US20090064456A1

US20090064456A1 - Towing Handle Assembly

Info

Publication number: US20090064456A1
Application number: US11/853,869
Authority: US
Inventors: Chang-Fu Chen
Original assignee: Zixtro Inc
Current assignee: Zixtro Inc
Priority date: 2007-09-12
Filing date: 2007-09-12
Publication date: 2009-03-12

Abstract

A towing handle assembly for a luggage carrier includes a fixing member having a magnet mounted thereto. The fixing member includes at least one groove formed thereon. At least one telescoping member is received in the respective at least one groove. The telescoping member includes a magnet mounted thereto.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a towing handle assembly for a luggage carrier, in particular, to such a handle assembly that is telescopically extendable and retractable, and the handle assembly can be magnetically locked at a full degree of extension/retraction.
2. Description of the Related Art
Referring to FIGS. 13 and 14, a conventional luggage carrier includes a first telescoping member 1 that can be extended or retracted into a case 2. The telescoping member 1 has a bore 3 defined thereon. A second telescoping member 4 is receivable in the first telescoping member 1. The second telescoping member 4 includes a spring member 6 having a pinlike end portion 7 disposed therein and the second telescoping member 4 can be extended or retracted into the first telescoping member 1. The second telescoping member 4 further has a handle 5 connected thereto for allowing a user to pull during towing. The handle 5 is also adapted to allow the user to pull the second telescoping member 4 with respect to the first telescoping member 1, and, when the pinlike end portion 7 is engaged into the bore 3, the first and second telescoping members 1,4 are interlocked.
However, when it is necessary to get the second telescoping member 4 retracted into the first telescoping member 1, a problem arises in disengaging the pinlike end portion 7 from the bore 3, this being due to the fact that when the pinlike end portion 7 is forced to disengaged from the bore 3, the pinlike end portion 7 is susceptible to jamming in the bore 3. As a matter of fact, any collapsible towing handle assembly which adopts mechanical configuration is likely to suffer jamming problems.
The present invention is, therefore, intended to obviate or at least alleviate the problems encountered in the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention overcomes the disadvantage of the prior art by providing a towing handle assembly that can be magnetically locked at a full degree of extension/retraction.
The towing handle assembly for a luggage carrier includes a fixing member having a magnet mounted thereto. The fixing member includes at least one groove formed thereon. At least one telescoping member is received in the respective groove. The telescoping member includes a magnet mounted thereto. The telescoping member can be extended or retracted into the respective groove defined by said fixing member, and the magnets are adapted to attract each other when magnets are located in juxtaposed relationship.
It is a primary objective of the present invention to provide a towing handle assembly that can be telescopically extended and magnetically rather than mechanically locked at a fixed position.
Other objectives, advantages, and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a luggage carrier including a towing handle assembly according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the towing handle assembly shown in FIG. 1, and the towing handle assembly is dissembled from the luggage carrier.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a partial enlarged view of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 3, but with the towing handle assembly being retracted into the luggage carrier.

FIG. 6 is a partial enlarged view of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is another partial enlarged view of FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a towing handle assembly according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the towing handle assembly shown in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 10-10 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 10, but with the towing handle assembly being extended.

FIG. 12 shows a luggage carrier including a towing handle assembly shown in FIG. 8.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a conventional luggage carrier.

