Carry handle
The handle assembly with a non-zero angle longitudinal axis addresses the issue of suitcases tilting and contacting legs by aligning the handle axis with the suitcase plane, ensuring balance and comfort during use.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- WO · WO
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- IT LUGGAGE LTD
- Filing Date
- 2025-12-02
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-18
AI Technical Summary
Suitcases with traditional carry handles often tilt at an angle that can cause them to touch the user's legs, leading to discomfort or pain, especially when carried with the handle parallel to the user's direction of travel.
A handle assembly with a longitudinal axis forming a non-zero angle with the suitcase plane, aligning the handle assembly axis parallel to a suitcase plane, reducing the likelihood of the suitcase tilting and contacting the user's legs.
The handle assembly design ensures the suitcase remains balanced and parallel to the user's direction of travel, minimizing the risk of leg contact and providing a more comfortable carrying experience.
Smart Images
Figure EP2025085176_18062026_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
[0001] Carry handle
[0002] FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0003] The present disclosure relates to articles of luggage. In particular, the present disclosure relates to carry handles for articles of luggage.
[0004] BACKGROUND
[0005] Many articles of luggage, especially suitcases, are provided with wheels and a telescopic handle structure to allow a user to pull the suitcase along on its wheels via the telescopic handle structure. In addition, most suitcases have at least one carry handle assembly, without telescopic functionality, which allows a user to carry the suitcase. Both telescopic handle structures and carry handle assemblies have a handle portion by which a user is intended to grip the handle assembly. The handle portion is generally aligned such that a longitudinal axis of the handle portion is parallel to a plane of the article of luggage such as a front plane of the article of luggage, a side plane of the article of luggage or a top plane of the article of luggage.
[0006] When a user carries a suitcase using a carry handle assembly, that there is a risk that the suitcase will not sit perpendicular to the direction in which the user is facing, or parallel with the direction in which the user is walking. When this happens, there is a risk that the suitcase will touch the rear of the leg of the user, such as the calf, which may be uncomfortable or perhaps painful.
[0007] SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0008] Against this background, there is provided a suitcase comprising a body defining an interior packing volume, the body having: a front face defining a front face plane, a rear face defining a rear face plane, a top face defining a top face plane, a bottom face defining a bottom face plane, a first side face defining a first side face plane and a second side face defining a second side face plane; and
[0009] 17248946.NEW.NEW a handle assembly comprising a first fixing end having a first fixing end centre, a second fixing end having a second fixing end centre and a connecting portion between the first fixing end and the second fixing end, the connecting portion forming a handle, wherein the first fixing end is affixed to the body at a first fixing point of the suitcase and the second fixing end is affixed to the body at a second fixing point of the suitcase, wherein the handle assembly comprises a handle assembly axis including the first fixing end centre and the second fixing end centre, wherein the handle assembly axis is parallel to a suitcase plane, wherein the suitcase plane comprises one of the front face plane, the rear face plane, the top face plane, the bottom face plane, the first side face plane and the second side face plane, and wherein a longitudinal axis of the connecting portion forms a non-zero angle, 0, with the suitcase plane.
[0010] In this way, when the user carries the suitcase using the handle assembly, the suitcase is more likely to sit parallel to the direction in which the user is walking. Therefore, a risk that the suitcase will touch the legs of the user is reduced.
[0011] This is because, as the applicant has discovered, when a person carries an object with an arm hanging by their side, the grip of the user’s hand is naturally most likely to be at a nonzero angle from the direction in which the user is facing / walking. In particular, the front of the hand is likely to be angled outwards, and the back of the hand is likely to be angled inwards. By providing a longitudinal axis of the connecting portion forming a non-zero angle with the suitcase plane, the suitcase is more likely to sit parallel to the direction in which the user is walking and the suitcase is therefore less likely to touch the legs of the user.
[0012] The angle 0 may be between 5° and 15°. In this way, the suitcase would be more likely to hang parallel to the direction perpendicular to the direction in which the user was facing and parallel to the direction in which the user was walking. The angle 0 may be between 6° and 8°, or between 634° and 734° or 7°.
