Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6609271
-
Patent Number
6,609,271
-
Date Filed
Wednesday, July 18, 200122 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, August 26, 200320 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
- Will; Thomas B.
- Mayo; Tara L.
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 016 1131
- 016 405
- 016 249
- 280 6551
- 280 655
- 280 47371
- 280 4717
- 190 115
- 190 18 A
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A locking device for handle assembly with multiple stages wherein a lock member of higher lock may move into the lock hole of the next lower lock for causing a lock pin of the next lower lock to disengage. Further, there is no horizontal component force created on the slope because the lock member of the higher lock inserts into the lock hole of next lower lock as well as higher lock and next lower lock are engaged in a planar surface. This ensures that there is no gap between the higher and next lower lock such that the fully retracted handle grip may rest on the bezel.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a locking device for a retractable handle of wheeled luggage and more particularly to such a locking device for handle assembly with multiple stages.
2. Description of Related Art
Typically, a single locking device is provided in the retractable handle for controlling the handle in a retracted position and an extended position. That is, the retractable handle may be extended to a maximum length when towing on the ground by traveler as well as retracted into a minimum length (i.e., rested on the top of luggage) appropriate for stowage or transport. It is known that luggage equipped with a retractable handle is very popular among travelers. Thus many types of luggage with retractable handle are commercially available in which most of the retractable handles are two stages, i.e., the handle either in a retracted position with minimum length or in an extended position with maximum length. This may be found in the disclosure of U.S. Pat. No. 5,581,846. A few of the retractable handles have a multiple retaining slots design. This may be found in the disclosure of U.S. Pat. No. 5,628,088. The multiple retaining slots design aims at providing a variable handle length when towing along the ground in order to accommodate different heights of people. However, it is also found that luggage have a variety of sizes and heights. The multiple retaining slots design can not completely solve the problems associated with two stages handle. This is because an optimum retractable handle should comply with a plurality of factors such as sex, age, and height of user in no connection with whether retractable handle is two stages or has multiple retaining slots as detailed below.
Various designs of locking devices for handle assembly with multiple retaining slots have been found in a search as follows: Taiwanese Patent Published No. 362,404 entitled “Activation Mechanism for Retractable Handle with Multiple Retaining Slots of Luggage” and No. 368,815 entitled “Improved Activation Mechanism for Retractable Handle with Multiple Retaining Slots of Luggage”. But these are unsatisfactory for the purpose for which the invention is concerned for the following reasons:
1. Complex in components, for example, an additional central member
19
, a lower positioning member
63
of sub-assembly
60
, and other associated members are provided.
2. Time consuming in assembly.
3. A horizontal component force is applied on the slope when lock blocks (or pins) are activated by slanted guide groove. This causes additional drawbacks in addition to those described above. In detail, the ratio of extendible maximum length to retractable minimum length is significantly lowered due to the implementation of multiple-segment longitudinal slanted guide groove. This limits the effective length of extended handle. Thus improvement is desirable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a locking device for handle assembly with multiple stages for significantly increasing the ratio of extendible maximum length to retractable minimum length of handle such that a predetermined extendible length is achievable.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a locking device for handle assembly with multiple stages wherein lock member of first locking means is provided at the bottom of first housing of the first locking means capable of directly moving into the lock hole of the second locking means so as to cause lock pin of the second locking means to become disengaged; and lock member of second locking means is capable of directly moving into the lock hole of the third locking means so as to cause lock pin of the third locking means to become disengaged. As such, lock member of higher locking means is capable of directly moving into the lock hole of the next lower locking means so as to cause lock pin of the next lower locking means to become disengaged. Further, there is no horizontal component force created on the slope as occurred in the prior art because the lock member of the higher locking means directly inserts into the lock hole of next lower locking means as well as higher locking means and next lower locking means are engaged in a planar surface. This ensures that there is no gap between the higher and next lower locking means such that the handle grip of the fully retracted handle may rest on the bezel.
To achieve the above and other objects, the present invention provides a locking device for handle assembly with multiple stages comprising:
a first sliding tube; a first locking means detachably attached to the bottom of the first sliding tube; a second sliding tube for allowing the first sliding tube to slidingly move therein having an upper hole and a lower hole; a second locking means detachably attached to the bottom of the second sliding tube; a third sliding tube for allowing the second sliding tube to slidingly move therein having an upper hole and a lower hole; a third locking means detachably attached to the bottom of the third sliding tube; a support tube for allowing the third sliding tube to slidingly move therein having an upper hole and a lower hole; and a first connecting means connected between a push button and the first locking means.
