Dynamic ball joint handle system for towable item

Abstract

A towing handle assembly for a towable item includes a support configured to be coupled to the towable item, a ball pivot joint coupled to the support, and a towing handle mounted to the ball joint and defining a hand grip for towing by a user. The ball pivot joint floats relative to the support in horizontal and vertical directions for a limited range of motion, thereby naturally positioning the hand grip vertically and horizontally to accommodate changing positions of the users hand when towing the towable item.

1 . A towing handle assembly for a towable item, the towing handle assembly comprising: 
 a support configured to be coupled to the towable item;    a ball pivot joint coupled to the support; and    a towing handle mounted to the ball joint and defining a hand grip for towing by a user, wherein the ball pivot joint floats relative to the support in at lest one of a horizontal direction and a vertical direction, thereby naturally positioning the hand grip vertically and horizontally to accommodate changing positions of the users hand when towing the towable item.    
   
   
       2 . A towing handle assembly in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising a socket assembly coupled to the support and receiving the ball joint.  
   
   
       3 . A towing handle assembly in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising a socket assembly configured to limit movement of the ball pivot joint in at least one of the vertical and horizontal directions.  
   
   
       4 . A towing handle assembly in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the ball joint comprises at least one peg projecting from an outer surface thereof, the peg preventing float of the handle relative to the support beyond a predetermined amount.  
   
   
       5 . A towing handle assembly in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising a socket fixed to the support, the ball pivot joint received in the socket, and the socket comprising a shaped neck preventing float of the handle relative to the support beyond a predetermined amount.  
   
   
       6 . A towing handle assembly in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising a socket fixed to the support, the socket comprising an inner surface receiving the ball pivot joint, said inner surface comprising at least one recess engaging a portion of the ball pivot joint when the ball pivot joint floats in position beyond a predetermined amount, thereby preventing further float of the handle in at least one of the vertical and horizontal directions.  
   
   
       7 . A towing handle assembly in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising a socket fixed to the support and receiving the ball pivot joint, wherein one of the socket and the ball pivot joint includes a projection and the other of the socket and the ball pivot joint includes a recessed area receiving the projection, and wherein the projection and the recess cooperatively prevent float of the handle beyond a predetermined amount in at least one of the vertical and horizontal directions.  
   
   
       8 . A towing handle assembly in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the support is a telescoping support selectively positionable in an extended position and a retracted position.  
   
   
       9 . A towing handle assembly in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the support is curved along a longitudinal axis thereof.  
   
   
       10 . A towing handle assembly in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising a release button and a release element, wherein displacement of the button also displaces the release element, and wherein the release element extends through the ball pivot joint.  
   
   
       11 . A towing handle assembly for a towable piece of luggage having a body adapted to roll along a surface, the towing handle assembly comprising: 
 a telescoping support configured to be coupled to the body of the luggage, the support having a distal end operatively coupled to the body and a proximal end opposite the distal end, and the support being selectively postionable relative to the body between extended and retracted positions;    a socket fixedly mounted to the distal end of the telescoping support;    a ball pivot joint received in the socket and configured to float relative to the support about first and second mutually perpendicular axes; and    a towing handle fixed to the ball pivot joint and defining a hand grip for towing the body along the surface via pulling of the towing handle by a user, wherein the ball pivot joint naturally adjusts the hand grip relative the users hand when pulling the towing handle despite varying towing maneuvers and towing conditions, wherein the ball pivot joint adjusts position of the hand grip without any actuation of the towing handle by the user other than pulling the towing handle.    
   
   
       12 . A towing handle assembly in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein the socket and the ball pivot joint are configured to cooperatively limit floating of the handle about the first and second axes beyond a predetermined degree.  
   
   
       13 . A towing handle assembly in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein the socket is formed in first and second mirror image parts.  
   
   
       14 . A towing handle assembly in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein the ball joint comprises at least one peg projecting from an outer surface thereof, the peg preventing float of the ball pivot joint relative to the socket beyond a predetermined amount.  
   
   
       15 . A towing handle assembly in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein the socket comprises a shaped neck preventing float of the handle relative to the support beyond a predetermined amount.  
   
   
       16 . A towing handle assembly in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein the socket comprises an inner surface receiving the ball pivot joint, said inner surface comprising at least one recess engaging a portion of the ball pivot joint and preventing further float of the ball pivot joint when the ball pivot joint moves relative to the socket beyond a predetermined amount.  
   