[0013] Furthermore, by aligning the handle assembly axis with the suitcase plane, the suitcase is likely to remain balanced notwithstanding that the longitudinal axis of the connecting portion forms a non-zero angle, 0, with the suitcase plane. By contrast, if the handle assembly axis were offset from the suitcase plane (such as in the scenario that the handle
[0014] 17248946.NEW.NEW assembly axis was coincident with the longitudinal axis of the connecting portion) then the suitcase would be more likely to feel unbalanced when carried by a user.
[0015] DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0016] A specific embodiment of the disclosure will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
[0017] Figure 1 shows a suitcase with a top carry handle and a side carry handle that are in accordance with the handle assembly of the present disclosure;
[0018] Figure 2 shows a first three planes of the suitcase of Figure 1 ;
[0019] Figure 3 shows a second three the planes of the suitcase of Figure 1 ;
[0020] Figure 4 shows a top view of the suitcase of Figure 1 ;
[0021] Figure 5 shows a top view of the handle assembly;
[0022] Figure 6 shows a bottom view of the handle assembly;
[0023] Figure 7 shows the suitcase of Figure 1 without the top handle assembly;
[0024] Figure 8 shows a side view of the handle assembly;
[0025] Figure 9 shows an exploded view of the handle assembly;
[0026] Figure 10 shows a side view of the handle assembly; and
[0027] Figure 11 shows a user carrying a suitcase in accordance with the prior art and a user carrying a suitcase in accordance with the present disclosure.
[0028] 17248946.NEW.NEW DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0029] Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a suitcase 10 in accordance with the disclosure. The article of luggage may be in the form of a suitcase 10. The article of luggage comprises a body 18 having a base 30 and a lid 20. The base 30 has an interior (not visible in Figure 1) defining a base containment volume accessible through a base opening. The lid 20 has an interior (not visible in Figure 1) defining a lid containment volume accessible through a lid opening extending in a lid opening plane.
[0030] The suitcase 10 further comprises a hinge (not shown) between the base 30 and the lid 20 to enable movement of the lid 20 relative to the base 30 between: an open position in which the base and lid containment volumes are accessible through the base and lid openings; and a closed position in which the base and the lid openings cooperate such that the base and lid containment volumes are enclosed. Figure 1 shows the suitcase 10 in the closed position.
[0031] The suitcase 10 may further comprise a plurality of protruding wheel systems 42, 44, 46, 48 each comprising at least one wheel. A subset the protruding wheel systems is visible in Figures 1 and 2, while all of the protruding wheel systems are visible in Figure 3.
[0032] In the style of suitcase 10 shown in the Figures, the base 30 may comprise a first two of the plurality of protruding wheel systems and the lid 20 may comprise a second two of the plurality of protruding wheel systems 42, 44. Each wheel system 42, 44, 46, 48 may comprise a connection element and a wheel unit. The wheel unit may be rotatable relative to the connection element.
[0033] The suitcase 10 may further comprise a telescopic handle structure 32. The telescopic handle structure 32 may have a stowed position (not shown) in which it is stowed substantially within the base 30 and a retracted position (as shown in Figure 1) in which position a user may push or pull the suitcase 10 on its wheels via the telescopic handle structure 32.
[0034] The suitcase 10 further comprises at least one handle assembly 100, 101 , 102. In the embodiment of Figure 1 , the suitcase 10 comprises a top handle assembly 101 and a side handle assembly 102.
[0035] 17248946.NEW.NEW Referring to Figure 2, the suitcase 10 comprises a front face, a top face and a first side face. The front face defines a front face plane 11 , the top face defines a top face plane 13, and the first side face defines the first side face plane 15.
[0036] Referring to Figure 3, the suitcase 10 comprises a rear face, a bottom face and a second side face. The rear face defines a rear face plane 12, the bottom face defines a bottom face plane 14 and the second side face defines a second side face plane 16.
[0037] In this way, the suitcase 10 comprises a plurality of six suitcase planes, namely the front face plane 11 , the rear face plane 12, the top face plane 13, the bottom face plane 14, the first side face plane 15, and the second side face plane 16.