Whereby the handle is retracted when the push button is not pressed, the first sliding tube is received in the second sliding tube, the second sliding tube is received in the third sliding, the third sliding tube is received in the support tube, the lock projection of the first locking means is engaged with the lower hole of the second sliding tube, the bottom of the first locking means is biased against the top of the sliding block of the second locking means so as to move the lock member of the first locking means into the lock hole of the second locking means to cause the first end of the lock pin of the second locking means to retract into the third sliding tube, the second end of the lock pin of the second locking means to extend into the lower hole of the third sliding tube, the bottom of the second locking means is biased against the top of the sliding block of the third locking means so as to move the lock member of the second locking means into the lock hole of the third locking means to cause the first end of the lock-pin of the third locking means to retract into the support tube, and the second end of the lock pin of the third locking means to extend into the lower hole of the support tube, whereby the handle is locked in a retracted position.
The push button is pressed. Then handle is pulled upward to cause the first locking means to move up so as to move the lock pin of the first locking means into lower hole of the second sliding tube. Grasp handle grip to pull first sliding tube upward so as to move the lock pin of the second locking means into the upper hole of the third locking means for disengaging the lock member on the bottom of first locking means from lock hole of the second locking means. Then the second end of the lock pin of the second locking means retracts to become disengaged to cause the second locking means to move up as the second sliding tube and the first sliding tube move up together until the second lock pin comes into contact with upper hole of the third sliding tube and locks therein. At the same time, the lock member on the bottom of second locking means disengages from the lock hole of the third locking means. Then the second end of the lock pin of the second locking means retracts to become disengaged to cause the third locking means to move up as the third sliding tube and the second sliding tube move up together until the third lock pin comes into contact with upper hole of the support tube and locks therein. Now handle is in a fully extended position for allowing luggage to be towed along the ground.
In one aspect of the invention the locking device for handle assembly with multiple stages is provided wherein the locking device comprises a longitudinal lock hole, a lateral lock hole, and a lock pin at the bottom. Further, longitudinal lock hole and lateral lock hole are in communication each other. Longitudinal lock hole has a lock block being movable to either right or left to lock thereto. As such, lock block is locked in upper hole of the corresponding tube when handle is pulled up to its maximum length, while lock block is locked in lower hole of the corresponding tube when handle is pushed down to its minimum length.
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is an exploded perspective view of a first embodiment of a locking device for handle assembly with multiple stages of wheeled luggage of the invention;
FIG. 2
is a greatly enlarged fragmentary view showing the first, second, and third locking means of
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 3
is another greatly enlarged fragmentary view showing the first, second, and third locking means of
FIG. 1
;
FIGS. 4A and 4B
are first and second sectional views of first to third locking means where handle is fully retracted;
FIG. 5
is similar to
FIG. 4
where second locking means disengages from first locking means while handle is pulling up;
FIGS. 6A and 6B
are first and second sectional views of first to third locking means where handle is extended to its maximum length;
FIG. 7
is an exploded perspective view of a second embodiment of a locking device for handle assembly with multiple stages of wheeled luggage of the invention;
FIG. 8
is an exploded view of a third embodiment of a locking device for handle assembly with multiple stages of wheeled luggage of the invention;
FIG. 9
is a perspective view showing the assembled locking device shown in
FIG. 8
;
FIG. 10
is a sectional view of first locking means of
FIG. 7
; and
FIG. 11
is a sectional view of second locking means of FIG.
8
.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to
FIGS. 1-6
, there is shown a locking device for handle assembly of wheeled luggage constructed in accordance with the first embodiment of the invention wherein handle assembly is provided on the back of luggage with a handle grip H and a push button B received in a bezel on top of luggage.
