U-BEAM SUPPORT MECHANISM FOR LUGGAGE

• US 20100224457A1
• Filed: 03/08/2010
• Published: 09/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Direct Marketing Ventures LLC (Samsonite Corporation)
• Original Assignee: eBags Incorporated (Samsonite Corporation)
• Inventors: Majeau, Bernard H.
• Granted Patent: US 8,256,591 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 190/18.A
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/262 for wheeled luggage

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to a support mechanism for luggage, and more specifically to a support mechanism for luggage having U-shaped recesses within which telescoping handle tubes are positioned.

Claims

1. A reinforcement mechanism adapted for positioning within a piece of luggage with a retractable handle, comprising:

a generally rectangularly shaped support member having an upper end, a lower end, opposing lateral edges extending therebetween, and a front surface and a back surface;

a pair of substantially parallel grooved passages positioned on the front surface adapted to receive at least a portion of a retractable handle assembly;

at least one reinforcing rib positioned between the pair of grooved passages which is aligned substantially parallel to said pair of grooved passages and extending substantially from said upper end and said lower end; and

attachment means for operably interconnecting said generally rectangularly shaped support member to an internal framework of the piece of luggage.

2. The reinforcement mechanism of claim 1, wherein the grooved passages generally have one of a “

U”

or “

C”

cross-sectional shape.

3. The reinforcement mechanism of claim 1, wherein the luggage reinforcement mechanism is comprised of at least one of a metal, a metal alloy, a polymer, a composite, a polymeric blend, a polymeric laminate, a fiberglass material, and a carbon fiber material, and a combination thereof.

4. The reinforcement mechanism of claim 1, wherein the reinforcement mechanism is interconnected to a lower bracket assembly.

5. The reinforcement mechanism of claim 1, wherein the attachment means comprises an aperture adapted to receive at least one of a screw, a bolt, a pin and a rivet.

6. The reinforcement mechanism of claim 1, further comprising an upper bracket assembly which slidingly engages an upper portion of the retractable handle assembly to provide additional structural rigidity to the retractable handle assembly.

7. The reinforcement mechanism of claim 1, wherein the at least one reinforcing rib is positioned in a substantially parallel geometric configuration with respect to said pair of parallel grooved passages.

8. A wheeled luggage system with a retractable handle, comprising:

a storage compartment having a back wall, a front wall, a pair of side walls, a top wall and a bottom wall;

a luggage support member comprising;

a substantially rigid plate comprising an upper end, a lower end and two lateral edges extending therebetween;

at least one grooved passageway adapted to receive a portion of the retractable handle, wherein the grooved passage extends substantially between said upper end and said lower end of said substantially rigid plate;

at least one reinforcing rib positioned adjacent said at least one passageway; and

at least one attachment mechanism positioned in the support member which is adapted to attach the support member to the back wall of the storage compartment;

wherein said retractable handle comprises a handle grip and at least one handle tube, wherein the at least one handle tube is positioned within the grooved passageway and can be selectively extended;

a lower bracket assembly which is positioned over a lower portion of said at least one handle tube to provide structural support;

an upper housing assembly which includes at least one passageway aligned with said at least one grooved passageway and which receives said at least one handle tube; and

a wheel assembly operably interconnected to the luggage bottom wall.

9. The wheeled luggage system of claim 8, wherein the grooved passages generally have one of a “

U”

or “

C”

cross-sectional shape, and extend substantially from the upper end to the lower end.

10. The wheeled luggage system of claim 8, wherein the luggage support member is comprised of at least one of a metal, a metal alloy, a polymer, a composite, a fiberglass material, a carbon fiber material, a polymeric blend, a polymeric laminate, and a combination thereof.

11. The wheeled luggage system of claim 8, wherein the luggage support member is positioned between the handle tubes and the back wall to provide impact protection to said handle tubes.

12. The wheeled luggage system of claim 8 wherein the reinforcing rib further comprises at least one longitudinally extending channel with an arcuate cross-sectional shape.

13. The wheeled luggage system of claim 8, wherein the upper housing assembly is interconnected to said upper end of said substantially rigid plate, and said lower bracket assembly is interconnected to said lower end of said substantially rigid plate.

14. The wheeled luggage system of claim 8, wherein the substantially rigid plate has a serpentine shaped cross-sectional shape.

15. The wheeled luggage system of claim 8, wherein the luggage support member is integrally formed into said back wall of the storage container.

16. The wheeled luggage system of claim 8, wherein said at least one handle tube reciprocates within an exterior tube.

17. A retractable handle assembly adapted for use with a piece of luggage, comprising:

a handle interconnected to a pair of handle tubes;

a substantially rigid plate having an upper end, a lower end and lateral edges extending therebetween and at least one attachment mechanism to interconnect said rigid plate to the piece of luggage;

a pair of grooved passages in said substantially rigid plate which are aligned substantially parallel with said lateral edges and is adapted to receive said handle tubes;

at least one structural rib positioned proximate to the pair of grooved passages;

an upper housing assembly which retains an upper portion of said handle tubes in a secure position, and which is interconnected to an upper end of said substantially rigid plate; and

a lower bracket assembly which overlaps a lower portion of said handle tubes and is interconnected to said lower portion of said substantially rigid plate.

18. The structural member of claim 17, further comprising a pair of outer handle tube housings, wherein said each of said handle tubes reciprocates within a respective handle tube housing.

19. The structural member of claim 17, wherein said lower end of at least one handle tube includes a biased stop pin which restrains the retractable handle from being extended beyond a predetermined position.

20. The structural member of claim 17, wherein said upper housing is slidingly engaged to said outer tube handles to allow minor adjustments during assembly of said retractable handle assembly to the piece of luggage.

21. The structural member of claim 17 wherein said outer tube housings each fit into one of said pair of grooved passageways.