US2595724A

US2595724A - Luggage or like handle of reinforced and cushioned construction

Info

Publication number: US2595724A
Application number: US752422A
Authority: US
Inventors: Stein Leo
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1947-06-04
Filing date: 1947-06-04
Publication date: 1952-05-06
Anticipated expiration: 1969-05-06

Description

May 6, 1952 STEIN 2,595,724

L. Y LUGGAGE OR LIKE HANDLE OF REINFORCED AND CUSHIONED CONSTRUCTION Filed June 4, 1947 Patented May 6, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT LUGGAGE OR LIKE HANDLE OF REIN- FORCED AND CUSHIONED CON- STRUCTION 7 Claims.

The present invention relates to a handle construction, and more particularly concerns a lu age or like handle of reinforced and cushioned construction.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved handle which, when used in carrying luggage, leather goods or the like to which the handle may be attached, feels comfortable to the hand.

Another object of this invention is to provide a handle possessing unusual ruggedness and durability.

In accordance with the general features of this invention, there is provided a handle comprising an assembly of separately formed upper and lower parts, the upper part including a shape-sustaining and reinforcing rib and the lower part having a comfortable palm-fitting shape, there being a cushioning structure between the parts to increase the comfort of the handle in use.

Another feature resides in'having the cushioning structure formed by cooperating portions of both of the parts of the handle.

Another feature of the invention relates to the structure of the upper member including a covering over a reinforcing strip and having the margin of the covering joined to depend centrally to form a flange for fastening to the lower member.

Other objects, features and advantages of this invention will more fully appear from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which illustrate a single embodiment thereof and in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view illustrating initial assembly of the lower hand grip member and showing how the cushioning filler portion thereof is placed centrally of the cover portion;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the hand grip assembly shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a plan view illustrating the hand grip assembly after turning in of the marginal and end portions of the cover and fastening them to the filler;

Figure 4 is a front elevation-a1 view, partially broken away and illustrating the upper reinforcing member and lower hand grip member disposed for assembly;

Figure 5 is a side elevational view illustrating the handle fully assembled with the upper and lower members stitched together; and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary enlarged cross sec- Figure 5,

As shown on the drawings:

The invention will be described as applied to making ahandle chiefly from leather, but it should be understood that various components of the handle may be formed of various suitable materials such, for example, as fabrics, composition materials,- plastics, and the like.

The reference numeral N] indicates generally the lower member which serves as a palm seat or grip and is ultimately formed to a comfortable rounded external shape to conform generally to the palm of the hand in which grasped. The preliminary steps in the method of forming this lower member It may best be described by reference to Figs. 1 to 3 and comprise first providing a pair of strips 1 I and 12 of substantially similar configuration and different size (Figure l). The strips may have a generally elongated elliptic configuration, with outwardly bowed curving longitudinal edges and blunt ends. The strip II is preferably substantially uniformly larger than the strip I2 and is made from a relatively thin covering material such as leather having a good exterior wearing surface. The smaller strip [2 is preferably formed from a relatively thick, pliable material having considerable springiness such as soft leather, leather felt, or the like, and serves as a filler.

In forming the lower member if], the filler i2 is fastened as by an adhesive or cement I3 centrally of the inner face of the larger cover strip H, resulting in the arrangement shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Following the initial assembly step, the cover strip ll may be notched out at the corners as indicated at [4 and the end margins, identified at i5, and the longitudinal margins, identified at ll folded inwardly and secured in overlapping relation to the filler IE to form the structure shown in Fig. 3.

The assembled lower member I0 is then folded inwardly about a longitudinal axis into a generally U-shape, forming a central channel I 8 between upturned side walls ISand 2i] and a bottom wall 2|, as best seen in Fig. 6. Due to the inherent pliability of the assembly it can also be bent about a transverse axis into a generally inverted C-shape with the channel opening outwardly, as shown in the lower part of Fig. 4. These operations may be performed simultaneously if desired by means of appropriate dies (not shown).

An upper member 22 is formed with a relatively stifi, narrow, reinforcing strip as a core or rib 23 made from metal, plastic, or the like, and having a cover 24 made from leather or other desirable material. The cover 24 comprises a central portion 25 overlying the rib 23 and having longitudinal marginal portions 26 and 21 folded about the rib and pinched to ether at 28 beneath the rib to conform thereto, as by means of dies. The marginal portions 26 and 21 are cemented together and project from the rib 23 as a depending flange 29. The ends of the cover 24 may be turned in and fastened to the flange 29 as by means of staples 30 (Fig. 4) to afford a finished appearance at the ends of the assembly.

The upper assembly 22 is bent into a substantially O-shape, generally complementary to the lower member I0, and assembled with the latter by insertion of the flange 29 into the channel l8.

Assembly of the handle is completed by squaring the assembly members I and 22 to shape and securing them together by means of stitching 3| passing through and connecting the flange 29 and the

side walls

19 and 20 of the lower member [0. This serves to pinch the side walls tightly against the flange 29 beneath the rib 23, and the stitching further tends to maintain the desired shape of the completed assembly.

Holes

32 and 33, indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 5, are then formed on a common axis through the central lower end portions of the handle for receiving pivot elements of attachment hardware by which the handle is secured to luggage, brief cases, or the like. It will be appreciated that the metal rib 23 will afford a rugged connection between the handle and a pivot pin or the like.