Note that because the handle system is bilaterally symmetrical so that description of one side serves to describe the entirety. Thus the handle system of the invention comprises: a first sliding tube
10
having a lower hole
13
and an upper hole
12
attached to one end of handle grip H by a known fastener; a first locking means
20
detachably attached to the bottom of first sliding tube
10
by a pin
14
; a second sliding tube
40
for allowing first sliding tube
10
to slidingly move therein having a top and lower holes
41
and
42
on a first side, left and right apertures
43
, and pin holes
44
on either top or bottom side; a first sleeve member
30
provided on the top of second sliding tube
40
having two detents
32
provided on two opposing sides matingly engaged with left and right apertures
43
of second sliding tube
40
; a second locking means
50
detachably attached to lower pin hole
44
of the second sliding tube
40
by a pin
514
; a third sliding tube
60
for allowing second sliding tube
40
to slidingly move therein having a top and lower holes
61
and
62
on a first side, two apertures
63
on either second or third side, and pin holes
64
on either top or bottom side; and a second sleeve member
30
A provided on the top of third sliding tube
60
having two detents
32
A provided on two opposing sides matingly engaged with apertures
63
of third sliding tube
60
; a third locking means
70
detachably attached to lower pin hole
64
of the third sliding tube
60
by a pin
714
; a support tube
80
for allowing the third sliding tube
60
to slidingly move therein having an upper hole
81
and a lower hole
82
on a first side, two apertures
83
on either second or third side at the top portion, and pin holes
84
on bottom side; a third sleeve member
30
B provided on the top of support tube
80
having two detents
32
B provided on two opposing sides matingly engaged with apertures
83
of support tube
80
; and a support
90
provided at the bottom of support tube
80
being secured to pin holes
84
of support tube
80
.
As shown in
FIGS. 2 and 3
, the first locking means
20
comprises a first housing
21
having an upper portion
210
with a guide groove
212
and a pin hole
213
such that pin
14
may insert through lower hole
13
of first sliding tube
10
and pin hole
213
to secure first locking means
20
and first sliding tube
10
together; and a lower portion
214
with a cavity
215
; a spring
23
provided in the cavity
215
of first housing
21
; a lock block
24
provided in the cavity
215
of first housing
21
having a lock projection
240
on a first side, a split aperture
241
on a second side, an aperture
241
A in communication with the aperture
241
, an elongate protrusion
243
on the top of lock block
24
being matingly engaged with internal elongate groove
215
A on top of cavity
215
of first housing
21
; a lock member
217
provided on the bottom of first housing
21
; and a steel cable
22
having an enlargement on one end (not shown) being secured to handle grip H and an enlargement
221
on the other end being secured in the aperture
241
A through the guide groove
212
, cavity
215
(FIG.
3
), and aperture
241
such that a pressing of the push button B may be transmitted to first locking means
20
through the movement of steel cable
22
.
The second locking means
50
comprises a second housing
51
, springs
52
and
54
, sliding lock block
53
having a sliding block
532
and a second lower lock pin
531
, and second lock block
55
having a second upper lock pin
551
, a second lower lock hole
552
, a lock member
517
provided on the bottom of second housing
51
, and a groove
553
wherein the upper portion of the second housing
51
having a plurality of longitudinal lock holes
5110
, upper lock hole
5111
(FIG.
4
), recess
513
, and pin hole
5114
wherein longitudinal lock holes
5110
are in communication with upper lock hole
5111
, pin
514
is received in hole
5114
for securing second housing
51
to lower pin hole
44
of second sliding tube
40
(FIG.
1
), lower portion
512
of second housing
51
receives lateral lock hole
5120
of second lock block
55
, lateral lock hole
5120
is in communication with longitudinal lock hole
5110
and upper lock hole
5111
, groove
553
receives spring
54
and sliding lock block
53
, a projection
533
is protruded on sliding block
532
of sliding lock block
53
, the projection
533
conforms with groove
553
while larger than the mouth of groove
553
as such projection
533
can be inserted in groove
553
from the open bottom, a circular recess
534
(
FIG. 2
) is provided on the other side of projection
533
for receiving spring
54
therein such that lock pin
531
is always protruded by the expansion of spring
54
, second upper lock pin
551
is protruded when spring
52
is put on second lower lock pin
531
, while second upper lock pin
551
is retracted when lock member
217
is inserted in second lower lock hole
552
as detailed below.
Handle is retracted when push button B is not pressed (FIGS.
4
A and
4
B). First sliding tube
10
is received in second sliding tube
40
, second sliding tube
40
is received in third sliding tube
60
, and third sliding tube
60
is received in support tube
80
. Projection
240
of lock block
24
of first locking means
20
at the bottom of first sliding tube
10
is biased by spring
23
to engage with lower hole
47
of second sliding tube
40
. The lock member
217
at the bottom of the first locking means
20
is engaged with the longitudinal lock hole
5110
and upper lock hole
5111
of second locking means
50
so as to retract second upper lock pin
551
of the lock block
55
of the second locking means
50
into the third sliding tube
60
. Similarly, second lower lock pin
531
of the second locking means
50
is engaged with the lower hole
62
of third sliding tube
60
so as to retract third upper lock pin
751
of the third locking means
70
to cause third lower lock pin
731
to engage with lower hole
82
of support tube
80
. Whereby the handle is locked in a retracted position (FIGS.