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of the towing handle assembly of the conventional luggage carrier.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1 thorough 3, a towing handle assembly for a luggage carrier 10 includes a body 11 having a bottom and rear walls 12, 13. The bottom and rear walls 12, 13 are substantially perpendicular to each other and include an edge where wheels 14 are mounted spaced apart on the edge. The wheels 14 can support the luggage carrier above the ground when the luggage carrier is being tilted or towed. On the rear wall 13 of the body 11, a plurality of fastening studs 15 are formed.
A fixing member 20 is mounted on the rear wall 13 by urging the fastening studs 15 into apertures 26 thereof. The fastening studs 15 are fixedly engaged in respective apertures 26 through the process of supersonic welding. The fixing member 20 has two grooves 21, which extends longitudinally from a proximal end to a distal end thereof and are disposed in a spaced relation. At one end of each groove 21, a magnet 22 is disposed adjacent thereto. At the other end of each groove 21, a narrowed section 23 and a stop member 24 are defined thereof. The stop member 24 has a flange 25 extended therefrom.
Two telescoping members 30 are received in the respective grooves 21 and can be extended or retracted into the grooves 21. Each telescoping member 30 includes a first end 31 and a second end 32 adapted to be inserted through a cutout hole 17 defined on the rear wall 13 of the body 11 and the stop member 24 prior to the engagement with a position locking member 33.
The position locking member 33 includes an attachment portion 34 received in the telescoping member 30 and an end portion 35 which has a magnet 38 disposed therein. The attachment portion 34 has a wavy projection 37 adapted to be received in a bore 36 defined on the second end 32 of the position locking member 33. The wavy projection 37 allows the position locking member 33 to be easily received in the telescoping member 30 and securely attached thereto. Furthermore, the attachment portion 34 has a less external diameter than that of said end portion 35.
A gripping member 40 includes a gripping portion 41 allowing a user to hold during towing and two extensions 42 projected therefrom for engagement with the first end 31 of the telescoping member 30.
Referring to FIGS. 3 through 5, if the telescoping member 30 is completely retracted into the fixing member 20, the magnets 22, 38 are located in juxtaposed relationship. In this preferred embodiment, the magnets 22, 38 are adapted to be attracted to each other. Accordingly, the telescoping member 30 and the fixing member 20 are magnetically interlocked.
Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, if the telescoping member 30 is completely extended, the magnets 38 are located in juxtaposed relationship with magnets 16 mounted to the rear wall 13 of the body 11.
Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, a second embodiment of the invention includes a fixing member 50 and a telescoping member 70 with different configuration than those of the prior embodiment. Furthermore, an extension member 60 is adapted to be received in the fixing member 50, and a telescoping member 70 is adapted to be received in the extension member 60.
The fixing member 50 includes a middle portion 501 and two lateral portions 502 bent with respect to the middle portion 501 so that a groove 503 is defined for reception of the extension member 60. The fixing member 50 further includes a first end having two first through holes 504 and two second through holes 505. An end closure member 51, which is to be fixed to the first end of the fixing member 50, includes a middle portion 511 and two lateral portions 512. The middle portion 511 has two first latching projections 514 adapted to engage in the first through holes 504 respectively. Each lateral portion 512 has a second latching projections 515 adapted to engage in the second through hole 505. The end closure member 51 also includes a transverse portion 513 having a magnet holding portion 516 that a magnet 517 can be disposed therein.
At a second end of the fixing member 50, two first through holes 504 and two second through holes 505 are defined and a stop member 52 are adapted to be fixed thereto. The stop member 52 is substantially ring shaped and includes a rear portion 501 having two first latching projections 524 engaged in the first through holes 504 respectively. The stop member 52 further includes two side portions 522, with each side portion 522 including a second latching projection 525 engaged in the respective second through hole 505. Moreover, the stop member 52 has a front portion 523 to which a magnet 526 is mounted. In addition, the stop member 25 has a flange 527 adapted to prevent the stop member 52 from sliding into the groove 503.
The extension member 60 includes a middle portion 601 and two lateral portions 602 bent with respect to the middle portion 601 so that a groove 603 is defined for reception of the telescoping member 70. The extension member 60 further includes a first end having two first through holes 604 and two second through holes 605. An end closure member 61, which is adapted to fix to the first end of the extension member 60 after the extension member 60 is inserted through the stop member 52 of the fixing member 50, is substantially ring shaped. The end closure member 61 includes a rear portion 611 having two first latching projections 614 engaged in the first through holes 604 respectively. The end closure member further include two side portions 612, with each side portion 612 has a second latching projections 615 engaged in the respective second through hole 605. Moreover, the end closure member 61 includes a front portion 613 to which a magnet 616 is mounted.
At a second end of the extension member 60, two first through holes 604 and a plurality of second through holes 605 are defined and a stop member 62 are adapted to be fixed thereto. The stop member 62 includes a rear portion 621 having two first latching projections 623 engaged in the first through holes 604 respectively. The stop member 62 further includes two side portions 622, with each side portion 622 including a second latching projection 624 engaged in the respective second through hole 505. Moreover, the stop member 62 includes a magnet 625 mounted thereto and defines slot 626 for allowing the insertion of the telescoping member 70. In addition, the stop member 62 includes a flange 627 adapted to prevent the stop member 62 from sliding into the groove 603.
The telescoping member 70 includes a middle portion 701 and two lateral portions 702 bent with respect to the middle portion 701 so that a groove 703 is defined. The telescoping member 70 further includes a first end having two first through holes 704 and a second end having a gripping member 72 attached thereto. A block member 705 is provided adjacent to the gripping member 72. An end closure member 71, which is to be fixed to the first end of the telescoping member 70 after the extension member 60 is inserted through the slot 626 of the stop member 62. The end closure member 71 includes a rear portion 711 having two latching projections 714 engaged in the first through holes 704 respectively and two side portions 712. In this preferred embodiment, each side portion 712 is tooth shaped. The end closure member 71 further includes a shelf portion 713 perpendicular to the middle portion 701 and a magnet 715 attached thereto.
It should be noted that the extension member 60 can also be used in connection with the first embodiment of the invention.
Referring to FIG. 10, if the telescoping member 70 is retracted into the extension member 60 and the extension member is retracted into the fixing member 50, the magnets 526, 625 and the magnets 517, 616, 715 are located in juxtaposed relationship. In this preferred embodiment, the magnets 526, 625 are adapted to be attracted to each other, the magnets 517, 616, 715 are adapted to be attracted to one another. Accordingly, the telescoping member 70, the extension member 60 and the fixing member 50 are magnetically interlocked.
Referring to FIG. 11, if the extension member 60 and the telescoping member 70 are completely extended, the magnets 625, 715 and the magnets 526, 616 are located in juxtaposed relationship.
FIG. 12 shows the second embodiment of the invention in use with the luggage carrier 10, in which the fixing member 50 is mounted to the rear wall 13 of the body 11, and the cutout hole 17 is adapted to allow insertion of the fixing member 50.
In view of the forgoing, it is the primary advantage of the present invention that the towing handle assembly can be telescopically extended and magnetically rather than mechanically locked at a fixed position.
While the specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, numerous modifications come to mind without significantly departing from the spirit of invention and the scope of invention is only limited by the scope of accompanying claims.

