This application claims priority to Republic of Korea Appln. No. 10-2008-0030244 filed Apr. 1, 2008.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a foldable cross-patterned pull-handle and a bag having the same. More particularly, the present invention relates to a foldable cross-patterned pull-handle having a folding means adapted to be folded or unfolded so that the pull-handle can be installed in a reduced installation space while ensuring that the length can be variously modified, as well as a bag having the same.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As generally known in the art, bags are used to contain documents, clothes, or other types of items and carry them conveniently. Bags come in various sizes and shapes according to the purpose of use or the type of items to be contained.
Among bags, suitcases are used during long trips to contain a number of items in a compact manner and carry them conveniently.
A conventional suitcase 1, as shown in
The handle means 3 is mounted on a lateral surface of the interior of the bag 1 so that it can be retracted/extended. A support means 4 is positioned inside the bag 1 and is provided with a storage space so that the handle means 3 can retract into the space. The handle means 3 has a number of tubes 3a connected to each other so that it can extend/retract and can remain fixed by the support means 4 in a stepwise manner.
When the bag 1 is to be moved, the handle means 3 is extended upward near the waist of the user, and is grabbed by hand to slant the bag 1 relative to the ground. Then, the bag 1 is moved while the wheels 2 roll.
However, the handle means 3 mounted on the bag 1 according to the prior art has a problem in that, as shown in
Furthermore, the length of the handle means 3 is conventionally adjusted in two or three steps, and there are limitations in extending the handle means 3 in conformity with varying physical sizes of users.
Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems occurring in the prior art, and the present invention provides a foldable cross-patterned pull-handle having a handle means installed in a reduced space, as well as a bag having the same.
The present invention also provides a foldable cross-patterned pull-handle having a handle means adapted to be extended up to various lengths to improve user convenience, as well as a bag having the same.
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a foldable cross-patterned pull-handle including a folding means having a plurality of link assemblies so that the folding means can be folded and retracted or unfolded and extended, each link assembly having two links connected to each other so that the links cross each other at a center portion, one end of the folding means being supported on a bag; and a handle means mounted on a second end of the folding means and grabbed by a user with hand.
The handle means includes a handle housing grabbed by the user with hand, a sliding hole extending through a side of the handle housing; and a pair of fixing bars mounted on both ends of the sliding hole so as to slide along the sliding hole, the second end of the folding means being rotatably connected to each fixing bar.
The handle means further includes a fixing means interposed between middle portions of the fixing bars to temporarily suspend a movement of the fixing bars so that the folding means can temporarily remain still after having been extended by a desired length.
The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Hereinafter, a foldable cross-patterned pull-handle and a bag having the same according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description and drawings, the same reference numerals are used to designate the same or similar components, and so repetition of the description on the same or similar components will be omitted.
As shown, a foldable cross-patterned pull-handle according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, as well as a bag having the same, include a support means 10 mounted on the top of a lateral surface of the bag 1, a folding means 20 having one end fixed to the support means 10, a handle means 30 mounted on the other end of the folding means 20 and grabbed by the user with hand, and a fixing means 40 for temporarily fixing the folding means 20 when it has been extended to the length desired by the user.
The folding means 20 has a number of link assemblies 24 connected to each other in the following manner. The first link assembly 24 has first and second links 21 and 22 and a rotation pin 23 rotatably coupling the center of the first link 21 to that of the second link 22 so that they cross each other. First ends of the first and second links 21 and 22 of the first link assembly 24 are rotatably coupled to second ends of the first and second links 21 and 22 of the second link assembly 24 by rotation pins 23, respectively. When the link assemblies 24 are folded, adjacent link assemblies 24 partially overlap each other.
The support means 10 is either positioned inside the bag 1 or mounted on the outside. The support means 10 is preferably mounted in a detachable manner. Although not shown in the drawings, various attaching/detaching methods can be employed, such as using bolts or fixing clamps.
The support means 10 includes a case 11 provided with a receiving space 11a, which has an opening so that the folding means 20 can be received therein, and detachably mounted on the top of the outer peripheral surface of the bag 1, guide rails 12 mounted in the receiving space opposite the opening 11b of the case 11, and sliding plates 13 mounted so as to slide along rails 12a, which are formed on the guide rails 12, and provided with rack gear portions 13a consisting of a number of teeth arranged on a lateral surface in the longitudinal direction, respectively.
Although not shown in the drawings, the first link 21 may have an end coupled to the sliding plates 13 so that it can rotate while sliding, and the second link 22 may have an end hinge-coupled to the bottom of the case 11 so that the folding means 20 is supported while being able to fold/unfold. However, a pair of guide rails 12 is preferably mounted in parallel with each other as shown in the drawings.
