Rigid side arm device forming a guiding handle for suitcase

Abstract

Handle device for suitcase of shell type or rigid structure type, equipped with one or more casters or rollers or indeed one or more pairs of casters or rollers, the device being composed in known manner of a fixed component, attached to the transverse side of the suitcase, and of another, opening component, that is to say an element capable of moving away from the perimeter of the suitcase and forming the handle proper, these two components being pivotally mounted with respect to each other, the first and second component are basically constituted of a straight member of channel section (U-section), the first, fixed component having a length considerably less than that of the second, opening component and the member constituting the first component being of a smaller sectional dimension than the member constituting the basic portion of the second component in such a manner as to be capable of being seated therein when the opening component is folded back, the two components being integrally connected to each other, on the one hand the one component being connected inside the other at their ends in a pivoting manner and on the other hand by a tension member forming a brace when the handle is opened, the tension member being mounted and pivotally fixed at the one end to the first component and being free at the other end but constrained to slide and held between the sides of the U-section of the second component, said tension member being forced, both before its maximum angle and before its minimum angle relative to the first, fixed component, to continue its pivoting action relative to the latter component under the effect of a spring strip which is doubly curved in such a manner as to force the opening component or handle to fold down or to maintain the open position beyond a certain minimum angle or maximum angle respectively.