[0038] The fact that each face defines a plane does not mean that each face is necessarily planar. Indeed, each face may comprise a curve in one dimension or more than one dimension. The two dimensions that define the plane of each face may be taken to be the two dimensions in which the face extends the most.
[0039] Figure 4 shows a top view of the suitcase 10 in which the top handle assembly 101 is visible from above while the side handle assembly 102 is visible end on.
[0040] The handle assembly 100, which may be deployed as a top handle assembly 101 or a side handle assembly 102, is shown in isolation in Figure 5. A view of the underside of the handle assembly 102 is shown in Figure 6.
[0041] The handle assembly 100 comprises a first fixing end 111 , a second fixing end 112 and a connecting portion 120 that extends between the first fixing end 111 and the second fixing end 112.
[0042] The first fixing end 111 comprises a substantially circular element 111a and a spur 111 b that extends from the substantially circular element 111a at a tangent. The first fixing end 111 comprises a first fixing end centre 115 which is located at a central position of the substantially circular element 111 a of the first fixing end 111.
[0043] 17248946.NEW.NEW Similarly, the second fixing end 112 comprises a substantially circular element 112a and a spur 112b that extends from the substantially circular element 112a at a tangent. The second fixing end 112 comprises a second fixing end centre 116 which is located at a central position of the substantially circular element 112a of second fixing end 112.
[0044] The handle assembly 100 comprises a handle assembly axis 150 which is defined as an axis that intersects both the first fixing end centre 115 and the second fixing end centre 116.
[0045] The handle assembly 100 may be rotationally symmetrical about the handle assembly axis 150.
[0046] The connecting portion 120 comprises a longitudinal axis 160 that is at a non-zero angle to the handle assembly axis 150. The longitudinal axis 160 extends between the first fixing end 111 and the second fixing end 112 but intersects neither the first fixing end centre 115 nor the second fixing end centre 116.
[0047] The handle assembly 100 may be rotationally symmetrical about the longitudinal axis 160 of the connecting portion 120.
[0048] Referring again to Figure 4, it can be seen that the handle assembly 100 is fastened to the body 18 of the suitcase 10 in such a way that the handle assembly axis 150 is parallel to a suitcase plane, specifically in the Figure 4 embodiment, the rear face plane 12 and also the front face plane 11 .
[0049] Furthermore, as is clear from Figure 4, it can be seen that the longitudinal axis 160 is therefore not parallel to the rear face plane 12 and also not parallel to the front face plane 11 of the suitcase 10.
[0050] Figure 7 shows the suitcase 10 without the top handle assembly 101 in situ. In this way, a first fixing point 52 of the suitcase 10 and a second fixing point 54 of the suitcase are visible. On fastening the top handle assembly 101 to the body 18, the first fixing end centre 115 is aligned with the first fixing point 52 and the second fixing end centre 116 is aligned with the second fixing point 54. In this way, the parallel alignment of the handle assembly axis 150 with the rear face plane 12 is achieved.
[0051] 17248946.NEW.NEW The first fixing end 111 and the second fixing end 112 may each be affixed to the body 18 via a plurality of fastening locations. In the illustrated embodiment, the first fixing end 111 is affixed to the body 18 at three fastening locations, two of which (labelled 121 and 122) are visible in Figure 6 and one of which is concealed beneath the connecting portion 120. Similarly, the second fixing end 112 is affixed to the body 18 at three fastening locations, two of which (labelled 123 and 124) are visible in Figure 6 and one of which is concealed beneath the connecting portion 120.
[0052] As shown in Figure 6, none of those fastening locations (121 , 122, 123, 124 as well as those not visible beneath the connection portion) coincides with the first fixing end centre 115 or the second fixing end centre 116. The invention is not limited by the location of the fastening locations. In particular, the fastening locations may or may not be located on the handle assembly axis 150.
[0053] Each fastening location of the first fixing end 111 may be rotationally distributed around the first fixing end centre 115. Each fastening location of the second fixing end 112 may be rotationally distributed around the second fixing end centre 116.
