Luggage handle control structure for adjusting handle direction

Information

  • Patent Application
  • 20040124053
  • Publication Number
    20040124053
  • Date Filed
    December 31, 2002
    21 years ago
  • Date Published
    July 01, 2004
    20 years ago
Abstract
An improved luggage handle control structure for adjusting handle direction and particularly a turnable handle for controlling the handle direction of the luggage mainly includes a handle section, a control section, an adjusting section and a coupling section. The handle section has a bucking member running through a control slot of a coupling member of the control section. The bucking member has a concave section pressing the top end of a push rod, and an upper sloped angle and a lower sloped angle. When the pushbutton is depressed, the bucking member is moved forwards, the upper sloped angle also is moved forwards concurrently to push the coupling member upwards. Therefore the retaining block wedged in the coupling trough is moved upwards and separates from the coupling trough to enable the handle section to be turned as desired.
Description


BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention


[0002] The invention relates to a luggage handle control structure for adjusting handle direction and particularly a turnable handle for controlling the handle direction of the luggage.


[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art


[0004] The handle of conventional luggage generally is movable in only one direction (i.e. parallel with the luggage) and cannot be moved in other directions. Moreover, the handle of the luggage provides merely extension or retraction movement. However, users have different habits of using hands and preferences. For instance, some people are left-handed and some are right-handed. And some people want the handle be altered and directed to different directions. With such diversity of demands for versatility and functionality, the conventional design and construction cannot meet all these requirements. There is a growing demand to develop and introduce innovative luggage handles to differentiate from the conventional ones, and to meet different requirements of consumers and to gain competitive edge on the market.



SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] Therefore the primary object of the invention is to provide a turnable handle to enable the handle direction of luggage be changed as desired.


[0006] The foregoing, as well as additional objects, features and advantages of the invention will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings.







BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention.


[0008]
FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the invention.


[0009]
FIG. 2A is a perspective view of the upper shell of the invention.


[0010]
FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the invention showing the handle section, control section and adjusting section in a position before depressed.


[0011]
FIG. 4 is a cross section taken along line A-A in FIG. 3.


[0012]
FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the invention showing the adjusting section, coupling section and extensible tube in a position before depressed.


[0013]
FIG. 6 is a cross section taken along line B-B in FIG. 5.


[0014]
FIG. 7 is a schematic view of the handle section turned to a different direction.


[0015]
FIG. 8 is a sectional view of another embodiment of the invention before the pushbutton being depressed.


[0016]
FIG. 9 is a sectional view of another embodiment of the invention after the pushbutton being depressed.







DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0017] Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 2A, the invention mainly includes a handle section 1, a control section 2, an adjusting section 3 and a coupling section 4.


[0018] The handle section 1 includes an upper shell 11 and a lower shell 12 fastening together by means of screws 13. The upper shell 11 has an opening 111 located on one end thereof for housing a pushbutton 14. The lower shell 12 has a housing compartment 121 corresponding to the opening 111 of the upper shell 11 for holding a spring 122. The spring 122 has another end coupling with a strut 141 of the pushbutton 14. In addition, the upper shell 11 and the lower shell 12 have respectively a retaining trough 112 and 123 for holding a bucking member 124 and a spring 125. And the lower shell 12 has a cavity 126 formed on a lower side to engage with the control section 2. The bucking member 124 has a concave section 1241 to press the top end of a push rod 22 of the control section 2, and an upper sloped angle 1242 and a lower sloped angle 1243.


[0019] The control section 2 has a connecting member 21 which has a lower end pivotally engaged with the adjusting section 3 by means of a rivet 211 and an upper end forming a coupling trough 212. The connecting member 21 also has a neck 213 formed by plastic injection for housing in the cavity 126. The connecting member 21 has a hole 214 formed in the center to enable the push rod 22 to run through from the lower end to the upper end thereof. The push rod 22 has another end running through a coupling member 23. The coupling member 23 has an upper side forming a retaining block 231 for wedging in the coupling trough 212 of the connecting member 21. In the retaining block 231, there is a control slot 232 to receive the bucking member 124.


[0020] The adjusting section 3 includes an upper casing 31 and a lower casing 32 fastening together by means of screws. There is an aperture 311 to pivotally engage with the rivet 211 of the control section 2 and an anchor hole 312.


