portion that engages at least one of the at least two handle engagement portions,
- wherein the nesting part is capable of pivoting within the receiving area, and wherein the handle is configured to continue to be ergonomic when the substantially horizontal nesting part pivots within the substantially horizontal receiving area, and
- wherein the first carrying case engagement portion is adapted to pivot inwardly with respect to the carrying case and wherein the second carrying case engagement portion is adapted to pivot inwardly with respect to the carrying case while the first carrying case engagement portion pivots inward;
- wherein the first and second carrying case engagement portions each comprise an elongated horizontal portion that is configured to be attached to the carrying case.
6 more elements
A method of varying dimensions of a carrying case in an apparatus including the carrying case, at least two handle engagement portions and a handle,
- the handle comprising
- a first rigid plastic portion comprising an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion defining a substantially horizontal receiving area and the lower portion defining a first carrying case engagement portion that engages at least one of the at least two handle engagement portions, and
- a second rigid plastic portion comprising an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion defining a substantially horizontal nesting part that nests within the substantially horizontal receiving area when the handle is in use and the lower portion defining a second carrying case engagement portion that engages at least one of the at least two handle engagement portions,
- wherein the nesting part is capable of pivoting within the receiving area, the method comprising:
- placing the nesting part of the second rigid portion in the substantially horizontal receiving area in the first rigid portion;
- and
- pivoting the nesting part within the receiving area and also pivoting the first and second carrying case engagement portions with respect to the carrying case;
- and
- varying the width of the carrying case,
- wherein the handle is configured to continue to be ergonomic as the substantially horizontal nesting part pivots within the substantially horizontal receiving area;
- wherein the first and second carrying case engagement portions each comprise an elongated horizontal portion that is configured to be attached to the carrying case.
8 more elements
A handle for attachment to a carrying case, the handle comprising:
- a first rigid plastic portion comprising an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion defining a substantially horizontal receiving area and the lower portion defining a first carrying case engagement portion;
- and
- a second rigid plastic portion comprising an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion defining a substantially horizontal nesting part that is configured to nest within the substantially horizontal receiving area and the lower portion defining a second carrying case engagement portion,
- wherein the nesting part is configured to pivot within the receiving area, and the handle is configured to continue to be ergonomic as the substantially horizontal nesting part pivots within the substantially horizontal receiving area, and
- wherein the first carrying case engagement portion is adapted to pivot inwardly with respect to the carrying case, and
- wherein the second carrying case engagement portion is adapted to pivot inwardly with respect to the carrying case while the first carrying case engagement portion pivots inward;
- wherein the first and second carrying case engagement portions each comprise an elongated horizontal portion that is configured to be attached to the carrying case.
4 more elements
An apparatus comprising:
- a carrying case;
- at least two handle engagement portions;
- and
- a handle comprising
- a first rigid plastic portion comprising an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion defining a substantially horizontal receiving area and the lower portion defining a first carrying case engagement portion that engages at least one of the at least two handle engagement portions, and
- a second rigid plastic portion comprising an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion defining a substantially horizontal nesting part that is configured to nest within the substantially horizontal receiving area and the lower portion defining a second carrying case engagement portion that engages at least one of the at least two handle engagement portions,
- wherein the nesting part is capable of pivoting within the receiving area, and wherein the handle is configured to continue to be ergonomic when the substantially horizontal nesting part pivots within the substantially horizontal receiving area, and
- wherein the first carrying case engagement portion is adapted to pivot inwardly with respect to the carrying case and wherein the second carrying case engagement portion is adapted to pivot inwardly with respect to the carrying case while the first carrying case engagement portion pivots inward;
- wherein the first and second carrying case engagement portions each comprise an elongated horizontal portion that is configured to be attached to the carrying case.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.