US20090139053A1

US20090139053A1 - Handle Structure

Info

Publication number: US20090139053A1
Application number: US11/947,866
Authority: US
Inventors: Chen-Chuan Wu
Original assignee: Hersun Plastic Co Ltd
Current assignee: Hersun Plastic Co Ltd
Priority date: 2007-11-30
Filing date: 2007-11-30
Publication date: 2009-06-04

Abstract

A hand structure includes a main body, an attachment and an engaging arm. The main body includes a plurality of assembling portions located at opposite ends thereof. The attachment each latched onto one of the assembling portions. The assembling portion includes a plurality of latching members formed thereon. The attachment includes a plurality of inserting plates each having a latching opening formed thereon. The inserting plates are inserted into the assembling portion and whereby the latching members are latched into the latching openings of the inserting plates. The engaging arm is engaged with the assembling portions. The attachment is located between the assembling portion and the engaging arm engaged therewith.

Description

BACKGROUND

The present invention generally relates to handle structures, and particularly to a handle structure applicable to suitcases, luggage devices and the like.
Conventionally, a handle structure of a suitcase or a luggage device includes a main body and a decorative attachment engaged therewith. The decorative attachment usually is a metal product, and the luster and hand feeling of the decorative attachment are different from that of the main body. As a result, an excellent visual effect is given and thus the grade of handle structure can be raised. In some situations, the decorative attachment further has a pattern and/or a trademark formed thereon so that an aesthetic feeling can be evoked.
However, the engagement formed between the decorative attachment and the main body for the conventional handle structure is carried out by screw connection or riveting. In the case of screw connection, the screw head will be exposed outside of the conventional handle structure and thus the comfort and beauty are degraded, plus bacteria tends to hide in the position where the screw head located. While the use of riveting would cause inconvenience of the assembly and also degrade the beauty of the handle structure.

BRIEF SUMMARY

An object of the present invention is to provide a handle structure, which has a simple configuration as well as convenient assembly.
In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a handle structure in accordance with a present embodiment is provided. The hand structure includes a main body, an attachment and an engaging arms. The main body includes a plurality of assembling portions located at opposite ends thereof. The attachment is latched onto one of the assembling portions. Each assembling portion includes a plurality of latching members formed thereon. The attachment includes a plurality of inserting plates, and each of the inserting plates has a latching opening formed thereon. The inserting plates are inserted into the assembling portion and whereby the latching members are latched into the latching openings of the inserting plates. The engaging arm is engaged with the assembling portion. The attachment is located between the assembling portion and the engaging arm engaged with the assembling portion.
Preferably, the assembling portion further includes a plurality of guiding slots, and the inserting plates are inserted into the guiding slots.
Further preferably, the assembling portion further includes a plurality of trough limbs formed on sidewalls of each of the guiding slots, and each of the inserting plates correspondingly has a plurality of limbs formed thereon and mated with the trough limbs.
Still further preferably, the attachment is selected from a metal product and a plastic product.
Due to the assembly for the attachment and the main body, in accordance with the present embodiment, is carried out by allowing the attachment to be inserted into and latched onto the main body, and thus no need of the screw or rivet for assisting the assembly. As a result, the handle structure would readily achieve a simple configuration as well as convenient assembly. In addition, the inserting plates are inserted into the corresponding one of the assembling portions but not exposed to outside, and therefore handle structure can be endowed with good hand feeling and grip comfort.
Other objectives, features and advantages of the present handle structure will be further understood from the further technological features disclosed by the embodiments of the present handle structure wherein there are shown and described preferred embodiments of this handle structure, simply by way of illustration of modes best suited to carry out the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features and advantages of the various embodiments disclosed herein will be better understood with respect to the following description and drawings, in which like numbers refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic, isometric view of a handle structure, in accordance with a present embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic, exploded view of the handle structure of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a partially schematic, isometric view of the handle structure of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a schematic, partially exploded view of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is similar to FIG. 4, but not showing an outer cover layer.