4
A and
4
B).
First press the push button B. Then handle is pulled upward. That is, steel cable
22
of the first locking means
20
is moved up so as to bias spring
23
of the first locking means
20
. Further, the lock projection
240
of lock block
24
clears lower hole
42
of second sliding tube
40
(FIG.
5
). As such, grasp handle grip to pull first sliding tube
10
upward for separating the lock member
217
at the bottom of first locking means
20
from lower lock hole
552
of the second locking means
50
. Then second upper lock pin
551
of the second locking means
50
extends outwardly to come into contact with the inner wall of third sliding tube
60
. Once first sliding tube
10
is not able to pull up along the second sliding tube
40
any more, second sliding tube
40
begins to move up so as to move second locking means
50
up to the position of second upper lock pin
551
. At the same time, first sliding tube
10
begins to pull up again until projection
240
of lock block
24
of first locking means
20
comes into upper hole
41
of the second sliding tube
40
to lock therein. Similarly, second sliding tube
40
and third sliding tube
60
move up sequentially until second upper lock pin
551
of second locking means
50
comes into upper hole
61
of the third sliding tube
60
, and second upper lock pin
751
of third locking means
70
comes into upper hole
81
of the support tube
80
to lock therein both. Now handle is in a fully extended position for allowing luggage to be towed along the ground (FIGS.
6
A and
6
B). To the contrary, press push button B to retract handle which in turn causes pin
240
of lock block
24
attached to cable
22
to escape engagement with upper hole
41
of second sliding tube
40
. Whereby first sliding tube
10
may receive within second sliding tube
40
until lock member
217
at the bottom of first locking means
20
comes into contact with the lock hole
552
of the second locking means
50
. This causes second upper lock pin
551
of second locking means
50
to clear upper hole
61
of third sliding tube
60
. Also, lock pin
751
of third upper lock block
75
of third locking means
70
clears upper hole
81
of support tube
80
when push button is pressed again. As such, first sliding tube
10
may receive in second sliding tube
40
, second sliding tube
40
may receive in third sliding tube
60
, and third sliding tube
60
may receive in support tube
80
. Now the handle is fully retracted (FIGS.
4
A and
4
B).
Note that the first locking means
20
is a master means, while second and third locking means
50
and
70
are slave means (i.e., there are two slave means in this embodiment). As such, the number of slave means may increase or decrease in other embodiments based on needs. Further, the number of sliding tubes may increase or decrease too. As a result, a handle assembly with multiple locking means and a plurality of constituent tubes are carried out, thereby enabling handle to extend and lock in one of a plurality of selective positions thereof.
A second embodiment of locking device of the invention is illustrated in
FIGS. 7-10
. As shown, housing
21
A first locking means
20
and lock pin
217
A are separately formed. For assembling these components, a groove
216
is provided in the bottom of housing
21
A, a tab
2161
(
FIG. 10
) is provided within groove
216
, a rectangular planar member
2170
is provided on top of lock pin
217
A, and a flexible tab
2171
is provided in the front side facing housing
21
A. In assembly, directly insert rectangular planar member
2170
into groove
216
of housing
21
A to cause flexible tab
2171
to matingly secure to tab
2161
to finish the assembly (FIG.
10
). To further secure the lock block
24
to the cavity
215
, a lock projection
2151
with finger
2152
is provided on one inner side of cavity
215
so as to lock the recess (not shown) on side portion of the lock block
24
to cause the flexible projection
2151
to matingly secure to the recess to easily finish assembly.
Two lateral outer groove
5115
are provided on either side of upper portion
511
of second housing
51
and two corresponding inner lateral grooves
502
are provided on two sides of lower portion of the protective member
500
and a longitudinal groove
501
is also provided on the protective member
500
so as to protect upper portions
210
and
511
of housings
21
A and
51
A from being deformed caused by force exerted by engaged handle thereon which may neutralize the locking capability of the locking device. As such, the protective member
500
may secure first and second locking means
20
and
50
together for protecting second housing
51
from being deformed due to exerted force as well as causing longitudinal groove
501
to provide a protection thereto when lock pin
217
A is prolonged, thereby providing a normal unlocking capability. Note that the description of other components is the same as that of first embodiment and thus a detailed description is omitted herein for the sake of brevity.
