Handle For Luggage

• US 20130233662A1
• Filed: 04/26/2013
• Published: 09/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Travelpro International
• Original Assignee: Travelpro International
• Inventors: Sener, James T., Hageman, Christopher D., Mathieu, David L., Smith, Scott
• Granted Patent: US 8,851,251 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 190/115
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/26 Special adaptations of handles A45C13/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/262 for wheeled luggage
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/28 Combinations of handles with other devices
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2013/265 the handle being adjustable in rotation to a towing element
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2013/267 the handle being slidable, extractable and lockable in one or more positions
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 5/14 with built-in rolling means
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 5/145 with immobilising means, e.g. means for blocking the wheels

Abstract

An ergonomic handle for luggage is provided. In one aspect, the handle comprises at least one palm grip. The handle is attached to a compartment with wheels. The palm grip can be used to push the luggage as the wheels roll over a rolling surface.

Claims

1. A handle for luggage comprising:

a body having a first end and a second end opposite said first end, said body connectable to at least one rod;

said rod connecting said handle to a compartment, said compartment comprising a plurality of wheels orientable in a first direction and a second direction, said plurality of wheels configured to roll said luggage along said first direction in response to a first applied force, said plurality of wheels configured to roll said luggage along said second direction in response to a second applied force;

a first palm grip disposed at said first end of said body, said first palm grip configured to receive a first applied force; and

a second palm grip disposed at said second end of said body, said second palm grip configured to receive a second applied force,

wherein each of said first palm grip and said second palm grip includes a contact surface for providing substantially contiguous contact with at least a portion of a palm of a hand while the wrist of the hand is positioned at an angle that is more than about ninety degrees, each of said first palm grip and said second palm grip configured to receive said applied force from said palm for pushing said luggage.

2. The handle according to claim 1 wherein the compartment is one of suitcase, backpack, dufflebag, or briefcase.

7. The handle of claim 1 wherein said plurality of wheels are spinner wheels that are rotatable about an axis substantially normal to a rolling surface.

8. The handle of claim 1 further comprising a central grip between said palm grips.

9. The handle of claim 7 wherein said central grip is substantially concave.

10. The handle of claim 7 wherein said central grip comprises an actuator for releasing said rods such that said rods become movable between an extended position distal from said compartment and a retracted position proximal to said compartment.

11. The handle of claim 1 wherein said palm grips are substantially convex.

12. The handle of claim 1 wherein said palm grips are substantially tear-drop shaped having wider bulbous portion proximal to its respective end and a narrow bulbous portion proximal a central portion of said handle.

13. The handle of claim 11 wherein each said palm grip are made from a resiliently-deformable material for improving distribution of force across an area of the palm that comes into contact with the palm grip.

14. The handle of claim 1 wherein said angle is less than about one-hundred-fifty-degrees and greater than about one-hundred-and-ten-degrees.

15. The handle of claim 1 said angle is less than about one-hundred-forty-five degrees and greater than about one-hundred-and-twenty-degrees.

16. The handle of claim 1 wherein said angle is less than about one-hundred-forty-degrees and greater than about one-hundred-and-thirty-degrees.

17. The handle of claim 1 wherein said angle w is about one-hundred-and-thirty-five-degrees.

21. The handle of claim 1 wherein said contact surface of each of said first palm grip and said second palm grip includes a textured pattern configured to increase the frictional force between said contact surface and said palm.

22. The handle of claim 1 wherein each of said palm grips is configured to receive said applied force when each wheel of said plurality of wheels is in contact with a surface.

3-6. -6. (canceled)

18. An article of luggage comprising:

a compartment, said compartment comprising a plurality of wheels orientable in a first direction and a second direction, said plurality of wheels configured to roll said article along said first direction in response to a first applied force, said plurality of wheels configured to roll said luggage along said second direction in response to a second applied force;

a handle comprising a body having a first end and a second end opposite said first end, said body, said body connectable to at least one rod;

said rod connecting said handle to said compartment;

a first palm grip disposed at said first end of said body, said first palm grip configured to receive a first applied force; and

a second palm grip disposed at said second end of said body, said second palm grip configured to receive a second applied force

wherein each of said first palm grip and said second palm grip includes a contact surface for providing substantially contiguous contact with at least a portion of a palm of a hand while the wrist of the hand is positioned at an angle that is more than about ninety degrees, each of said first palm grip and said second palm grip configured to receive said applied force from said palm for pushing said luggage.

19. The luggage of claim 18 wherein the compartment is one of suitcase, backpack, dufflebag, or briefcase.

23. The luggage of claim 18 wherein said contact surface of each of said first palm grip and said second palm grip includes a texture pattern configured to increase a frictional force between said contact surface and said palm.

24. The luggage of claim 18 wherein each of said palms grip is configured to receive said applied force when each wheel of said plurality of wheels is in contact with a surface.

20. (canceled)