US20190200716A1

US20190200716A1 - Wheeled Suitcase

Info

Publication number: US20190200716A1
Application number: US15/859,889
Authority: US
Inventors: Yang Jo Lee
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2018-01-02
Filing date: 2018-01-02
Publication date: 2019-07-04

Abstract

The present invention is a wheeled suitcase that includes a suitcase body, a base, an elongated track, a handle, and a retractable wheel, mounted along the track, being moveable between an active position at which the retractable wheel extends below the track or an inactive position at which said retractable wheel is substantially within the interior volume of the base, wherein the elongated track permits said retractable wheel to move to a desired position between the first end and the second end of the track when the retractable wheel is in an inactive position.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD & BACKGROUND

The present invention generally related to wheeled suitcase, and in particular, to an improved wheeled suitcase.
Suitcase today, especially, suitcase carried on board mass transport, such as airlines are provided with miniature wheels due to carry-on size restrictions of airlines. In the prior art, two to four small wheels mounted on the base of the suitcase are provided for rolling.
These wheels are designed to facilitate sliding or rolling luggage over paved concourses and for general movement within stations and between arrival and departure terminals which may be separated by quite a walking distance. But such wheels generally do not fully ease the burden of pulling a load across various floor surfaces, both indoor and outdoor and over obstacles such as curbing and stairs encountered in unexpected places.
Most airports offer assistance to travelers with personal luggage which needs to be moved across large walking distances by providing porter service or large, four-wheeled baggage carts, but aside from the added expense of such a service, it is not always available, either due to lack of baggage carts, especially at peak hours of travel, or because the central collection points for the baggage carts are not conveniently located so as to be immediately useful to a traveler.
A solution is to use suitcases with large wheels, but such suitcases usually do not meet the carry-on size restrictions because large wheels are usually not retractable inwardly. Thus it would be desirable to provide an improved wheeled suitcase that an retract any suitable size of wheels inwardly to meet such carry-on size restrictions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a wheeled suitcase that overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior. A wheeled suitcase having features of the present invention comprises a suitcase body, a base, an elongated track, and a retractable wheel, and a handle. The suitcase body has top and bottom surfaces, front and rear surfaces, and first and second side surfaces. The base has an interior volume defining an enclosure having a top, a bottom and four sides. The base is connected to the bottom surface of the suitcase body. The elongated track has a first end, a second end, and a relatively rigid frame extending around the track. The elongated track is coupled to the bottom of the base. The retractable wheel is mounted along the track. The retractable wheel is movable between an active position at which the retractable wheel extends below the track or an inactive position at which said retractable wheel is substantially within the interior volume of the base. The elongated track permits the retractable wheel to move to a desired position between the first end and the second end of the track when the retractable wheel is in an inactive position. The handle extends upwardly from the suitcase body for steering, pushing, pulling and lifting purposes, such that when the retractable wheel is in the active position, in use, the retractable wheel is in contact with the ground and wherein the suitcase body is being pushed along by the handle, the retractable wheel lead.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be described by way of exemplary embodiments, but not limitations, illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which like references denote similar elements, and in which:

FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate a side environmental perspective view of a wheeled suitcase, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate a side view of a wheeled suitcase, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate a bottom view of a wheeled suitcase, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates an exploded bottom view of an elongated track and a retractable wheel of a wheeled suitcase, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