[0054] Each fastening location of the first fixing end 111 may be located a radial distance from the first fixing end centre 115 that is the same as the radial distance of each of the other fastening locations of the first fixing end 111 from the first fixing end centre 115. Each fastening location of the second fixing end 112 may be located a radial distance from the second fixing end centre 116 that is the same as the radial distance of each of the other fastening locations of the second fixing end 112 from the second fixing end centre 116.
[0055] The fastening locations (121 , 122, 123, 124 as well as those not visible beneath the connection portion) may be configured to receive a fastener (such as a screw, bolt or rivet) which may be inserted from the interior packing volume of the suitcase, through holes in the body 18, so as to be received into the fastening locations (121 , 122, 123, 124 as well as those not visible beneath the connection portion) of the first fixing end 111 and the second fixing end 112.
[0056] Referring to Figure 9, the connecting portion 120 comprises a first end 131 , a second end 132 and a handle portion 133 between the first end 131 and the second end 132.
[0057] 17248946.NEW.NEW The first end 131 of the connecting portion 120 is received into the first fixing end 111 in such a way that the first end 131 can move between a fully inserted position within the first fixing end 111 and a partially retracted position in which the first end 131 of the connecting portion 120 is partially outside the first fixing end 111.
[0058] Similarly, the second end 132 of the connecting portion 120 is received into the second fixing end 112 in such a way that the second end 132 can move between a fully inserted position within the second fixing end 112 and a partially retracted position in which the second end 132 of the connecting portion 120 is partially outside the second fixing end 112.
[0059] The first end 131 and the second end 132 may each be formed of a loop. The retraction may be achieved by the loop moving relative to a peg in each of the first fixing end 111 and the second fixing end 112. At each fixing end, interaction of the loop with the peg prevents the connecting portion 120 from being detached from the fixing end in question.
[0060] When the handle assembly 100 is in use, the user pulls the handle portion 133 upwards such that the first end 121 and the second end 122 of the connecting portion 120 move into their respective partially retracted positions. The connecting portion 120 may have a degree of flexibility which may mean that the handle portion 133 takes on a more arced form, releasing space between the underside of the handle portion 133 and the body 18 of the suitcase. When the user finishes using the handle 100, the handle portion 133 may retract such that the first end 121 of the connecting portion 120 is received into the first fixing end 111 in its fully inserted position and the second end 122 of the connecting portion 120 is received into the second fixing end 112 in its fully inserted position.
[0061] The first end 131 of the connecting portion 120 may project at a tangent from a radially outer portion of the first fixing end 111. The second end 132 of the connecting portion 120 may project at a tangent from a radially outer portion of the second fixing end 112.
[0062] The figures all show the handle in its fully inserted position.
[0063] Figure 11 shows a comparison between, in the upper half of the Figure, a prior art suitcase 1 (where the longitudinal axis of the connecting portion is coincident with the handle
[0064] 17248946.NEW.NEW assembly axis) and, in the lower half of the Figure, a suitcase 10 in accordance with the present disclosure (where the longitudinal axis of the connecting portion makes a non-zero angle with the handle assembly axis).
[0065] As can be seen from the upper portion of Figure 11 , a prior art suitcase 1 when carried with a prior art carry handle is likely to orientate so as to angle outwards in front of the user and inwards behind the user. Thus, when a user walks forwards, there is the risk the inwardly facing portion of the suitcase behind the user will contact the back of the user’s calf.
[0066] As can be seen from the lower portion of Figure 11 , a suitcase 10 with a carry handle in accordance with the present disclosure is likely to orientate naturally parallel with the direction in which the user is walking. In this way, there is no inwardly facing (front or rear) portion of the suitcase, meaning that there is reduced risk that the suitcase will contact the user’s leg.
[0067] It should be noted that if the case is to be carried in the left hand (rather than the right hand as shown in Figure 11 ) it would need to be held in the same orientation as shown (that is with the rear face facing left, and not to be rotated through 180° such that the rear face would face right and be next to the user). Otherwise, the angle of the longitudinal axis of the connecting portion relative to the handle assembly axis would act to exacerbate rather than mitigate the risk of the suitcase making contact with the user’s calf.
