GB2275864A - Luggage case - Google Patents

Abstract

A luggage case 10 has wheels 24 and a handle 20 slidably received in the case 10 and movable to an extended position. A lock means eg in the form of spring loaded details detents retains the handle in the extended position and is released by means 80 which includes an operating handle 90 disposed outside the container. The means 80 has through bores which are slid over the detents to retract them. <IMAGE>

Description

A PIECE OF LUGGAGE This invention relates to a piece of luggage more particularly to a piece of luggage having an extendible handle.

It is a problem with luggage that due to its size and weight it is difficult to transport by hand. Luggage with sets of wheels has been proposed which wheels allow the luggage to roll across a flat surface thus reducing the transporting force necessary. Luggage having a pair of wheels at one end has also been proposed, the luggage being liftable with one hand at a tilted angle and pulled along.

Such pieces of luggage may be provided with an extendible handle for ease of operation.

It is an object to the invention to provide an improved piece of luggage having an extendible handle.

According to the invention, there is provided a piece of luggage having a case for receiving items to be conveyed and an elongate handle slidably moveable to an extended position, lock means for retaining the handle in said extended position and a release means operable to release the lock means.

Preferably, the lock means comprising at least one resiliently biased bolt engageable with both the case and the handle and the release means is adapted to be disengageable from one of the handle and body. The handle preferably comprises first and second spaced hollow support members which are slidable in respective members of the case, with the bolt interlocking the members of the case and handle in the extended position. The release means preferably is formed by respective collars arranged slidably to depress the bolts to allow the handle to be stowed.

Preferably, the entire mechanism, with the exception of the elongate handle and an operating handle forming part of the release means, is retained within the case.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with the reference to its accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a piece of luggage forming an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view in the plane and direction 2' of figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged view of the lock means and release means showing circled and labelled 3' in figure 2.

With reference to the figures, a piece of luggage is shown which comprises a case 10 for receiving articles to be conveyed having a front panel 12 connected to a main body 14 by means of a zip fastener 16. A pouch 15 is connected to a rear surface 22 of the main body 14.

A carrying handle 18 is connected on one side of the main body 14 and an elongate handle 20 is connected adjacent the rear surface 22 of the main body 14 at one end. At the opposed end, two wheels 24 are provided so that, in use the piece of luggage may be transported by hand by grasping the handle 20 and allowing the case 10 to pivot and be drawn on wheels 24.

The handle 20 has shown in more detail in figure 2 and comprises first and second hollow tubular support members 30, 32 connected by a handle member 34 at one end. The handle 20 is retractable and in this respect members 30, 32 are slidably received in slightly larger hollow tubular members 36, 38 which are connected to a case support member 40 which provides structural rigidity for the case 10. The member 40 is formed from plastics material and includes upwardly extending sides 42 and a base 44. The base 44 includes two pairs of upwardly extending channel members 46, 48 which define channels in which members 36, 38 are disposed. The members 36, 38 are held in the channels by rivets 50, 52 at one end and a cross member 54 connected to base 44 at the other.

A locking and release mechanism is provided for holding the handle 20 in the extended position shown in figure 2 and for allowing release when it is desired to retract the handle 20 by sliding the members 30, 32 into the members 36, 38. This mechanism is shown in more detail in figure 3 in which the mechanism for member 30 of the support members 30, 32 is shown. The arrangement for the other support member 32 is a mirror image of that shown.

As shown in figure 3, a cylindrical bolt 60 having a hemispherical end 62 and an annular retaining lip 64 is provided. A spring member 66 is connected to the bolt 60 to bias the bolt radially. When in the retracted position of the member 30, the bolt is retained within members 30 and 36 and where in the extended position, protrudes through cylindrical openings 68, 70 formed in members 30, 36 as shown in figure 3. In such a position, the bolt 60 locks members 30, 36 together.

A release means in a form of a release member 80 is provided for allowing disengagement of the bolt 60 from the member 36. The member 80 includes sleeve 82 having hollow cylindrical portion 84 of slightly greater diameter than member 36 and a further cylindrical portion 86 at one end of slightly greater diameter than member 30. A channel 88 is provided of slightly greater width than diameter of bolt 60 and slightly greater height than the degree of protrusion of bolt 60 from member 36 in the position shown in figure 3. A similar sleeve arrangement is provided for the lock means of support member 32 and both sleeves are connected to an operating handle 90 which protrudes through case 10 to be actuatable from the outside.

In use, if it is desired to disengage the bolt 60 to retract the elongate handle 20, operating handle 19 is depressed thus shifting release member 80 in the direction of arrow A in figure 3. Bevelled surface 88 then contacts bolt 60, in particular hemispherical surface 62, thus forcing the bolt inwardly until the bolt 60 is depressed to the level of the member 36. Subsequent retraction of the handle 20 will then cause the hemispherical surface 62 to engage the side of opening 70 and thus cause the bolt to move inwardly still further and under the side of opening 70 thus to be retained entirely within member 36 and allowing full retraction of handle 20.

The handle 19 is subsequently moved outwardly to reset the member 80. Alternatively, the member 80 may be biased outwardly by a spring, so that it is automatically reset after use.

Although the arrangements showing figure 2 includes two arrangements of lock and release assemblies as shown in figure 3, it is not to be considered limitative and a single assembly on one support member may be provided.

Claims (14)

Claims

1. A piece of luggage having a case for receiving items to be conveyed and an elongate handle slidably moveable to an extended position, lock means for retaining the handle in said extended position and release means coupled to the case and operable to release the lock means.

2. A piece of luggage claimed in claim 1 wherein in the lock means comprising at least one resiliently biased bolt engageable with both the case and the handle in the extended position and the release means comprises a release member for allowing disengagement of the bolt from one of said handle and body.

3. A piece of luggage claimed in claim 2 wherein the bolt is connected to the handle and engages the body in the extended position.

4. A piece of luggage claimed in claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the handle comprises first and second spaced elongate hollow support members connected by a handle member at one end.

5. A piece of luggage claimed in claim 4 wherein the or each bolt is received in a said support member and the case comprises at least one respective retaining member having an opening into which the bolt protrudes in the extended position.

6. A piece of luggage claimed in claim 5 wherein two sets bolts are received in respect of support members and the case comprises two respective said retaining members.

7. A piece of luggage claimed in claim 5 or claim 6 wherein the or each retaining member is elongate and hollow and the or each respective support member is slidably received therein.

8. A piece of luggage claimed in any one of claims 5 to 7 wherein the release member comprises at least one respective sleeve arranged slidably to depress the or each respective bolt through the opening to a position allowing release.

9. A piece of luggage claimed in claim 8 wherein the or each sleeve has a bevelled surface arranged slidably to force the bolt in a direction of retraction.

10. A piece of luggage claimed in claim 8 or 9 wherein the or each sleeve is connected to an operating handle.

11. A piece of luggage claimed in any one of claims 4 to 10 wherein the support members are slidably received inside the case.

12. A piece of luggage claimed in claim 10 wherein the or each sleeve is disposed within in the case and the operating handle protrudes from the case.

13. A piece of luggage claimed in any one of claims 2 to 12 wherein the bolt comprises a cylindrical member having a spring connected to one end and the other end being part-spherical.

14. A piece of luggage substantially as showing or describe with reference to the accompanying drawings.