Various aspects of the illustrative embodiments will be described using terms commonly employed by those skilled in the art to convey the substance of their work to others skilled in the art. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced with only some of the described aspects. For purposes of explanation, specific numbers, materials and configurations are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the illustrative embodiments. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without the specific details. In other instances, well-known features are omitted or simplified in order not to obscure the illustrative embodiments.
Various operations will be described as multiple discrete operations, in turn, in a manner that is most helpful in understanding the present invention. However, the order of description should not be construed as to imply that these operations are necessarily order dependent. In particular, these operations need not be performed in the order of presentation.
The phrase “in one embodiment” is used repeatedly. The phrase generally does not refer to the same embodiment, however, it may. The terms“comprising”, “having” and “including” are synonymous, unless the context dictates otherwise.
FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate a side environmental perspective view of a wheeled suitcase 100, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
The wheeled suitcase 100 can retract any suitable size of a wheel. Additional details and features regarding the wheeled suitcase 100 are illustrated and described in subsequent FIGS. 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B, 4 and their descriptions.
Referring to FIGS. 1A and 1B, the wheeled suitcase 100 includes a suitcase body 110, a base 120, and a handle 180. The suit case body 110 is a generally rectangular suitcase 111 with top 112 and bottom 113 surfaces, front 114 and rear 115 surfaces. The top 112 of the suitcase body 110 accommodates the handle 180 disposed on the top 112 of the suitcase body 110 to allow a user to grasp the wheeled suitcase 100 if needed. The base 120 includes an interior volume defining an enclosure 121 having a top 122, a bottom 123 and four sides 124 and being connected to the bottom surface 113 of the suit case body 110 to provide a support to the suitcase body 110 of the wheeled suitcase 100. An anti slippage 210 having a protrusion 220 is secured to the handle 180 to receive the palm of a user if needed. The anti slippage 210 means as used in the present invention may comprise a rubber.
FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate a side view of a wheeled suitcase 100, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate a bottom view of a wheeled suitcase 100, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
Additionally the wheeled suit case 100 includes a support wheel 130, a retractable wheel 160, an elongated track 140, and an elongated cover 170. The support wheel 130 is located on the bottom 123 of the base 120 and is moveable between an active position at which the support wheel 130 extends below the bottom 123 of the base 120 or an inactive position at which the support wheel 130 is substantially within the interior volume 121 of the base 120.
The elongated track 140 is coupled to the bottom 123 of the base 120 and includes a first end 141, a second end 142, and a relatively rigid frame 143 extending around the track 140. The track 140 and rigid frame 143 are made of metal, wood, plastic or any other suitable material. Additional details regarding the track 140 are illustrated and described in FIG. 4. The retractable wheel 160 is mounted along the track 140 and is moveable between an active position at which the retractable wheel 160 extends below the track 140 or an inactive position at which the retractable wheel 160 is substantially within the interior volume 121 of the base 120. The track 140 permits the retractable wheel to move to a desired position between the first end 141 and the second end 142 of the track, 140 wherein the retractable wheel 160 is folded inwardly without overlapping the support wheel 130. Additional details regarding the track 140 and the retractable wheel 160 are illustrated and described in FIG. 4.
The retractable wheel 160 and the support wheel 130 are made of rubber/silicone which allows comfortable and efficient travel over many kinds of surfaces and under adverse conditions, such as rolling over small stones, snow, ice, and slippery ceramic flooring.
The elongated cover 170 extends outwardly from the base 120 to cover the retractable wheel 160 when the retractable wheel is substantially within the interior volume 121 of the base 120. The elongated cover 170 is made of fabric, plastic or any other suitable material.
The wheeled suitcase comes in handy at an airport for example.
Even if the wheeled suitcase has a large wheel, it can meet the carry-on size restrictions of airlines by easily retracting such wheel into the base of the wheeled suitcase. The elongated track permits any suitable size of wheel to move to a desired position where the retractable wheel can be folded inwardly without overlapping the support wheel of the wheeled suitcase.
When boarding an airplane, a user doesn't have to worry about checking a suitcase. The user can easily fold the wheels of its suitcase inwardly to meet the carry-on restrictions of airlines.
While the present invention has been related in terms of the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention is not limited to the embodiments described. The present invention can be practiced with modification and alteration within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Thus, the description is to be regarded as illustrative instead of restrictive on the present invention.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A wheeled suitcase, comprising:

a suitcase body having top and bottom surfaces, front and rear surfaces, and first and second side surfaces;

a base having an interior volume defining an enclosure having a top, a bottom and four sides and being connected to said bottom surface of the suitcase body;

an elongated track having a first end and a second end, having a relatively rigid frame extending around the track, being coupled to the bottom of the base;

a retractable wheel, mounted along the track, being moveable between an active position at which the retractable wheel extends below the track or an inactive position at which said retractable wheel is substantially within the interior volume of the base, wherein the elongated track permits said retractable wheel to move to a desired position between the first end and the second end of the track when the retractable wheel is in an inactive position; and

a handle extending upwardly from the suitcase body for steering, pushing, pulling and lifting purposes, such that when the retractable wheel is in the active position, in use, the retractable wheel are in contact with the ground and wherein when the suitcase body is being pushed along by the handle, the retractable wheel leads.

