Handle for luggage

• US 8,851,251 B2
• Filed: 04/26/2013
• Issued: 10/07/2014
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): Weaver, Sue A
• Application Number:
  US13/871,488
• Publication Number:
  US 20130233662A1
• Time in Patent Office: 529 Days
• Field of Search: 190/18.A, 190/115, 280/655.1, 161/131, 164/05, 164/11, 16D/IG.12
• 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 pushing force, said plurality of wheels configured to roll said luggage along said second direction in response to a second applied pushing force;

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

a second palm grip disposed at said second end of said body, said second palm grip configured to receive said second applied pushing force from said palm of said hand; and

a central portion between said first palm grip and said second palm grip,

wherein each of said first palm grip and said second palm grip is substantially tear-drop shaped having a wider bulbous portion proximal to its respective end and a narrow bulbous portion proximal said central portion,

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 said palm, said first palm grip configured to receive said first applied pushing force from said palm for pushing said luggage and configured to distribute said applied force across an area of said palm, said second palm grip configured to receive said second applied pushing force from said palm for pushing said luggage and configured to distribute said second applied pushing force across an area of said palm.

2. 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.

3. The handle of claim 1 wherein said central portion is substantially concave.

4. The handle of claim 1 wherein said central portion comprises an actuator for releasing said at least one rod to make moveable said at least one rod between an extended position distal from said compartment and a retracted position proximal to said compartment.

5. The handle of claim 1 wherein said first palm grip and said second palm grip are substantially convex.

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

7. The handle of claim 6 wherein said frictional surface comprises a textured pattern.

8. The handle of claim 6 wherein said frictional surface comprises a resiliently-deformable material, said resiliently-deformable material configured to improve distribution of force across said area of said palm that comes into contact with said palm grip.

9. The handle of claim 1 wherein each of said palm grips is configured to receive one of said first applied pushing force and said second applied pushing force when each wheel of said plurality of wheels is in contact with a surface.

10. An article of luggage comprising:

a compartment, said compartment comprising a plurality of wheels orientable in a first direction and a second direction, wherein said plurality of wheels are spinner wheels that are rotatable about an axis substantially normal to a rolling surface, said plurality of wheels configured to roll said article along said first direction in response to a first applied pushing force, said plurality of wheels configured to roll said article along said second direction in response to a second applied pushing force;

at least one rod extendable from said compartment;

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

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

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

wherein said handle body includes a central portion located between said first palm grip and said second palm grip,

wherein each of said first palm grip and said second palm grip is substantially tear-drop shaped having a wider bulbous portion proximal to its respective end and a narrow bulbous portion proximal said central portion,

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 said palm, said first palm grip configured to receive said first applied pushing force from said palm for pushing said article and configured to distribute said applied force across an area of said palm, said second palm grip configured to receive said second applied pushing force from said palm for pushing said article and configured to distribute said second applied pushing force across an area of said palm.

11. The article of claim 10 wherein said contact surface of each of said first palm grip and said second palm grip includes a frictional surface configured to increase a frictional force between said contact surface and said palm.

12. The article of claim 11 wherein said frictional surface comprises a textured pattern.

13. The article of claim 11 wherein said frictional surface comprises a resiliently-deformable material, said resiliently-deformable material configured to improve distribution of force across said area of said palm that comes into contact with said palm grip.

14. The article of claim 11 wherein each of said palms grip is configured to receive one of said first applied pushing force and said second applied pushing force when each wheel of said plurality of wheels is in contact with a surface.

15. 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 pushing force, said plurality of wheels configured to roll said luggage along said second direction in response to a second applied pushing force;

a first palm grip disposed at said first end of said body, said first palm grip comprising a frictional surface configured to increase friction with a palm of a hand; and

a second palm grip disposed at said second end of said body, said second palm grip comprising a frictional surface configured to increase friction with said palm of said hand,

wherein each of said first palm grip and said second palm grip is substantially tear-drop shaped having a wider bulbous portion proximal to its respective end and a narrow bulbous portion proximal said central portion,

wherein the frictional surfaces each of said first palm grip and said second palm grip provides substantially contiguous contact with at least a portion of said palm, said frictional surface of said first palm grip configured to receive said first applied pushing force from said palm for pushing said luggage and configured to distribute said applied force across an area of said palm, said frictional surface of said second palm grip configured to receive said second applied pushing force from said palm for pushing said luggage and configured to distribute said second applied pushing force across an area of said palm.

16. The handle of claim 15 wherein said frictional surface comprises a textured pattern.

17. The handle of claim 15 wherein said frictional surface comprises a resiliently-deformable material, said resiliently-deformable material configured to improve distribution of force across said area of said palm that comes into contact with said palm grip.

18. The handle of claim 15 wherein said plurality of wheels are spinner wheels that are rotatable about an axis substantially normal to a rolling surface.