FIG. 6 is a schematic, cross-sectional view of FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is schematic, partial view of an object equipped with the handle structure of FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a partially schematic, partially exploded view of a handle structure, in accordance with another present embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. In this regard, directional terminology, such as “top,” “bottom,” “front,” “back,” etc., is used with reference to the orientation of the Figure(s) being described. The components of the present invention can be positioned in a number of different orientations. As such, the directional terminology is used for purposes of illustration and is in no way limiting. On the other hand, the drawings are only schematic and the sizes of components may be exaggerated for clarity. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a handle structure 100 in accordance with a present embodiment is provided. The handle structure 100 includes a main body 10, a plurality of (e.g., two) attachments 20, an outer cover layer 30, a plurality of (e.g., two) engaging arms 40 and a plurality of caps 50. The main body 10 usually has an elongated shape and includes a plurality of (e.g., two) assembling portions located at opposite ends thereof. The attachments 20 are respectively latched onto the assembling portions of the main body 10 after two outer cover layers 30 are combined to the main body 10. The attachments 20 may be purely decorative parts or other parts in need. The attachment 20 may be a metal product or a plastic product. The outer cover layer 30 covers the main body 10. The outer cover layer 30 rather suitably is made of a material having good hand feeling and grip comfort, which facilitates the improvement of the quality of the handle structure 100. The engaging arms 40 are configured (i.e., structured and arranged) for engaging the handle structure 100 to an object, such as a suitcase, a luggage device or the like. Each of the engaging arms 40 can be disposed at a side of a corresponding one of the attachments 20 which faces away from the main body 10 and whereby the attachments 20 are respectively located between the main body 10 and the corresponding one of the engaging arms 40. The engaging arms 40 can be engaged with the main body 10 by screw connection or other suitable means. The caps 50 each are disposed at a side of a corresponding one of the engaging arms 40 which faces away from the main body 10 and detachably capped on the corresponding one of engaging arms 40.
Referring to FIGS. 3 through 6, each of the assembling portions of the main body 10 includes a plurality of (e.g., two) guiding slots 11 formed therein and a plurality of latching members 12. The guiding slots 11 substantially extend along an axial direction of the elongated main body 10 and are located opposite to each other. The guiding slots 11 can be open or partly closed slots. The latching members 12 are respectively formed on the bottom walls of the guiding slots 11. Each of the latching members 12 can be a resilient tab outwardly extending from the bottom wall of a corresponding one of the guiding slots 11, and each of the assembling portions correspondingly further includes a plurality of unlatching grooves 14 (as illustrated in FIG. 6) formed in the bottom walls of the guiding slots 11. The unlatching grooves 14 are adjacent to and matched with the resilient tabs formed on the bottom walls of the guiding slots 11. The unlatching grooves 14 are configured to facilitate the bouncing action of the resilient tabs. The resilient tabs and the main body 10 can be integrally formed.
Each of the attachments 20 includes a receiving groove 24 formed therein and a plurality of inserting plates 21. The receiving groove 24 is configured for receiving the corresponding one of the assembling portions and facilitating to assure the engagement stability between the attachment 20 and the main body 10. The inserting plates 21 are axially projected from the attachment 20 and spaced apart from each other. The inserting plates 21 have a shape and size matched with that of the guiding slots 11 of the corresponding one of the assembling portions. Each of the inserting plates 21 has a latching opening 22 formed thereon and matable with a corresponding one of the latching members 12, so that the corresponding one of the latching members 12 can be latched into the latching opening 22. Preferably, the latching opening 22 is a through hole, facilitating to push the resilient tab into the unlatching groove 14 from a side of the latching opening 22 after the attachment 20 and the main body 10 is assembled together. Under the pushing action, the resilient tab would be unlatched into the latching opening 22 and thereafter the attachments 20 and the main body 10 can be disassembled.
As illustrated in FIG. 6, the inserting plates 21 of each of the attachments 20 are respectively inserted into the guiding slots 11 of the corresponding one of the assembling portions of the main body 10, and the resilient tabs of the corresponding one of the assembling portions are respectively latched into the latching openings 22 of the inserting plates 21. The receiving grooves 24 of the attachments 20 respectively have the assembling portions of the main body 10 fitly received therein, and the inserting plates 21 of each of the attachments 20 are located opposite sides of the corresponding one of the assembling portions. Consequently, the attachments 20 are latched onto the main body 10. The outer cover layer 30 is fitly abutting against the attachments 20 (as shown in FIG. 3) and covers the latching openings 22 of the inserting plates 21 (as illustrated in FIG. 6).
In the present embodiment, the latching members 12 of one of the assembling portions and the inserting plates 21 of the corresponding one of the attachments 20 cooperatively constitute a latch assembly. The latch assemblies each facilitate the attachments 20 to be latched onto the main body 10. It is understood to the skilled person that other well-known or future developed latch assemblies are also acceptable, so long as it can allow the attachments to be latched onto the main body. In addition, the number of the attachments 20 of the handle structure 100 is not limited to two, and may be only one according to a practical requirement; in this situation, one of the engaging arms 40 will engaged with the corresponding assembling portion without the attachment 20 intervening therebetween.
As illustrated in FIG. 7, the handle structure 100 is installed on an object by the engaging arms 40. The object may be a suitcase, a luggage device, or the like.
Referring to FIG. 8, in another present embodiment, each of the assembling portions of the main body 10 further includes a plurality of (e.g., two) trough limbs 13 formed in sidewalls of each of the guiding slots 11, and each of the inserting arms 21 correspondingly has a plurality of limbs 23 formed thereon and matable with the trough limbs 13. When the attachments 20 are latched onto the main body 10, the limbs 23 will be mated with and limited into the trough limbs 13, so that the outward deformation of the inserting arms 21 can be effectively suppressed. As a result, the latching stability between the latching members 12 and the latching openings 22 is enhanced and thus the engagement strength between the attachments 20 and the main body 10 is greatly improved.
In summary, due to that the assembly for the attachments 20 and the main body 10 is carried out by allowing the attachments 20 to be inserted into and latched onto the main body 10 and thus no need of the screw or rivet for assisting the assembly. Therefore, the drawbacks of the prior art are eliminated and the handle structure 100 would readily achieve a simple configuration as well as convenient assembly. Furthermore, the provision of the outer cover layer 30 endows the handle structure 100 with good hand feeling and grip comfort.
The above description is given by way of example, and not limitation. Given the above disclosure, one skilled in the art could devise variations that are within the scope and spirit of the invention disclosed herein, including configurations ways of the recessed portions and materials and/or designs of the attaching structures. Further, the various features of the embodiments disclosed herein can be used alone, or in varying combinations with each other and are not intended to be limited to the specific combination described herein. Thus, the scope of the claims is not to be limited by the illustrated embodiments.

