Positioning mechanism for travel bag retractable handle

Abstract

A positioning mechanism mounted in a travel bag retractable handle for locking inner tube to a respective outer tube is disclosed to include a holder block member, a latch member horizontally supported on an elastic member and movable in and out of the holder block member, a push member coupled to and movable along a vertical track of the holder block member and supported on an elastic member at the top of the holder block and controllable by a spring-supported press member of the travel bag retractable handle to move the latch member in an out of the holder block member between an extended locking position and a received unlocking position.

What the invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A positioning mechanism mounted in a bottom end of an inner tube of a retractable handle in a travel bag and stopped against a link in said inner tube of said retractable handle and movable with said link between a locking position to lock said inner tube to a respective outer tube of said retractable handle and an unlocking position to unlock said inner tube from said outer tube subject to the control of a spring-supported press member of said retractable handle, the positioning mechanism comprising:
 a holder block member comprising a receiving chamber, a vertical insertion slot vertically cut through a top wall thereof in communication with said receiving chamber, and a vertical track vertically disposed at a back side thereof;   a latch device comprising a latch member horizontally movable in and out of said receiving chamber between said locking position and said unlocking position, said latch member comprising two side guide blocks respectively disposed at two opposite lateral sides thereof and a latch tip forwardly extended from a front side thereof, and an elastic member mounted in said receiving chamber and stopped against said latch member to support said latch member in said locking position; and   an actuating device comprising a push member and an elastic member supported between said push member and the top wall of said holder block member to impart an upward pressure to said push member, said push member comprising two front arms vertically downwardly extended from a front side thereof in a parallel manner and vertically movably inserted into said vertical insertion slot of said holder block member, two flat guide blocks respectively located at an inner surface of each of said two front arms and respectively abutted against said side guide blocks of said latch member for moving said latch member in and out of said receiving chamber between said locking position and said unlocking position and two rear coupling arms vertically downwardly extended from a rear side thereof and coupled to and movable along said vertical track of said holder block member.   
     
     
         2 . The positioning mechanism as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said holder block member further comprises a front opening located at a front side thereof in communication with said receiving chamber for the passing of said latch member in and out of said receiving chamber, and an inside stub rod horizontally protruded from an inside wall of said receiving chamber and aimed at said front opening to hold one end of the elastic member of said latch device. 
     
     
         3 . The positioning mechanism as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said vertical insertion slot of said holder block member comprises two end portions respectively perpendicularly extended from two distal ends thereof in a parallel manner; said two front arms of said push member are respectively inserted through said end portions of said vertical insertion slot of said holder block member into said receiving chamber. 
     
     
         4 . The positioning mechanism as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said holder block member further comprises an outside stub rod upwardly protruded from the top wall thereof at a rear side relative to said vertical insertion slot and adapted to hold one end of the elastic member of said actuating device. 
     
     
         5 . The positioning mechanism as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said holder block member further comprises two vertical sliding slots defined in said vertical track in communication with said receiving chamber; each said rear coupling arm of said push member has a bottom end thereof terminating in a coupling tip that is coupled to and movable along one respective said vertical sliding slot. 
     
     
         6 . The positioning mechanism as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said holder block member further comprises a bottom flange horizontally outwardly protruded from the periphery of a bottom side thereof and stoppable at a bottom side of said inner tube of said retractable handle. 
     
     
         7 . The positioning mechanism as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein said holder block member further comprises a mounting through hole transversely disposed between said receiving chamber and said bottom flange and fastenable to said inner tube of said retractable handle by a fastening member. 
     
     
         8 . The positioning mechanism as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each said flat guide block of said push member defines a bottom bevel face; each said side guide block of said latch member defines a top bevel face mating with the bottom bevel face of one respective said flat guide block of said push member. 
     
     
         9 . The positioning mechanism as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said latch member comprises a recessed hole located at a back side thereof for the positioning of one end of the elastic member of said latch device. 
     
     
         10 . The positioning mechanism as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said push member comprises a bottom stub rod protruded from a bottom wall thereof and spaced between said front arms and said rear coupling arms and adapted to hold one end of the elastic member of said actuating device.