Multi-step positioning device of trunk pull rod

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6339863
  • Patent Number
    6,339,863
  • Date Filed
    Wednesday, June 21, 2000
    24 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, January 22, 2002
    22 years ago
Abstract
A multi-step positioning device of a trunk pull rod has a pair of pull rods at two sides thereof. Each pull rod has an inner upper rod and an outer lower rod therein. The rod body has two sides of round arc shapes. After engaging, the round arc portions of the two rods are formed with gaps. Porous pieces are placed in the gaps. The porous piece passes through the outer lower rod. The upper end of the outer lower rod is connected to an upper rod sleeve. Protruding buckles at two sides of the upper rod sleeve buckles with the buckling holes with respect to the outer lower rod. The lower end of the inner upper rod is connected to a lower rod sleeve. The slender end of the lower rod sleeve passes through the inner upper rod. The enlarged end portion has a part identical to the inner upper rod for being engaged with the porous piece. The enlarged end portion has a part having an inner diameter identical to that of the outer lower rod for being passing through the outer lower rod. The middle rod sleeve has a sliding groove at the lateral surface thereof for being inserted by a sliding block and a spring. The sliding block is connected to a driving piece. The driving piece passes through the inner upper rod to be connected to the pull piece of the handle.
Description




FIELD OF THE INVENTION




The present invention relates to a multi-step positioning device of a trunk pull rod, which is especially suitable to a pull rod fixing means being adjusted steplessly.




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




Traveling for business or other purposes is prevailed currently, and thus trunks becomes a required tool in traveling. Telescopic pull rods are important components in the design of a trunk, which can provide great convenience to the travelers. Since the height of everyone is different, while it is preferred that the trunk is pulled by an angle of 45 degrees. In order to meet various demands, two sectional or multiple sectional pull rods are preferred and are widely used. Rods with two sections and one operation step is generally used in the design of trunks. Namely, after the upper section of the pull rod is pulled out, only the lower end of the upper sectional rod and the upper end of the lower sectional rod is positioned. The use of each sections of the rods is not well designed. There are some difference according to the height of the trunk. Therefore, a three sectional rod or a four sectional rod is designed. However, the operation of these multi-sectional rod is not preferred since it can not be fine adjusted. Therefore, a multi-sectional or stepless structure is designed. Furthermore, the positioning of the two sectional rod is not confined in a single position. Many positions serves to position the rod. Even every position is usable. The positions for positioning is conventionally installed with continuous holes. However, this will deteriorate the outlook, and weak the structure. In another design, the positioning structure is installed in the rod.

FIG. 7

shows a prior art structure. A positioning piece


1


is installed in the outer rod. The positioning piece


1


is installed with a bank of positioning holes


11


for achieving the object of multiple step adjustment for satisfying the requirement of the user. As shown in the figure, the positioning piece is necessary to be installed in the rod, therefore, a buckling structure is installed in the outer rod


2


, in which a pair of inward protruding strips


11


are used. Although the shape of the outer rod


2


has a long elliptic shape, the inner rod has a square shape, and therefore, the visual feeling is effected. Another, the outer rod is a rectangular rod, while the inner rod is a square rod, but this is not good in visual feeling, since square rod looks very bulky. Thus, it is not met the requirement of compactness and it has many defects. Besides, a pull rod adjusting means of gears and racks is designed, wherein the gear must be adjusted precisely for positioning. It is inconvenient to the user. Furthermore, the whole structure is heavy and is almost not used commercially. An adjusting rod of teeth block and rack is designed, further. Although it has the advantages of steplessness, the application is limited. Too many adjustments cause the user not to select it properly. However, from the experiences of the applicant, there are a great extent in the design of the pull rod to satisfy the requirement of consumers.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




Accordingly, the primary object of the present invention is to provide a multi-step positioning device of a trunk pull rod for using the space of the pull rod more efficiency so that the original two rod types are converted to a multiple rod type. Furthermore, elliptic rods are used instead of the conventional square rods. By the space between inner and outer rods to clamp the porous piece, the shape of the porous piece is formed as cambered rod for using space sufficient. Besides, the spring buckling buckling device is used to be buckled with the porous piece. Therefore, most of the requirement in use is satisfied. Moreover, the porous piece of the present invention is matched with a handle to be adjusted in positions so that the whole structure is more convenient.




Another object of the present invention is to provide a multi-step positioning device of a trunk pull rod, which can be used in the adjustment of a third sectional rod. Each section is used in an optimum condition. Each rod is retained in a specific shape for saving space.




