Telescoping handle

Details Telescoping handle Telescoping handle

1999-03-08

2001-03-20

Knight, Anthony (Department: 3626)

Miscellaneous hardware (e.g., bushing, carpet fastener, caster,

Handle, handle component, or handle adjunct

Length adjustable pull handle for luggage or luggage cart

C280S655000, C280S047260, C280S047315

Reexamination Certificate

active

06202254

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a telescoping handle which attaches to a luggage item or a luggage carrier.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
In recent years, handles having retractable shafts became increasingly popular, particularly for pulling luggage items mounted on wheels. The retractable shafts are attached to a handle grip and can be elongated to an extended position for the purpose of pulling the luggage item, e.g. a suitcase. This arrangement provides a convenient way for wheeling the luggage item.
When not in use, the shafts are retracted into tubes built into the luggage item. The tubes built into the luggage item introduce two negative aspects. First, they take up valuable storage space in the luggage item. Second, they provide a bumpy surface for packing goods inside the luggage item. It is preferable, therefore, to have a handle that uses minimum space when retracted into the luggage item.
It is common in telescoping handles to have means for securing the telescoping members in the extended position. Typically, such securing means comprise the insertion of a ball or a pin through coincident apertures in the telescoping members. Typically, the ball or pin is sprung as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,127,664 to Chiun-Jer Cheng, which was issued Jul. 7, 1992.
The sprung balls or pins introduce two disadvantages. First, they add to the cost of production. Second, they prevent the telescoping members from being completely retracted. Typically, the sprung balls occupy about 4 cm in the longitudinal direction of each overlap of two telescoping members. Thus, multi-member telescoping handles which use sprung balls are very long in the retracted position. For example, a three member telescoping handle which uses sprung balls retracts to a size about 8 cm longer than a fully retracted handle. Similarly, a four member telescoping handle which uses sprung balls retracts to a size about 12 cm longer than a fully retracted handle.
The present invention is directed to alleviating some of the aforementioned difficulties or problems and provide a collapsible handle which takes up little space.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention thus provides a telescoping member comprising an outer tubular member having a lower portion and an upper portion having an open top end, an inner tubular member having a lower portion disposed through the open end of the outer tubular member and an upper portion, the inner tubular member being slidably disposed within the outer tubular member and movable between a retracted position and an extended position in telescoping relation, the inner tubular member being releasably lockable to the outer tubular member in the extended position by a locking mechanism comprising the upper portion of the outer tubular member providing a first ledge, and the lower portion of the inner tubular member providing a second ledge, at least one of the first ledge and the second ledge being a resilient ledge having a rest condition and a depressed condition, whereby in the extended position the first ledge projects into a space defined by the outer tubular member and abuts against the second ledge to releasably lock the inner tubular member in the extended position, and upon the application of axial force to the inner tubular member the resilient ledge is forced to the depressed condition allowing the first ledge to travel past the second ledge so that the inner tubular member can move to the retracted position.
The invention further provides a telescoping member comprising an outer tubular member having a lower portion and an upper portion having an open top end with an inwardly directed lip, an inner tubular member disposed through the open top end of the outer tubular member, the inner tubular member being slidably disposed within the outer tubular member and movable between a retracted position and an extended position in telescoping relation, the inner tubular member having an upper portion and an enlarged lower portion for engaging against the lip when in the extended position, whereby in the extended position the inner tubular member is prevented from extraction from the outer tubular member by the engagement between the enlargement and the lip.
In one embodiment, the telescoping handle has a plurality of elongated tubular telescoping members in which adjacent elongated members are inner and outer members as defined above.
In a further embodiment a handle grip is attached at one end of the innermost telescoping member of a plurality of telescoping members.


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