Claims

1. A towing handle assembly for a luggage carrier comprising:

a fixing member including at least one magnet mounted thereto, said fixing member further including at least one groove formed thereon; and

at least one telescoping member being received in said corresponding groove and said telescoping member including at least one magnet mounted thereto; and

wherein said telescoping member can be extended or retracted into said corresponding groove defined by said fixing member, and said magnets are adapted to attract each other when magnets are located in juxtaposed relationship.

2. The towing handle assembly for a luggage carrier as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fixing member comprises a stop member restricting the telescoping member from detachment therebetween.

3. The towing handle assembly for a luggage carrier as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fixing member is supersonically welded to the luggage carrier.

4. The towing handle assembly for a luggage carrier as claimed in claim 2, wherein said telescoping member includes a position locking member having an attachment portion received in said telescoping member and an end portion having a magnet disposed therein.

5. The towing handle assembly for a luggage carrier as claimed in claim 2, wherein said stop member is securely fixed to said fixing member and has a magnet disposed therein, said magnet is adapted to attract said magnet mounted to said fixing member when magnets are located in juxtaposed relationship.

6. The towing handle assembly for a luggage carrier as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fixing member includes an end closure member allowing said magnet to be mounted thereto, said end closure member is securely fixed to fixing member.

7. The towing handle assembly for a luggage carrier as claimed in claim 1, wherein said telescoping member includes an end closure member allowing said magnet to be mounted thereto, said end closure member is securely fixed to fixing member.

8. The towing handle assembly for a luggage carrier as claimed in claim 1 further comprises an extension member received in said fixing member, said extension member further has said telescoping member received therein, said extension member further has a magnet mounted thereto, said magnet is adapted to attract said magnet mounted to said telescoping member when magnets are located in juxtaposed relationship.