In the present invention, A multi-step positioning device of a trunk pull rod has a pair of pull rods at two sides thereof. Each pull rod has an inner upper rod and an outer lower rod therein. The rod body has two sides of round arc shapes. After engaging the round arc portions of the two rods are formed with gaps. Porous pieces are placed in the gaps. The porous piece passes through the outer lower rod. The upper end of the outer lower rod is connected to an upper rod sleeve. Protruding buckles at two sides of the upper rod sleeve buckles with the buckling holes with respect to the outer lower rod. The lower end of the inner upper rod is connected to a lower rod sleeve. The slender end of the lower rod sleeve passes through the inner upper rod. The enlarged end portion has a part identical to the inner upper rod for being engaged with the porous piece. The enlarged end portion has a part having an inner diameter identical to that of the outer lower rod for being passing through the outer lower rod. The middle rod sleeve has a sliding groove at the lateral surface thereof for being inserted by a sliding block and a spring. The sliding block is connected to a driving piece. The driving piece passes through the inner upper rod to be connected to the pull piece of the handle.




The various objects and advantages of the present invention will be more readily understood from the following detailed description when reading in conjunction with the appended drawing.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

is a perspective view of the present invention.





FIG. 2

is an exploded perspective view of the present invention.





FIG. 3

is a partial cross sectional view showing that the present invention is not moved.





FIG. 4

is a partial cross sectional view of

FIG. 3

wherein the sliding piece is pressed.





FIG. 5

is a partial cross sectional view showing the pull rod in

FIG. 3

being moved.





FIG. 6

is a cross sectional view along line A—A of FIG.


5


.





FIG. 7

is a perspective view of a prior art design.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS




With reference to

FIGS. 1

to


6


a multi-step positioning device of a trunk pull rod of the present invention is illustrated therein. The multi-step positioning device of a trunk pull rod has a pair of pull rods


3


installed towards the rear of the trunk. A handle


5


is connected between the two pull rods


3


includes an inner upper rod


31


and then outer lower rod


32


. The rod body of the pull rod


3


has two sides with a long elliptic shape. The round arc portions of the two rods


31


and


32


are engaged with one another, and thus a gap


30


is formed therebetween. A porous piece


34


is placed in the gap


30


at one or two sides. The porous piece


34


is fixed in the outer lower rod


32


and has a long cambered strip shape. A plurality of holes arranged in spaced manner are formed on the porous piece


34


. The upper end of the porous piece


34


bears against the lower end of the upper sleeve


36


, while the lower end of the porous piece


34


is formed with a lower inner fixing hole


59


. An outer fixing hole


60


is formed at the lower end of the outer lower rod


32


. A short pin


6


is inserted through the lower outer fixing hole


60


and the lower inner fixing hole


59


so that the object of fixing the porous piece


34


is achieved. A plug


7


is inserted in the outer lower rod


32


. The lower end of the plug


7


near the porous piece


34


is formed with a round groove


71


for engaging the porous piece


34


, and the short pin


6


inserts into the transversal hole


72


of the plug


7


. Therefore, the porous piece


34


is fixed. The cross section of the porous piece


34


can have a round arc shape, a polygonal shape, or another shape such as a round body with two parallel sides.




The upper end of the outer lower rod


32


is connected to the upper rod sleeve


36


. Each of the two sides of the upper rod sleeve


36


has a respective protruded buckle


37


for buckling the outer lower rod


32


with respect to a buckling hole


38


. The top


39


of the upper rod sleeve


39


is buckled in the top end of the outer lower rod


32


. The outer lower rod


32


has an upper end connected to an upper rod sleeve


36


. Two sides of the upper rod sleeves


36


each have a protruded buckle


37


for being buckled to the buckling hole


38


with respect to the outer lower rod


32


. The upper rod sleeve


36


has a top edge


39


the lower edge of which is buckled to the top surface of a middle tube


32


.




The lower end of the inner upper rod


31


is connected to the middle rod sleeve


40


. The slender end portion of the middle rod sleeve


40


passes through the inner upper rod


31


, and part of the enlarged end portion


42


thereof has an outer diameter identical to that of the inner upper rod


31


, part of that portion has an inner diameter identical to that of the outer lower rod


32


and passes through the outer lower rod


32


. The inner top surface of the middle rod sleeve


40


is formed with a through hole


43


for being inserted by a driving piece


52


. One end of the driving piece


52


is connected to a sliding piece


45


. The driving piece


53


passes through the inner upper rod


31


to be connected to a pull piece


51


on the handle


5


. The pull piece


51


is driven by a pressable piece


50


, or the pull piece


51


can be pulled directly. At least one end hole


44


of a sliding groove


49


is installed on enlarged portion


42


of the middle rod sleeve


40


facing the porous piece


34


. Each end hole


44


is passed by the buckling end


46


of the sliding block


45


. The buckling end


46


slides out of the end hole


44


of the middle rod sleeve


40


to be embedded in the hole


35


of the porous piece


34


, and then is buckled by the sliding block


45


so to position the two rods


31


and


32


to be motionless. If the buckling end


46


slides back to the end hole


44


of the middle rod sleeve


40


, then the position of the rods


31


and


32


is released and thus, each of rods


31


and


32


may move freely. A groove seat


56


in formed at one lateral surface of the sliding block


45


for fixing a fixing head


57


which is one end of the pull piece


51


. After the pull piece


51


passes through the sliding block


45


, it directly passes through one arc portion


58


for being formed as a rectangular bending to extend upwards to pass through the through hole


43


.