A third embodiment of locking device of the invention is illustrated in FIGS.
8
-
10
. As shown, housing
51
A of second locking means
50
is made the same as first housing
21
A of second embodiment. For example, a groove
516
is provided at the bottom of second housing
51
A, a rectangular planar member
5170
and a flexible tab
5171
are provided in lock pin
517
A, and a protective member
500
. These components have the same functionalities as that shown in second embodiment. Thus a detailed description thereof is omitted herein for the sake of brevity. Note that protective member
500
is provided on second housing
51
A in the second embodiment, while protective member
500
is provided on third housing
71
in the third embodiment. The protective member
500
serves as a protection to the housing from being deformed caused by exerted force when handle is pulled or pushed.
While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention set forth in the claims.
Claims
- 1. A handle assembly provided on a luggage having a handle including a push button received in a recessed portion on the top of the luggage, either side of the handle assembly comprising:a first sliding tube; a first locking means having a first housing detachably attached to a bottom of the first sliding tube; a second sliding tube allowing the first sliding tube to slidingly move therein and having an upper hole and a lower hole; a second locking means having a second housing detachably attached to a bottom of the second sliding tube; a third sliding tube allowing the second sliding tube to slidingly move therein and having an upper hole and a lower hole; a third locking means detachably attached to a bottom of the third sliding tube; a support tube allowing the third sliding tube to slidingly move therein and having an upper hole and a lower hole; and a first connecting means connected between the push button and the first locking means; whereby, when the handle is retracted and the push button is not pressed, the first sliding tube is received in the second sliding tube, the second sliding tube is received in the third sliding tube, the third sliding tube is received in the support tube, a lock projection of the first locking means is engaged with the lower hole of the second sliding tube, a bottom of the first locking means is biased against a top of a sliding block of the second locking means so as to move a lock member of the first locking means into a lock hole of the second locking means to cause a first end of a lock pin of the second locking means to retract into the third sliding tube, a second end of a lock pin of the second locking means to extend into the lower hole of the third sliding tube, a bottom of the second locking means is biased against a top of a sliding block of the third locking means so as to move a lock member of the second locking means into a lock hole of the third locking means to cause a first end of a lock pin of the third locking means to retract into the support tube, and a second end of the lock pin of the third locking means to extend into the lower hole of the support tube, whereby the handle is locked in a retracted position; wherein when the push button is pressed, the lock projection of the first locking means is retracted into the second sliding tube, the handle is pulled upward to cause the first locking means to move up so as to move the lock projection of the first locking means into the upper hole of the second sliding tube, when the handle grip is further pull the first sliding tube upward to disengage the lock member on the bottom of the first locking means from the lock hole of the second locking means, the second end of the lock pin of the second locking means retracts to become tube and the first sliding tube move up together until the first end of the lock pin of disengaged to cause the second locking means to move up as the second sliding second locking means comes into contact with the upper hole of the third sliding tube and locks therein, the lock member on the bottom of the second locking means disengages from the lock hole of the third locking means, the second end of the lock pin of the third locking means retracts to become disengaged to cause the third locking means to move up as the third sliding tube and the second sliding tube move up together until the first end of the lock pin of third locking means comes into contact with the upper hole of the support tube and locks therein, and the handle is in a fully extended position.
- 2. The handle assembly of claim 1, wherein the second locking means comprises the second housing, a first spring received in the second housing, a sliding lock block, a second spring provided on the sliding lock block, a second lock block, and a lock member provided in the bottom of the second housing.
- 3. The handle assembly of claim 2, wherein the upper portion of the second locking housing includes a projection conformed to the bore of the second sliding tube for engaging with the bottom of the second sliding tube.
- 4. The handle assembly of claim 2, wherein the lower portion of the second locking means includes a lateral groove for receiving the second lock block, a longitudinal lock hole being in communication with the lateral groove, a lock pin for putting the spring thereon in one end, and the lock pin in the other end receivable in the upper hole of third sliding tube.