[0068] Alternatively, a left-handed version of the suitcase may be available in which the longitudinal axis of the connecting portion is offset from the handle assembly axis at an angle opposite to that shown for a right-handed suitcase.
[0069] Although the illustrated suitcase of the embodiment is of a design popular with hard case suitcases, comprising a base 30 and a lid 20, each of which may have a containment volume, the handle assembly of the present disclosure would be equally applicable to a suitcase wherein the base comprises the majority or all of the containment volume and the lid was substantially or entirely planar with little or no containment volume.
[0070] In such a suitcase, it may be that the base 30 comprises all of the protruding wheel systems 42, 44, 46, 48, and the lid comprises none.
[0071] 17248946.NEW.NEW
Claims
CLAIMS:1 . A suitcase comprising a body defining an interior packing volume, the body having: a front face defining a front face plane, a rear face defining a rear face plane, a top face defining a top face plane, a bottom face defining a bottom face plane, a first side face defining a first side face plane and a second side face defining a second side face plane; and a handle assembly comprising a first fixing end having a first fixing end centre, a second fixing end having a second fixing end centre and a connecting portion between the first fixing end and the second fixing end, the connecting portion forming a handle, wherein the handle assembly comprises a handle assembly axis including the first fixing end centre and the second fixing end centre, wherein the connecting portion comprises a longitudinal axis that forms a non-zero angle, 0, with the handle assembly axis; wherein the first fixing end is affixed to the body at a first fixing point of the suitcase and the second fixing end is affixed to the body at a second fixing point of the suitcase, wherein the handle assembly axis is parallel to a suitcase plane, wherein the suitcase plane comprises one of the front face plane, the rear face plane, the top face plane, the bottom face plane, the first side face plane and the second side face plane, wherein a maximum dimension of the first fixing end in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis is no more than a maximum dimension of the connecting portion in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis; wherein a maximum dimension of the second fixing end in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis is no more than the maximum dimension of the connecting portion in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis; and such that the longitudinal axis of the connecting portion forms the non-zero angle, 0, with the suitcase plane.
2. The suitcase of claim 1 wherein the longitudinal axis of the connecting portion forms a non-zero angle with four or more of: the rear face plane; the top face plane; the bottom face plane; the first side face plane; and the second side face plane.
3. The suitcase of claim 1 or claim 2 wherein 5° < 0 > 15°, preferably 5° < 0 > 9°, more preferably 6° < 0 > 8°, still more preferably 634° < 0 > 734°, even more preferably 0 = 7°.17248946.NEW.NEW4. The suitcase of any preceding claim wherein the handle assembly is rotationally symmetrical about the handle assembly axis.
5. The suitcase of any preceding claim wherein the handle assembly is rotationally symmetrical about the longitudinal axis of the connecting portion.
6. The suitcase of any preceding claim wherein the first fixing end is affixed to the body via a first plurality of fastening locations.
7. The suitcase of claim 6 wherein the first plurality of fastening locations is distributed around the first fixing end centre.
8. The suitcase of claim 7 wherein a first radial distance between the first fixing end centre and each of the first plurality of fastening locations is the same for all of the first plurality of fastening locations.
9. The suitcase of any preceding claim wherein the second fixing end is affixed to the body via a second plurality of fastening locations.
10. The suitcase of claim 9 where in the second plurality of fastening locations is distributed around the second fixing end centre.11 . The suitcase of claim 10 wherein a second radial distance between the second fixing end centre and each of the second plurality of fastening locations is the same for all of the second plurality of fastening locations.
12. The suitcase of any preceding claim wherein the first end of the connecting portion may project at a tangent from a radially outer portion of the first fixing end.
13. The suitcase of any preceding claim wherein the second end of the connecting portion may project at a tangent from a radially outer portion of the second fixing end.
14. The suitcase of any preceding claim wherein the connecting portion forms a substantially straight line between the first fixing end and the second fixing end in a plane that includes the handle assembly axis and the longitudinal axis.17248946.NEW.NEW15. The suitcase of any preceding claim wherein the connecting portion comprises a retracted configuration in which the connecting portion extends out of a plane that includes the handle assembly axis and the longitudinal axis.17248946. NEW.NEW