   
       17 . A towing handle assembly in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein one of the socket and the ball pivot joint includes a projection and the other of the socket and the ball pivot joint includes a recessed area receiving the projection, and wherein the projection and the recess -cooperatively prevent float of the handle about at least one of the first and second axes beyond a predetermined amount.  
   
   
       18 . A towing handle assembly in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein the support includes an axial length extending between the proximal and distal ends, and the support is curved along its axial length.  
   
   
       19 . A towing handle assembly in accordance with  claim 11 , further comprising a release button and a release element, wherein displacement of the button also displaces the release element, and wherein the release element extends through the ball pivot joint.  
   
   
       20 . A towable piece of luggage comprising: 
 a body defining a compartment to store personal effects of a traveler for transport, said body comprising a wheel for rolling the body along a surface without lifting of the body from the ground;    a telescoping support coupled to the body, the support having a distal end operatively coupled to the body and a proximal end opposite the distal end, and the support being selectively postionable relative to the body between extended and retracted positions relative to the body;    a socket fixedly mounted to the distal end of the telescoping support;    a ball pivot joint received in the socket and configured to float relative to the support; and    a towing handle fixed to the ball pivot joint and defining a hand grip for towing the body along the surface via pulling of the towing handle by a user, wherein the ball pivot joint naturally floats in position relative to the socket to avoid relative rotation of the handle with respect to the user's hand as the handle is being pulled and as the position of the user's hand is changed.    
   
   
       21 . A towable piece of luggage in accordance with  claim 20 , wherein the socket and the ball pivot joint are configured to cooperatively limit floating of the handle beyond a predetermined degree.  
   
   
       22 . A towable piece of luggage in accordance with  claim 20 , wherein the socket is formed in first and second mirror image parts.  
   
   
       23 . A towable piece of luggage in accordance with  claim 20 , wherein the ball joint comprises at least one peg projecting from an outer surface thereof, the peg preventing float of the ball pivot joint relative to the socket beyond a predetermined amount.  
   
   
       24 . A towable piece of luggage in accordance with  claim 20 , wherein the socket comprises a shaped neck preventing float of the handle relative to the socket beyond a predetermined amount.  
   
   
       25 . A towable piece of luggage in accordance with  claim 20 , wherein the socket comprises an inner surface receiving the ball pivot joint, said inner surface comprising at least one recess engaging a portion of the ball pivot joint and preventing further float of the ball pivot joint when the ball pivot joint moves relative to the socket beyond a predetermined amount.  
   
   
       26 . A towable piece of luggage in accordance with  claim 20 , wherein one of the socket and the ball pivot joint includes a projection and the other of the socket and the ball pivot joint includes a recessed area receiving the projection, and wherein the projection and the recess cooperatively prevent float of the handle.  
   
   
       27 . A towable piece of luggage in accordance with  claim 20 , wherein the support includes an axial length extending between the proximal and distal ends, and the support is curved along its axial length.  
   
   
       28 . A towable piece of luggage in accordance with  claim 20 , further comprising a release button and a release element coupled to the button, wherein displacement of the button also displaces the release element, and wherein the release element extends through the ball pivot joint.  
   
   
       29 . A towable piece of luggage in accordance with  claim 20  wherein the handle is asymmetric.  
   
   
       30 . A towable piece of luggage in accordance with  claim 20 , wherein the ball pivot joint naturally floats about first and second mutually perpendicular axes.  
   
   
       31 . A towable piece of luggage in accordance with  claim 20  wherein the telescoping support comprises a single telescoping support.  
   
   
       32 . A towable piece of luggage comprising: 
 a body defining a compartment to store personal effects of a traveler for transport, said body comprising a wheel for rolling the body along a surface;    a telescoping support coupled to the body, the support having a distal end operatively coupled to the body and a proximal end opposite the distal end, and the support being selectively positionable relative to the body between extended and retracted positions relative to the body;    a socket fixedly mounted to the distal end of the telescoping support;    a ball pivot joint received in the socket and configured to float relative to the socket; and    a towing handle fixed to the ball pivot joint and defining a hand grip for towing the body along the surface via pulling of the towing handle by a user, wherein the ball pivot joint naturally floats in position relative to the socket to move the towing handle in horizontal and vertical directions, the ball pivot joint movable relative to the socket with sliding engagement for a limited range of motion in each of the horizontal and vertical directions without locking of the handle in any one position.