Claims

1. A handle structure, comprising:

a main body comprising an assembling portion located at one end thereof;

an attachment latched onto the assembling portion, wherein the assembling portion comprises a plurality of latching members formed thereon, the attachment comprises a plurality of inserting plates and each inserting plate has a latching opening formed thereon, the inserting plates are inserted into the assembling portion and whereby the latching members are latched into the latching openings of the inserting plates, respectively; and

an engaging arms engaged with the assembling portion, the attachment being located between the assembling portion and the engaging arm being engaged with the assembling portion.

2. The handle structure of claim 1, wherein the assembling portion further comprises a plurality of guiding slots, and the inserting plates are inserted into the guiding slots.

3. The handle structure of claim 2, wherein the main body has an elongated shape, and the guiding slots substantially extend along an axial direction of the main body.

4. The handle structure of claim 2, wherein the latching members are resilient tabs respectively outwardly extending from bottom walls of the guiding slots, the assembling portion further comprises a plurality of unlatching grooves respectively formed in the bottom walls of the guiding slots, and the unlatching grooves are adjacent to and matched with the latching members.

5. The handle structure of claim 4, wherein the latching members and the main body are integrally formed.

6. The handle structure of claim 4, wherein each of the latching openings is a through hole.

7. The handle structure of claim 4, wherein the assembling portion further comprises a plurality of trough limbs formed on sidewalls of each of the guiding slots, and each of the inserting plates correspondingly has a plurality of limbs formed thereon and mated with the trough limbs.

8. The handle structure of claim 1, wherein the attachment further comprises a receiving groove formed therein, the inserting plates are axially projected from the attachment, the assembling portion is fitly received into the receiving groove and the inserting plates are located opposite sides of the assembling portions.

9. The handle structure of claim 1, wherein the attachment is selected from a metal product and a plastic product.

10. The handle structure of claim 1, further comprising an outer cover layer, the outer cover layer covering the main body and then the attachment fitly abutting against the outer cover.

11. The handle structure of claim 1, further comprising a cap disposed at a side of the engaging arm which faces away from the main body and capped on the engaging arm.