A pin hole


53


is installed near the lower end of the inner upper rod


31


. A fixing hole


47


is installed in the middle rod sleeve


40


. A pin


55


passes through the pin hole


53


to fix with the fixing hole


47


of the middle rod sleeve


40


. The middle rod sleeve


40


does not separate from the inner upper rod


31


. The movement of the middle rod sleeve


40


is completely driven by the inner upper rod


31


. Since the sliding block


45


of the present invention only provides an application of pulling upwards, a spring is arranged at one side of the sliding block


45


. In the pulling upward application shown in

FIG. 4

, a compressible spring


54


is installed between the sliding block


45


and the inner lateral surface of the middle rod sleeve


40


.




In summary in the present invention, a porous piece is installed between the elliptic rods to match with the fixing of the middle rod sleeve and the upper rod sleeve. If the porous piece is not very long, it can be combined with the middle rod sleeve. Then, the buckling end moves in the through hole of the middle rod sleeve. The driving piece connected to the sliding block serves to control the moving out or restoring of the buckling end. Because the handle has many different structures, the details will not be described herein. It is appreciated that the present invention uses a minimum volume and rods to complete the assembly of the present invention. The assembly work is easy and simple. It is suitable in pulling up and pushing down process.




Although the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the details described thereof. Various substitutions and modifications have been suggested in the foregoing description, and others will occur to those of ordinary skill in the art. Therefore, all such substitutions and modifications are intended to be embraced within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.



Claims
  • 1. A multi-sectional pull rod assembly for adjustably supporting a pull handle comprising:(a) a first rod; (b) a second rod disposed telescopically in relation to said first rod, said second rod having at least one buckling hole formed therein; (c) a first rod sleeve disposed between said first and second rods, said first rod sleeve being coupled in locked manner to said second rod and slidably receiving said first rod therethrough; (d) a longitudinally extended porous piece disposed within said second rod, said porous piece having formed therein a plurality of longitudinally spaced holes; (e) a second rod sleeve coupled in locked manner to said first rod, said second rod sleeve having longitudinally offset first and second end portions, said second end portion maintaining slidable engagement with said porous piece and said second rod, said second end portion having a sliding groove compartment formed therein, said first end portion fixedly engaging a terminal end portion of said first rod; (f) a laterally displaceable sliding piece received in said sliding groove compartment of said second rod sleeve for displacement between releasing and locking positions, said sliding piece being resiliently biased to said locking position, said sliding piece having protruding therefrom a buckling end for engaging in said locking position one of said porous plate holes; and, (g) an elongate driving piece coupled to said sliding piece and extending through said first and second rods therefrom.
  • 2. The pull rod assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said first rod sleeve has formed thereon at least one laterally protruded buckle, said protruded buckle engaging said at least one buckling hole formed in said second rod.
  • 3. The pull rod assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein one end of said porous piece bears against said first rod sleeve, said porous piece being secured together with said second rod by a fastening pin passed therethrough.
  • 4. The pull rod assembly as recited in claim 3 further comprising a plug coupled in locked manner to a terminal end of said second rod, said porous piece being captured longitudinally between said first rod sleeve and said plug.
  • 5. The pull rod assembly as recited in claim 4 wherein said plug, said porous piece, and said second rod are secured together by said fastening pin passed therethrough.
  • 6. The pull rod assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said porous piece defines substantially an arcuate sectional contour.
  • 7. The pull rod assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said porous piece defines substantially a polygonal sectional contour.
  • 8. The pull rod assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said driving piece is flexible.
  • 9. The pull rod assembly as recited in claim 8 wherein said second rod sleeve has formed thereon an arc portion, said driving piece being pivoted about said arc portion.
  • 10. The pull rod assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said first rod is telescopically disposed relative to said second rod to extend longitudinally upward therefrom.
  • 11. The pull rod assembly as recited in claim 10 wherein said second end portion of said second rod sleeve is greater than said first end portion thereof in radial extent.
US Referenced Citations (7)
Number Name Date Kind
5584097 Lu Dec 1996 A
5704725 Horing Jan 1998 A
5875520 Chang Mar 1999 A
5956807 Kuo Sep 1999 A
6141828 Kuo Nov 2000 A
6148477 Cheng Nov 2000 A
6223391 Kuo May 2001 B1