As shown, the support means 10 includes a fixing pinion gear 14 rotatably mounted between the sliding plates 13 to engage with respective rack gear portions 13a, and gap maintenance plates 15 fixed to the sliding plates 13. The gap maintenance plates 15 extend toward the position of the folding means 20, and the ends of the first and second links 21 and 22 are rotatably hinge-coupled to the gap maintenance plates 15, respectively.
The handle means 30 includes a handle housing 31 grabbed by the user with hand, a sliding hole 31a extending through one side of the handle housing 31, and fixing bars 32 mounted on both ends of the sliding hole 31a while being able to slide. The other end of the folding means 20 is rotatably connected to the end of the fixing bars 32, which is exposed out of the handle housing 31. More specifically, the ends of the first and second links 21 and 22 are hinge-coupled to the fixing bars 32, respectively. In addition, tubular covers 33 are mounted between the handle housing 31 and the fixing bars 32, respectively. Each cover 33 has a groove 33a formed thereon to avoid interference with other components. The fixing means 40 is interposed between the middle portions of the fixing bars 32.
Although not shown in the drawings, the first link 21 may have an end coupled to the fixing bar 32 so that it can rotate while sliding, and the second link 22 may have an end hinge-coupled to the end of handle housing 31 so that the folding means 20 is supported while being able to fold/unfold. However, a pair of fixing bars 32 is preferably mounted as shown in the drawings.
The fixing means 40 includes rack gears 41 having teeth formed in the longitudinal direction, one end of the rack gears 41 being fixed to the fixing bars 32; a pinion gear 42 mounted between the rack gears 41 to simultaneously mesh with the rack gears 41, the pinion gear 42 having at least one fixing groove 42a formed on a lateral surface; a pinion shaft 43 rotatably fixing the pinion gear 42, the pinion shaft 43 having a fixing protrusion 43a formed on one end and adapted to be temporarily inserted into the fixing groove 42a; an elastic member 44 elastically supporting one end of the pinion shaft 43; and a fixing button 45, to which the other end of the pinion shaft 43 is fixed, and the top of which is exposed to the outside via a button hole 31b formed on the handle housing 31.
The pull-handle according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, which is constructed as described above, is operated in the following manner: as shown in
When the folding means 20 is folded, the handle means 30 and the fixing means 40 move in such a direction that the fixing bars 32 protrude out of the handle housing 32, as shown in
Since respective rack gears 41 mounted on the fixing bars 32 simultaneously mesh with the pinion gear 42, the fixing bars 30 slide while maintaining the same gap with regard to the center of the handle housing 31.
When the elastic member 44 compresses the pinion shaft 43 so that the fixing protrusion 43a is inserted into the fixing groove 42a of the pinion gear 42, as shown in
When the user presses the fixing button 45, the elastic member 44 is deformed, and the pinion shaft 43 is moved, as shown in
As the folding means 20 is folded or unfolded, as shown in
Referring to
The fixing member 136 includes a support portion 136a positioned adjacent to the connection portion 131b, the pinion shaft 135 being fixed to the support portion 136a, an extension portion 136b extending from the support portion 136a to the handle portion 131a, and a fixing button 136c formed on the extension portion 136b, the top of the fixing button 136c being exposed via a button hole 131c, which is formed inside the handle portion 131a of the handle housing 131. One side of the elastic member 137 makes contact with the support portion 136a, and the other side is supported on the inner surface of the handle housing 131. Particularly, the elastic member 137 supports a surface of the support portion 136a opposite the surface on which the pinion shaft 135 is mounted.
The support means 10 and the folding means 20, on which the handle member 130 is mounted, have the same construction and operation as in the first embodiment of the present invention described above.
The foldable cross-patterned pull-handle having the above-mentioned construction is operated in the following manner: when the elastic member 137 compresses the fixing member 136 so that the fixing protrusion 135a formed on the pinion shaft 135 is inserted into the fixing groove 134a formed on the pinion gear 134, as shown in
When the user presses the fixing button 136c, as shown in
Likewise, a foldable cross-patterned pull-handle and a bag having the same according to a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention are constructed as shown in
A support means 210 can be inserted into a bag 1 or mounted on the outside. Preferably the support means 210 is mounted in a detachable manner. Although not shown in the drawings, various attachment/detachment methods can be employed such as fastening bolts or fixing clamps.
In addition, the support means 210 includes a case 211 provided with a receiving space 211a with one open side so that the folding means 20 can be received therein, and detachably mounted on the outer peripheral surface of the bag 1; perpendicular links 212 formed at one end portion of the folding means 20, one end portions thereof being rotatably hinge-coupled respectively to one end portions of the first link 21 and the second link 22; a perpendicular pin 213 coupling and rotatably supporting the other end portions of the perpendicular links 212 each other; and sliding pins 214 mounted at one end portions of the first link 21 and the second link 22 formed at one end portion of the folding means 20.