Since the upper edges of the

sides

19 and 20 of the lower member I0 engage below the reinforcing rib 23 of the upper member 22, the stitching 3| is saved from any substantial shearing stresses. The side walls I9 and 20 held by the stitching 3! are sufficiently strong to resist tendency of the upper member to spread them. Thus a very strong and durable handle is provided.

Furthermore, as best seen in Fig. 6, the flange 29 preferably opposes the bottom wall 2| of the channel [8 in cushioning, cooperative relation. The flange 29 therefore cooperates with the cushioning flller l2 to give a substantial yet pliable and somewhat resilient cushion for the palm grip of the handle. Without the backing afforded by means such as the flange 29, the cushioning filler l2 might have too great a tendency to collapse and bulge. Hence, it will be perceived that the filler i2 and the flange 29 afford advantageous cushion structure.

The upper and lower members 22 and I0, respectively, may be of different shades or colors to enhance their appearance.

It will, of course, be understood that various details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention and it is, therefore, not the purpose to limit the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A handle for leather goods, luggage and the like, comprising a filler of generally U-shape in longitudinal contour and having outwardly turned longitudinal marginal portions defining a channel, a covering for said filler conforming to the contour thereof, a stiff rib conforming to the longitudinal contour of said filler, a cover fitting therearound and having its longitudinal margins pinched under and forming a longitudinal flange depending centrally from an under surface of said rib, said flange being disposed in said channel, and stitching extending between the marginal portions of said filler and through said flange to hold said filler and rib together.

2. A luggage handle or the like comprising a palm grip member having side walls defining a channel, an upper reinforcing member having a covering providing a longitudinal depending flange, said flange being inserted within said channel, and means securing the side walls of the palm grip member to said flange beneath said reinforcing member, top edges of the palm grip member side walls engaging the covering under the reinforcing member at the base of said flange.

3. A substantially C-shaped palm grip member of channel cross section with the channel opening outwardly, a substantially C-shaped reinforcing member of T-cross section and having the leg thereof within the channel of the palm grip member, the channel sides of the palm grip member being secured to said leg of the reinforcing member, and outer edges of said sides being positioned under respective opposite head portions of the T- cross section reinforcing member.

4. A generally C-shaped palm grip member formed from substantially flexibly resilient but generally form retaining material and having a generally channel shaped cross section with the channel opening outwardly, a generally C-shaped reinforcing member comprising a reinforcing bar and a covering of flexible material united in substantially T-cross sectional formation so as to deflne a reinforced head and a flange leg, said flange leg being inserted within the channel of the palm grip member, the sides of the palm grip member being secured to said flange leg adjacent to shoulders defined by the head of the reinforcing member, outer edges of said sides supportingly engaging under said shoulders, said flange leg being free from the sides of the palm grip member throughout a substantial portion thereof interiorly of the palm grip member and said flange leg terminating adjacent to the bottom of the channel of the palm grip member, whereby to afford a cushioning cooperation between said flange and the channel bottom of the palm grip member.

5. In a luggage or like handle structure, a reinforcing strip of generally C-shape, and a strip of flexible material covering said reinforcing strip and having longitudinal margins pinched under the reinforcing strip and extending in face-toface relation from the inner side of the c-shaped reinforcing strip and providing with the reinforcing strip a configuration substantially T- shaped in cross section, said face-to-face marginal portions providing a flexible flange to be secured within a channel-shaped palm-grip member.

6. A handle for luggage or the like, comprising a palm grip member including an elongated unit of stitchable material having its longitudinal margins spaced so as to provide a channel formation, end portions of the palm grip member extending generally away from the open side of the channel so that the grip member appears generally C-shape in longitudinal section, an elongated substantially C-shaped reinforcing member covered by a strip of stitchable material of substantially larger area than the reinforcing member, longitudinal margins of the covering material being disposed in face-to-face relation and projecting medially from the inner curved face of the reinforcing member to a substantial distance therebeyond to provide a longitudinally extending median flange at the inside of the curve, said flange being disposed in the channel of the palm grip member; stitching connecting the channel sides of the palm grip member to said flange; and terminal portions of the resulting handle, including terminal portions of the reinforcing member being apertured so as to receive pivot elements.

7. A luggage or like handle construction comprising, in combination, a palm grip structure having side walls defining a channel facing upwardly, an upper reinforcing member having a covering providing a longitudinal depending flange, said flange being inserted within said channel, and means securing the side walls of the palm grip member to said flange beneath said reinforcing member, said side walls engaging the covering under the reinforcing member and adjacent thev base of said flange, each end portion of the handle having a pivot-receiving hole therein, said holes having a, common pivot axis, and each of said holes extending successively through the covered reinforcing member and said palm grip member.

LEO STEIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record, in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,211,624 Ritter Jan. 9, 1917 1,495,950 Chakov May 27, 1924 1,705;858 Finkelstein Mar. 19, 1929 1,793,575 Williams Feb. 24, 1931 1,977,626 Finkelstein Oct. 23, 1934 1,977,674 Finkelstein Oct. 23, 1934 2,033,879 Cichowicz Mar. 10, 1936