Retractable leaning towing handle system for wheeled baggage

Abstract

A towing handle system for wheeled baggage includes first and second support posts, and a towing handle positionable between an upright position parallel to the support posts and a towing position at an angle with respect to the support posts. The towing handle includes a locking latch mechanism comprising an angle position element extending between the first and second posts, and the an angle position element has a ribbed outer surface. A locking element includes an inner surface received over the outer surface of the angle position element, and the inner surface lockingly engages the angle position element in a first orientation corresponding to the upright position and lockingly engages the angle position element in a second orientation defining the towing position.

1 . A towing handle system for wheeled baggage comprising: 
 first and second support posts;    a towing handle positionable between an upright position parallel to said support posts and a towing position at an angle with respect to said support posts, said towing handle comprising a locking latch mechanism comprising: 
 an angle position element extending between said first and second posts, said angle position element having a ribbed outer surface; and  
 a locking element comprising an inner surface received over said outer surface of said angle position element, said inner surface lockingly engaging said angle position element in a first orientation corresponding to the upright position and lockingly engaging said angle position element in a second orientation defining the towing position.  
   
   
   
       2 . A towing handle system in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said towing position is oriented at substantially a 45° angle from the upright position.  
   
   
       3 . A towing handle system in accordance with  claim 1  further comprising a biasing element urging said locking element to one of a locked and unlocked position.  
   
   
       4 . A handle system in accordance with  claim 3  wherein said biasing element comprises a helical spring element.  
   
   
       5 . A handle system in accordance with  claim 3  wherein said biasing element comprises an elastomeric element.  
   
   
       6 . A towing handle system in accordance with  claim 1  further comprising a shell and a push button coupled to said shell, said push button unlocking said locking element from said angle position element.  
   
   
       7 . A towing handle system in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said angle position element comprises a cylindrical shaft.  
   
   
       8 . A towing handle system in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said locking element comprises a locking plate having ribs located thereon at predetermined increments.  
   
   
       9 . A towing handle system in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said locking element comprise a body defining an opening, said angle position element received in said opening wherein said body completely surrounds a circumference of said angle position element.  
   
   
       10 . A towing handle system in accordance with  claim 1  further comprising at least one locking pin interfacing with the angle position element.  
   
   
       11 . A towing handle system in accordance with  claim 1  further comprising a U-shaped handle shell extending above said first and second support posts.  
   
   
       12 . A towing handle system in accordance with  claim 11  further comprising first and second rocker arms pivotally mounted to said shell opposite said locking latch mechanism.  
   
   
       13 . A baggage piece comprising: 
 a body comprising at least one body panel and a pair of wheels;    first and second telescoping support posts coupled to said body; and    a retractable towing handle positionable between an upright position parallel to said support posts and a towing position at an angle with respect to said support posts, said handle extending away from said body panel in said towing position, said towing handle comprising: 
 a handle shell; and  
 a locking latch mechanism mounted to said shell, said locking latch mechanism comprising: 
 an angle position element mounted stationary to one of said shell and said supports, said angle position element extending between said first and second posts and comprising a first engagement surface; and  
 at least one locking element mounted stationary to the other of said shell and supports, said locking element comprising a second engagement surface received over said first engagement surface of said angle position element, said second engagement surface lockingly engaging said locking element in a first orientation corresponding to the upright position and lockingly engaging said locking element in a second orientation defining the towing position.  
 
   
   
   
       14 . A baggage piece in accordance with  claim 13  wherein said towing position is oriented at substantially a 45° angle from the upright position.  
   
   
       15 . A towing handle system in accordance with  claim 14  wherein said at least one locking element comprises a pair of locking elements, each of said locking elements slidably mounted to said angle position element.  
   
   
       16 . A handle system in accordance with  claim 14  wherein said at least one locking element comprises a pair of locking elements movable between locked and unlocked positions, said handle further comprising a pair of spring elements biasing said respective locking elements to one of the locked and unlocked positions.  
   
   
       17 . A baggage piece in accordance with  claim 13  wherein said first engagement surfaces comprises a first rib corresponding to the upright position and a second rib corresponding to the towing position.  
   
   
       18 . A baggage piece in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein said first engagement surfaces comprises pair of ribs, and wherein the at least one locking element comprises a pair of locking elements, said pair of ribs extending between said pair of locking elements.  
   
   
       19 . A towing handle system in accordance with  claim 13  further comprising a push button coupled to said shell, said push button unlocking said locking element from said angle position element.  
   
   
       20 . A towing handle system in accordance with  claim 13  wherein said angle position element comprises a cylindrical shaft mounted stationary to said shell.  
   