[0021] The coupling section 4 includes a left coupling duct 41 and a right coupling duct 42 that have a bottom end connecting to an extensible tube 5 of the pulling bar. The left coupling duct 41 and the right coupling duct 42 have one end pivotally engaging with the adjusting section 3.


[0022] Refer to FIGS. 3 and 4 for the invention before being depressed. The bucking member 124 of the handle section 1 has its concave section 1241 pressing the top end of the push rod 22. Another end of the bucking member 124 apart from the concave section 1241 runs through the control slot 232. The retaining block 231 of the coupling member 23 is wedged in the coupling trough 212 to prohibit the handle section 1 from turning.


[0023] Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, when in use for turning the handle direction, first, depress the pushbutton 14 of the handle section 1, the pushbutton 14 drives the bucking member 124 forwards, and the lower sloped angle 1243 depresses the push rod 22 downwards, consequently the ram head 221 of the push rod 22 pushes the sliding member 33 forwards which in turn pushes a control bar 51 in the extensible tube 5 downwards. As a result, the control bar 51 may control a control valve (not shown in the drawings) to escape an outer tube A, and the extensible tube 5 may be pulled upwards (the structure of the control valve to escape the outer tube in the luggage is known in the art, thus details are omitted). While the pushbutton 14 is depressed and the bucking member 124 is moved forwards, the upper sloped angle 1242 of the bucking member 124 also is moved forward concurrently and pushes the coupling member 23 upwards due to its gradient. Consequently, the retaining block 231 wedged in the coupling trough 212 also is moved upwards and separates from the coupling trough 212. Therefore, the handle section 1 may be turned. On the contrary, when the pushbutton 14 is released, the bucking member 124 is pushed by the spring 125 to return to its original position. The bucking member 124 also returns to its original position to allow the retaining block 231 to wedge in the coupling trough 212 again.


[0024] Thus when an user wants to adjust the handle direction, he/she merely depresses the pushbutton 14, the upper sloped angle 1242 of the bucking member 124 pushes the coupling member 23 upwards to separate the retaining block 231 from the coupling trough 212 so that the handle section 1 may be turned as desired. Then the pushbutton 14 may be released to anchor the selected angle (as shown in FIG. 7).


[0025] Refer to FIGS. 8 and 9 for another embodiment of the invention. The adjusting section 2 is directly riveted on an inner tube B of the extensible tube 5. The ram head 221 of the push rod 22 presses the control bar 51 to control the extension and retraction of the extensible tube 5.


[0026] By means of the aforesaid construction the handle of the luggage may be turned to a direction as desired to suit any user's habit and preference. It is a novel design different from the stereotyped design of the conventional luggage now on the market.


[0027] While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been set forth for the purpose of disclosure, modifications of the disclosed embodiment of the invention as well as other embodiment thereof may occur to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to cover all embodiments which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention.


Claims
  • 1. An improved luggage handle control structure for adjusting handle direction comprising a handle section and a control section, wherein: the handle section includes an upper shell and a lower shell screwing together, the upper shell having an opening located on one end thereof for housing a pushbutton, the upper shell and the lower shell having respectively a retaining trough for holding a bucking member and a first spring, the lower shell having a cavity formed on a lower side thereof to engage with the control section, the bucking member having a concave section pressing a top end of a push rod of the control section and an upper sloped angle and a lower sloped angle; and the control section has a connecting member which has an upper end forming a coupling trough, a neck housing in the cavity, and a hole in the center thereof to allow the push rod to run through from a lower end to an upper end thereof, the push rod having another end running through a coupling member, the coupling member having an upper side forming a retaining block for wedging in the coupling trough of the connecting member, the retaining block having a control slot to receive the bucking member.
  • 2. The improved luggage handle control structure for adjusting handle direction of claim 1, wherein the neck of the connecting member is formed by plastic injection for housing in the cavity in a pivotal manner.
  • 3. The improved luggage handle control structure for adjusting handle direction of claim 1, wherein the upper shell and the lower shell have a housing compartment corresponding to each other for holding a second spring, the second spring having another end coupling with a strut of the pushbutton.
  • 4. The improved luggage handle control structure for adjusting handle direction of claim 1, wherein the number of the coupling trough is alterable according to requirements.