- 5. The handle assembly of claim 1, wherein the first locking means comprises a first housing with a cavity having a spring provided therein, a lock block having a lock projection provided in the cavity of the first locking means, and a lock member provided in the bottom of the first housing.
- 6. The handle assembly of claim 1, wherein the first locking means is a master member and the second and third locking means are slave members controlled by the first locking means.
- 7. The handle assembly of claim 1, wherein the lock member provided in the bottom of each of the locking means is formed separately from the housing thereof prior to assembling.
- 8. The handle assembly of claim 1, wherein the upper portion of each of the locking means further comprises a protective member being engaged with the housing of each of the locking means for protecting the housing of each of the locking means from being deformed caused by force exerted by an engaged handle thereon.
- 9. A handle assembly provided on a luggage having a handle including a push button received in a recessed portion on the top of the luggage, either side of the handle assembly comprising:a first sliding tube; a first locking means detachably attached to the bottom of the first sliding tube; a second sliding tube for allowing the first sliding tube to slidingly move therein having an upper hole and a lower hole; a second locking means detachably attached to the bottom of the second sliding tube; a support tube for allowing the third sliding tube to slidingly move therein having an upper hole and a lower hole; and a first connecting means connected between the push button and the first locking means; whereby the handle is retracted when the push button is not pressed, the first sliding tube is received in the second sliding tube, the second sliding tube is received in the support tube, a lock projection of the first locking means is engaged with the lower hole of the second sliding tube, a bottom of the first locking means is biased against a top of a sliding block of the second locking means so as to move a lock member of the first locking means into a lock hole of the second locking means to cause the first end of a lock pin of the second locking means to retract into the lower hole of the support tube, whereby the handle is locked in a retracted position; wherein when the push button is pressed, the lock projection of the first locking means is retracted into the second sliding tube, the handle is pulled upward to cause the first locking means to move up so as to move the lock projection of the first locking means into the upper hole of the second sliding tube, when the handle grip is further pull the first sliding tube upward to disengage the lock member on the bottom of the first locking means from the lock hole of the second locking means, the second locking means to move up as the second sliding tube and the first sliding tube both move up together until the first end of lock pin of the second locking means comes into contact with the upper hole of the second sliding tube and locks therein, and the handle is in a fully extended position.
- 10. The handle assembly of claim 9, wherein the second locking means comprises a second housing, a first spring received in the second housing, a sliding lock block, a second spring provided on the sliding lock block, a second lock block, and a lock member provided in the bottom of the second housing.
- 11. The handle assembly of claim 10, wherein the upper portion of the second locking housing includes a projection conformed to the bore of the second sliding tube for engaging with the bottom of the second sliding tube.
- 12. The handle assembly of claim 10, wherein the lower portion of the second locking means includes a lateral groove for receiving the second lock block and a longitudinal lock hole being in communication with the lateral groove.
- 13. The handle assembly of claim 9, wherein the first locking means comprises a first housing with a cavity having a spring provided therein, a lock block provided in the cavity of the first locking means, and a lock member provided in the bottom of the first housing.
- 14. The handle assembly of claim 9, wherein the first locking means is a master member and the second locking means is a slave member controlled by the first locking means.
- 15. The handle assembly of claim 9, wherein the lock member provided in the bottom of each of the locking means is formed separately from the housing thereof prior to assembling.
- 16. The handle assembly of claim 9, wherein the upper portion of each of the locking means further comprises a protective member being engaged with the housing of each of the locking means for protecting the housing of each of the locking means from being deformed caused by force exerted by engaged handle thereon.
- 17. A handle assembly provided on a luggage having a handle including a support tube, a sliding tube slidingly received in the support tube, and a push button received in a recessed portion on the top of the luggage, either side of the handle assembly including a locking device comprising a longitudinal lock hole, a lateral lock hole, and a lock pin at the bottom wherein the longitudinal lock hole and the lateral lock hole are in communication, the longitudinal lock hole has a lock block being movable to either right or left side to lock thereto, the lock block is locked in an upper hole of the support tube when the handle is pulled up to its maximum length, and the lock block is locked in a lower hole of the support tube when the handle is pushed down to its minimum length.
- 18. The handle assembly of claim 17, further comprising at least one slave member being controlled by the locking device and activated by the push button to form a multiple stage retractable handle.
US Referenced Citations (10)
Foreign Referenced Citations (2)
Number |
Date |
Country |
362404 |
Jun 1999 |
CN |
368815 |
Sep 1999 |
CN |