2. The wheeled suitcase according to claim 1, wherein said retractable wheel is made from material for facilitating optimal rolling contact with a floor surface.

3. The wheeled suitcase according to claim 2, wherein said material comprises rubber/silicone to enable rolling movement over a variety of surfaces and grading and under adverse environmental conditions.

4. The wheeled suitcase according to claim 3, wherein said variety of surfaces and grading comprises at least one selected from the group: paved brick surfaces, paved stone surfaces, gravelly surfaces, rocky surfaces, irregular surfaces, curved surfaces, inclined surfaces, curbing, stairways and any combination thereof.

5. The wheeled suitcase according to claim 1, wherein an anti slippage means is secured to the handle.

6. The wheeled suitcase according to claim 5, wherein the anti-slippage means is a protrusion disposed at the central portion of the handle.

7. The wheeled suitcase according to claim 1, wherein said retractable wheel has a diameter at least five inches.

8. A wheeled suitcase, comprising:

a support wheel, located on the bottom of the base, being moveable between an active position at which the support wheel extends below the bottom of the base or an inactive position at which said support wheel is substantially within the interior volume of the base;

a retractable wheel, mounted along the track, being moveable between an active position at which the retractable wheel extends below the track or an inactive position at which said retractable wheel is substantially within the interior volume of the base, wherein the elongated track permits said retractable wheel to move to a desired position between the first end and the second end of the track when the retractable wheel are in an inactive position; and

a handle extending upwardly from the suitcase body for steering, pushing, pulling and lifting purposes, such that when the retractable wheel is in the active position, in use, the retractable wheel is in contact with the ground and wherein when the suitcase body is being pushed along by the handle, the retractable wheel leads.

9. The wheeled suitcase according to claim 8, wherein said retractable wheel is made from material for facilitating optimal rolling contact with a floor surface.

10. The wheeled suitcase according to claim 9, wherein said material comprises rubber/silicone to enable rolling movement over a variety of surfaces and grading and under adverse environmental conditions.

11. The wheeled suitcase according to claim 10, wherein said variety of surfaces and grading comprises at least one selected from the group: paved brick surfaces, paved stone surfaces, gravelly surfaces, rocky surfaces, irregular surfaces, curved surfaces, inclined surfaces, curbing, stairways and any combination thereof.

12. The wheeled suitcase according to claim 8, wherein an anti slippage means is secured to the handle.

13. The wheeled suitcase according to claim 12, wherein the anti-slippage means is a protrusion disposed at the central portion of the handle.

14. The wheeled suitcase according to claim 8, wherein said retractable wheel has a diameter at least five inches.

15. A wheeled suitcase, comprising:

an elongated track having a first end and a second end, distanced from the support wheel, having a relatively rigid frame extending around the track, being coupled to the bottom of the base;

a retractable wheel, mounted along the track, being moveable between an active position at which the retractable wheel extends below the track or an inactive position at which said retractable wheel is substantially within the interior volume of the base, wherein the elongated track permits said retractable wheel to move to a desired position between the first end and the second end of the track when the retractable wheel is in an inactive position;

an elongated cover extending outwardly from the base wherein the elongated cover covers the retractable wheel when the retractable wheel is substantially within the interior volume of the base; and

16. The wheeled suitcase according to claim 15, wherein said retractable wheel is made from material for facilitating optimal rolling contact with a floor surface.

17. The wheeled suitcase according to claim 16, wherein said material comprises rubber/silicone to enable rolling movement over a variety of surfaces and grading and under adverse environmental conditions.

18. The wheeled suitcase according to claim 15, wherein an anti slippage means is secured to the handle.

19. The wheeled suitcase according to claim 18, wherein the anti-slippage means is a protrusion disposed at the central portion of the handle.

20. The wheeled suitcase according to claim 15, wherein said retractable wheel has a diameter at least five inches.