   
       21 . A towing handle system in accordance with  claim 13  wherein said locking element comprises a locking plate, said angle position element movable beneath said locking plate in an unlocked position.  
   
   
       22 . A towing handle system in accordance with  claim 13  wherein said shell is U-shaped.  
   
   
       23 . A towing handle system in accordance with  claim 13  further comprising first and second rocker arms pivotally mounted to said shell opposite said locking latch mechanism.  
   
   
       24 . A piece of baggage comprising: 
 a body defining a compartment for stowing an item for transport;    wheels attached to said body;    first and second telescoping support posts mounted to said body; and    a towing handle system comprising: 
 a U-shaped handle shell pivotally mounted to said first and second support posts;  
 a push button coupled to said shell;  
 first and second rocker arms pivotally mounted to said shell and responsive to movement of said push button;  
 first and second release cables coupled to said respective first and second rocker arms; and  
 a locking latch mechanism coupled to said release cables, said locking latch element extending transversely between said first and second support posts at a distal end of said U-shaped handle; said locking latch mechanism comprising: 
 an angle position element having a ribbed engagement surface; and  
 a locking element comprising a grooved engagement surface received over said ribbed engagement surface of said angle position element, said grooved engagement surface lockingly engaging said locking element in an upright position and lockingly engaging said locking element in a towing position wherein said handle shell is angled with respect said support posts.  
 
   
   
   
       25 . A baggage piece in accordance with  claim 24  wherein said towing position is oriented at substantially a 45° angle from the upright position in a direction away from said body.  
   
   
       26 . A towing handle system in accordance with  claim 24  wherein said at least one locking element comprises a pair of locking elements, each of said locking elements slidably mounted to said angle position element.  
   
   
       27 . A handle system in accordance with  claim 25  further comprising a pair of spring elements biasing said respective locking elements toward a locked position.  
   
   
       28 . A towing handle system in accordance with  claim 25  further comprising a push button coupled to said shell, said push button unlocking said locking element from said angle position element.  
   
   
       29 . A towing handle system in accordance with  claim 24  wherein said angle position element comprises a cylindrical shaft mounted stationary to said shell.  
   
   
       30 . A towing handle system in accordance with  claim 24  wherein said angle position element comprises a locking plate, said angle position element movable beneath said locking plate in an unlocked position.  
   
   
       31 . A towing handle system in accordance with  claim 24  further comprising first and second lock pins coupled to said first and second release wires, respectively.  
   
   
       32 . A baggage piece in accordance with  claim 24 , wherein said angle position element comprises pair of ribs and wherein the locking element comprises a pair of locking elements, said pair of ribs extending between said pair of locking elements.  
   
   
       33 . A towing handle system in accordance with  claim 24  wherein said angle position element comprises a shaft mounted stationary to said shell, said shaft extending along a longitudinal axis, said locking element comprising a body receiving a circumference of said shaft, said locking element moving parallel to said longitudinal axis to latch and unlatch said locking element from said shaft.  
   
   
       34 . A towing handle system in accordance with  claim 33  wherein said locking element comprises a pair of locking elements, one of the pair of locking elements moving in a first direction, and the other of the pair of locking elements moving in a second direction opposite the first direction to latch and unlatch said locking element from said shaft.  
   
   
       35 . A towing handle system in accordance with  claim 24  wherein said locking element comprises a pair of locking elements, and further comprising a pair of resilient elements applying oppositely directed biasing forces to said pair of locking elements.  
   
   
       36 . A handle assembly for a towable bag, said handle assembly comprising: 
 a U-shaped shell; and    a locking latch mechanism mounted to said U-shaped shell, said locking latch mechanism comprising a shaft mounted stationary to said shell and at least one rib extending from an outer surface of said shaft; and    a pair of locking elements slidably mounted to said shaft and movable along an axis of said shaft between locked and unlocked positions, said locking elements moving in opposite directions from one another and said rib located between said locking elements in each of said locked and unlocked positions.    
   
   
       37 . A handle assembly in accordance with  claim 36  further comprising rocker arms pivotally mounted to said shell, said rocker arms coupled to said locking elements and moving said locking elements to said locked position when actuated.  
   
   
       38 . A handle assembly for a towable bag, said handle assembly comprising: 
 a U-shaped shell; and    a locking latch mechanism mounted to said U-shaped shell, said locking latch mechanism comprising a position selector and locking plate, said position selector and said locking plate comprising engagement surfaces which mesh to position said shell relative to said locking plate, said position selector moving beneath said locking plate in an unlocked position.    
   
   
       39 . A handle assembly in accordance with  claim 38  further comprising locking pins received by said position selector in a locked position, and an elastomeric bias element biasing said locking pins to a predetermined position.