Miscellaneous hardware (e.g. – bushing – carpet fastener – caster – Handle – handle component – or handle adjunct – Length adjustable pull handle for luggage or luggage cart
Reexamination Certificate
1998-01-09
2001-10-16
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
C016S114100, C280S047371
Reexamination Certificate
active
06301746
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
The present invention relates generally to luggage and, more particularly, to improved telescoping handle assemblies for use on luggage and other luggable items including, for example, suit cases, brief cases, instrument cases, document bags, garment bags and the like.
Over the last few years, substantial attention has been directed toward the development of wheeled luggage items. Such items generally comprise a container (or case) for enclosing one or more items of clothes, toiletries and the like, a wheel assembly and an extendable or telescoping handle assembly. The wheel assembly and extendable handle assembly are affixed to the container such that the container may be pulled fairly easily from one point to another, for example, through an airport. In addition, conventional handle assemblies generally include a pair of telescoping support members that have a cross-bar or handle provided between their distal extremities. When configured in an extended position, the cross-bar or handle may be grasped by a traveler and used to pull the luggage item from one place to another. A locking mechanism is also generally provided such that the telescoping support members may be locked in either an extended or retracted position.
Some exemplary prior art travel bags having extendable handle assemblies are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,653,319, entitled “Retractable Handle for a Wheeled Travel Bag,” U.S. Pat. No. 3,513,952, entitled “Extendable Handle Structure,” U.S. Pat. No. 5,644,816, entitled “Extensible Drawbar Device of a Truck,” U.S. Pat. No. 5,075,925, entitled “Retractable Handle Assembly for Transportable Case,” U.S. Pat. No. 5,581,846, entitled “Controlling Handle Structure for Pull Rods of a Luggage,” U.S. Pat. No. 5,630,488, entitled “Retractable Handle Positioning Structure for Luggage,” and U.S. Pat. No. 5,636,410, entitled “Retractable Handle Assembly for a Suitcase.”
The extendable handle assemblies illustrated and described in the above-listed patents and, indeed, all prior art handle assemblies known to applicant employ or utilize a handle assembly that requires a traveler to twist his or her hand roughly 90 degrees from a relaxed position when pulling a garment bag (or other luggable item) attached to the handle assembly. Such a configuration not only limits the leverage that is available to a traveler when transporting the garment bag but also may cause the traveler to suffer substantial muscle fatigue and discomfort in the wrist and forearm areas. Such a configuration also limits the lateral clearance that is available to a traveler when transporting the garment bag from one position to another.
Accordingly, it is believed that an improved handle assembly that allows a traveler to pull a garment bag or other luggable item using a more relaxed hand position would be quite useful. It is also believed that a handle assembly that provides multiple gripping surfaces and multiple carrying configurations would be quite useful. Finally, it is believed that a handle assembly that allows a traveler to achieve increased lateral clearance when pulling a garment bag (or other luggable item) from one location to another would be quite useful.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to an improved extendable handle assembly for use on luggage and other luggable items.
In one particularly innovative aspect, an extendable or telescoping handle assembly in accordance with the present invention may allow a traveler to pull a garment bag (or other item) with minimal wrist and/or forearm twisting. Moreover, in one preferred embodiment an extendable handle assembly in accordance with the present invention may include a first or primary gripping surface that lies in a plane defined by a back surface of the garment bag and a secondary gripping surface. The secondary gripping surface is preferably moveable from a first, stored position to a second, extended position such that, when configured in the second position, the secondary gripping surface extends in a direction generally parallel to a direction that a traveler may move when transporting the garment bag from one location to another. Thus, it will be seen that, by using a telescoping handle assembly in accordance with the present invention, it is possible to greatly reduce traveler wrist and forearm discomfort and to maximize the leverage available to a traveler when the traveler must transport an item attached to the handle assembly from one location to another. It will also be seen that a telescoping handle assembly in accordance with the present invention may be “pushed” more easily, and may be more easily controlled when being pushed in a given direction, because of the added leverage and improved biomechanic s that are achieved through the use of such a handle assembly.
In another innovative aspect, the present invention is directed toward an extendable handle assembly that includes a generally U-shaped secondary handle. The generally U-shaped secondary handle is rotatably attached to a pair of telescoping support members such that, when the support members are extended, the secondary handle may be rotated from a stored position and latched in at least one deployed position. Preferably, when in the deployed position, at least one gripping section of the generally U-shaped secondary handle will conform to a natural pulling position of the hand and wrist of a traveler. For example, the generally U-shaped secondary handle may include a pair of gripping sections that may be rotated to extend within a vertical plane that is parallel to a direction that the traveler may be moving when transporting a luggable item attached to the handle assembly from one location to another. Further, when one of the gripping sections is grasped by a traveler and the item is properly positioned for toting or carrying, it is preferred that the gripping sections will lie in a substantially horizontal plane. Thus, it will be appreciated that, when the generally U-shaped secondary handle is deployed, it not only allows a traveler to transport the luggable item with reduced wrist and forearm discomfort but also provides the traveler with more leverage and improved biomechanics for maneuvering the item. The use of the generally U-shaped secondary handle also provides the traveler with additional lateral clearance from an associated luggable item and supports either right or left handed use.
In additional preferred embodiments, the generally U-shaped handle may be designed to lock in a plurality of deployed positions such that different carrying configurations may be achieved for different travelers. For example, the generally U-shaped handle may be configured to lock in a first plane forming a 45 degree angle with a back plane of the item and also within a second plane coextensive with the back plane to provide additional handle extension for taller travelers.
In still other embodiments, the secondary handle may take a form other than a U-shaped form. For example, the handle may take the form of a “tiller” extension or hinged handle assembly. The secondary handle may also comprise a section of a hinged telescoping tube.
In a second particularly innovative aspect, the present invention is directed to an extendable handle assembly that enables one-handed control of both a primary handle extension function and a secondary handle rotation or deployment function.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved extendable handle assembly for use on luggage and other luggable items.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a luggage item with an extendable handle assembly having an improved ergonomic design.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a telescoping handle assembly the includes a generally U-shaped handle that may be rotated from a stored position and releasably fixed within one or more deployed positions.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a telescoping handle assembly for use on luggage and other luggable items that includes a rotat
Dudley Francis
Myers Jay Evan
Stocks David Laurence
Andiamo Inc.
Knight Anthony
Lyon & Lyon LLP
Williams Mark
LandOfFree
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