The case 211 has a fixing groove 215 formed on the lateral surface of the interior of the receiving space 211a, in which both ends of a rotation pin 23 mounted at the center portion of the first link 21 and the second link 22 are fixed; a perpendicular groove 216 recessed at the bottom portion of the fixing groove 215 at a predetermined depth and extending in parallel to the moving trajectory of the folding means 20 so that the perpendicular pin 213 can be slidably inserted therein; and a sliding groove 217 recessed in pairs left and right at a predetermined depth so that the sliding pin 214 can be slidably inserted therein, and extending so as to form an arc with the center at the fixing groove 215.
The construction and operation of the folding means 20 and the handle means 30, 130, which are mounted on the support means 210, are the same as in the first and the second exemplary embodiments of the present invention.
As shown in
Likewise, a foldable cross-patterned pull-handle according to a fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention comprises a handle means 330. As shown in
The fixing means 340 comprises ball housings 341 mounted on both ends of the internal housing 332; sliding balls 341a mounted on the ball housings 341 while being able to roll and protruding toward a center of the internal housing 332; screw shafts 342 mounted on both sides of the sliding hole 331a in the identical directions with each other based on the center of the sliding hole 331a and having screw grooves 342a formed on the outer peripheral surface and wound in the identical directions with each other based on the center of the sliding hole 331a; a bearing 343 rotatably supporting the screw shafts 342; a cover 344, into which the internal housing 332 is inserted, and which is rotatably mounted on the inside of the handle housing 331, and to which the bearing 343 is fixed; brakes 345 mounted on the ends of each screw shaft 342 to be able to temporarily contact each other and having a plurality of friction protrusions formed on each contact surface 345a where the brakes contact each other; springs 346 mounted between each brake 345 and each bearing 343 to press the brakes 345 in the direction that the brakes 345 contact each other; at least one standoff pins 348 movably supported by pin housings 347 so that protruding ends of the standoff pins are temporarily inserted between the brakes 345 so as to be able to separate the brakes 345 contacting each other, and elastically supported in the opposite direction to the position where the brakes 345 are mounted; and pressing protrusions 331b which protrude from a certain portion of the inside of the handle housing 331 by a predetermined height to temporarily press the standoff pins 348 in the direction of the brakes 345.
Preferably, a plurality of the sliding balls 341a are arranged at equal intervals with regard to the screw shaft 342, and the number of the screw grooves 342a formed on the screw shaft 342 is the same as that of the sliding balls 341a. The standoff pins 348 are preferably formed at intervals of 180 degrees so as to be symmetrical to each other, and the pressing protrusions 331b are also formed at two positions corresponding to those of the standoff pins 348. Additionally, compression springs are preferably interposed between the standoff pins 348 and the pin housings 347 so as to elastically support the standoff pins 348.
The foldable cross-patterned pull-handle according to a fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention, which is constructed as described above, is operated in the following manner: as shown in
Since the first link 21 and the second link 22 are folded or unfolded based on the rotation pin 23 mounted at the center portion of the first link 21 and the second link 22, the fixing bars 333 formed on both sides of the handle housing 331 slide while maintaining the same gap with regard to the center of the handle housing 331, and the sliding balls 341a connected to the fixing bars 333 move in the left or right direction so that each screw shaft 342 having the screw grooves 342a can simultaneously rotate.
When the folding means is to be unfolded, the handle housing 331 is rotated as shown in
When the brakes 345 are separated to be able to rotate as above, the screw shaft 342 can also rotate. Accordingly, since the sliding balls 341a inserted and fixed in the screw grooves 342a can roll and move along the screw grooves 342a rotating, the folding means 20 can be folded or unfolded. In other words, when the brakes 345 closely contacting each other are separated by the standoff pins 348 so that each brake 345 can rotate and be unfixed, the length of the folding means 20 can be adjusted.
When the folding means 20 is to be fixed while unfolded by a specific length, as shown in
As mentioned above, the foldable cross-patterned pull-handle according to the present invention is advantageous in that the folding means, which is adapted to be folded/unfolded, is installed in a reduced installation space, compared with conventional pull-handles. As a result, the bag can contain more items. This improves the performance of the product.
Furthermore, the user can use the fixing means, which is mounted on the handle means, to extend the folding means up to a desired length and temporarily fix it in any extended condition. This improves user convenience.
Although an exemplary embodiment of the present invention has been described for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions, and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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10-2008-0030244 | Apr 2008 | KR | national |
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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1628563 | Taylor | May 1927 | A |
3112135 | Salomonson | Nov 1963 | A |
4109952 | Monzain | Aug 1978 | A |
Number | Date | Country |
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1201632 | Dec 1998 | CN |
2653316 | Jun 1978 | DE |
2272574 | Jan 1976 | FR |
2111917 | Jul 1983 | GB |
0322564 | Aug 2003 | KR |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20090242342 A1 | Oct 2009 | US |