Extensible and retractable handle assembly with latching means therefor

Claim 2

A readily extensible and retractable handle assembly for a portable case adapted to be set into its alternate positions by a movement in the same direction, comprising: a. a handle; b. means for connecting said handle to said case including spring-biasing means for normally urging said handle to an extended position spaced from said case to provide a convenient hand-hold therefor; c. latching means on said handle and case for the retention of the handle in proximity to said case in the inoperative retracted position of said handle, comprising a rotatable and reciprocable post provided with radial lugs at the upper and lower ends thereof; d. a receptor on said handle having a central opening for said post and a radial opening emanating from said central opening greater in size than the radial lug at the upper end of said post, whereby the alignment of said lug and said opening permit said spring-biasing means to force said handle to its extended position remote from the case, while the misalignment of said lug and opening blocks the movement of said handle to its extended position; and e. an annular camming assembly at the lower end of said post provided with a plurality of camming faces adapted to cooperate with the lug at the lower end of said reciprocable post to impart incremental rotary movements to the latter to successively bring the upper lug into alignment and misalignment with said radial opening in said receptor of said handle, in response to successive manual movements of said handle towards said case.

Claim 3

A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said rotatable and reciprocable post is provided with a pair of diametrally opposed radial lugs at the upper and lower ends thereof, and said receptor on said handle is provided with a pair of diametrally opposed radial openings emanating from the central opening sufficiently large to permit the passage of said lugs therethrough, said radial openings alternating with diametrally opposed blocking segments therebetween for restraining the movement of said handle into extended position.

Claim 4

A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said annular camming assembly comprises: a. a cylindrical housing on said case for containing the lower portion of said post; b. annular camming discs fixedly mounted at the opposite ends of said housing, each provided with alternating seats and camming edges therebetween facing each other, with the radial lug at the lower end of said post between said camming discs; c. spring means in said housing for biasing said last-mentioned lug in a direction towards said handle; and d. said camming edges being so contoured that said manual movement of said handle towards said case effects a rotation of said radial lug to bring the post with the radial lug at the upper end thereof into cooperative action with the receptor on the handle to effect the alternate blocking and release thereof.

Claim 5

A device as set forth in claim 3, wherein said camming edges on said camming discs are so contoured that the inward movement of said handle effects a partial rotation of said post which is followed by an additional incremental rotation of said post caused by the distention of said spring means and consequent rectilinear movement of said post in the reverse direction.

Claim 6

A device as set forth in claim 4, wherein said seats in the camming discs are displaced circumferentially at 90* intervals.

Claim 7

A readily extensible and retractable handle assembly for a portable case comprising: a. a handle; b. means for connecting said handle to said case including spring-biasing means for normally urging said handle to an extended position spaced from said case to provide a convenient hand-hold therefor; c. latching means on said handle for the retention thereof in proximity to said case in the inoperative retracted position of said handle, having an opening with a retaining Flange adjacent thereto; d. means for operating said latching means comprising a rotary member with an abutment thereon adapted to effectuate said latching means by interposing said abutment in the path of said retaining flange in response to the inward movement of said handle from its extended position to its retracted position proximate to the case, and to release said latching means by moving said abutment from the path of said retaining flange in response to another limited inward movement of said bundle in the same direction, to permit the extension of said handle from the case by the operation of said spring-biasing means; e. said last-mentioned operating means comprising a cylindrical housing on said case for containing the inner portion of said rotary member; f. annular camming discs fixedly mounted at the opposite ends of said housing each provided with alternating seats and camming edges therebetween facing each other with said seats in said camming discs displaced circumferentially at 90* intervals; g. a radial advancing arm at the inner end of said rotary member between said camming discs h. spring means in said housing for biasing said advancing arm in a direction towards said handle; i. said camming edges on said camming discs being so contoured that the inward movement of said handle effects a partial rotation of said advancing arm which is followed by an additional incremental rotation of said arm caused by the distention of said spring and consequent rectilinear movement of said radial arm in the reverse direction, to bring the latter into position for blocking by said latching means; and j. said last-mentioned blocking effective at alternate 90* intervals.

Claim 8

A readily extensible and retractable handle assembly for a portable case comprising: a. a handle; b. means for connecting said handle to said case including spring-biasing means for normally urging said handle to an extended position spaced from said case to provide a convenient hand-hold therefor; c. latching means on said handle for the retention thereof in proximity to said case in the inoperative retracted position of said handle, having an opening with a retaining Flange adjacent thereto; d. means for operating said latching means comprising a rotary member with an abutment thereon adapted to effectuate said latching means by interposing said abutment in the path of said retaining flange in response to the inward movement of said handle from its extended position to its retracted position proximate to the case, and to release said latching means by moving said abutment from the path of said retaining flange in response to another limited inward movement of said bundle in the same direction, to permit the extension of said handle from the case by the operation of said spring-biasing means; e. said last-mentioned operating means comprising a cylindrical housing on said case for containing the inner portion of said rotary member; f. annular camming discs fixedly mounted at the opposite ends of said housing each provided with alternating seats and camming edges therebetween facing each other with said seats in said camming discs displaced circumferentially at 90* intervals; g. a radial advancing arm at the inner end of said rotary member between said camming discs h. spring means in said housing for biasing said advancing arm in a direction towards said handle; i. said camming edges on said camming discs being so contoured that the inward movement of said handle effects a partial rotation of said advancing arm which is followed by an additional incremental rotation of said arm caused by the distention of said spring and consequent rectilinear movement of said radial arm in the reverse direction, to bring the latter into position for blocking by said latching means; and j. said last-mentioned blocking effective at alternate 90* intervals.

Claim 9

A device as set forth in claim 6, wherein said latching means comprises a pair of stop lugs extending from the outer end of said rotary member at diametrally opposite points, and a flange on said handle in overlying relation to said member and provided with openings of alternating quadrants surrounding said rotary member, the radial dimension of two of said quadrants being sufficient to permit passage of said stop lugs while the alternate quadrants restrain the movement thereof, the positioning of said stop lugs at said quadrants being coincident with the positioning of said advancing arm within said circumferentially displaced seats.

Claim 10

A device as set forth in claim 7, wherein said latching means and cylindrical housing are mounted at approximately the midportion of the handle assembly.

Claim 11

A device as set forth in claim 7, wherein said latching means and cylindrical housing are mounted at each end of the handle assembly.

Claim 12

A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said spring-biasing means comprises a coil spring seated within a recess at each end of said handle.

Claim 13

A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said spring-biasing means comprises a toggle-joint leaf spring connected between each end of said handle and case.