LUGGAGE

Abstract

A luggage item (1) comprising a rigid, essentially rectangular box (3), comprising an essentially planar floor and two longer and two shorter sides, there being mounted on the major axis of the floor a telescopic pulling member (17) equipped with a pulling handle (18), characterised in that (a) the pulling member is mounted externally on the floor by means of a pivot (8) and can move through a fixed arc, the extremities of which arc are appropriate for sliding a luggage item on a staircase, the pulling member being lockable in a position coinciding with the major axis; (b) the luggage item comprises a secondary retaining means that prevents the pulling member being pulled out of the plane of the arc; and (c) the longer sides are provided with means (14) allowing sliding movement on a staircase.

The luggage item can easily be pulled up and down stairs.

Claims

1. A luggage item (1) comprising a rigid, essentially rectangular box (3), the box comprising an essentially planar floor and two longer and two shorter sides, there being mounted on the major axis of the floor a telescopic pulling member (17) equipped with a pulling handle (18), and the shorter side remote from the pulling handle, being provided with wheels (5), characterised in that (a) the pulling member is mounted externally on the floor by means of a pivot (8) and is configured to be moved through a fixed arc, the extremities of which arc are appropriate for sliding a luggage item on a staircase, the pulling member being lockable in a position coinciding with the major axis; (b) the luggage item comprises a secondary retaining means (11, 12) that prevents the pulling member being pulled out of the plane of the arc; and (c) the longer sides are provided with means (14) allowing sliding movement on a staircase.

2. The luggage item according to claim 1, in which the arc through which the pulling member may be moved extends to both sides of the major axis.

3. The luggage item according to claim 2, in which the arc extends equally to both sides of the major axis.

4. The luggage item according to claim 1, in which the arc extends to only one side of the major axis.

5. The luggage item according to claim 1, in which the secondary retaining means comprises a rigid cover covering most or all of the pivoting pulling member.

6. The luggage item according to claim 1, in which the secondary retaining means comprises a bar mounted on the floor and sufficiently spaced therefrom to permit pivoting movement, but which serves to retain the pulling member from being pulled out of the plane of pivoting.

7. The luggage item according to claim 1, in which the secondary retaining means comprises an arcuate slot (12) formed in the floor member, the slot being radial to the pivot point, in which slot slides a pin attached to the pulling member and having a head portion wider than the slot on the side of the plate remote from the pulling member, so that the pulling member cannot be pulled away from the plane of the arc.

8. The luggage item according to claim 1, in which the maximum degree of arc is fixed by walls (9) of a V-shaped step in the floor (6), the pivot being located at the apex of the step, the step having walls substantially perpendicular to the floor and within which the pulling member resides, the pivoting motion being limited by the pulling member coming into contact with these sides.

9. The luggage item according to claim 1, in which the sliding means comprise skids (14).

10. The luggage item according to claim 9, in which the skids comprise lower extensions (15) extending less than the distance to which the wheels extend, the skid extensions being angled inwardly in the direction in of the opposing skid.

11. The luggage item according to claim 10, in which the angled part of the extensions bear slots into which are fitted wheels (16).

Description

[0023] The disclosure is further described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which depict a particular embodiment and which is not meant to be in any way limiting

[0024] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a suitcase with a pulling member dismounted, better to see the structure.

[0025] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 same view as FIG. 1, showing the pulling member and pulling handle in place, with the pulling member fully extended and the pulling member locked in a central position.

[0026] FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic representation (not to scale) of a suitcase of FIGS. 1 and 2 being moved up a staircase.

[0027] In FIG. 1, a suitcase, generally indicated as 1 is formed from plastics materials in two moulded box portions, a lid portion 2 and a side/floor portion 3, closed by a zip fastener 4.

[0028] The suitcase can be moved easily by means of four castors, 5, mounted at one end of the suitcase, two on each of the portions 2 and 3.

[0029] The exterior of portion 3 has a stepped structure, the stepped portion 6 defining a V-shaped recess 7, the lower rounded end of the V providing a pivot point 8 for the pulling member, which fits within the V, whose sides 9 form boundaries for the pulling member, beyond which it cannot pivot. The portion 3 is additionally provided with a recess 10, adapted to receive a pulling handle (17 in FIG. 2) when the pulling member is fully retracted.

[0030] Into a further recess within the V is affixed a metal plate 11, the surface of the plate being flush with the surface of the V. The plate bears a slot 12, which is radial with respect to the pivot point 8 and is adapted to receive a sliding member affixed to the pulling member, the sliding member having on the opposite side of the plate 11 an enlarged portion, such that the pulling member cannot be pulled away from the suitcase, the recess into which the plate is fitted being sufficiently deep to accommodate the enlarged portion. The plate additionally comprises three locking holes 13, into which a locking pin on the pulling member can fit, to hold the moving member in one of three possible positions.

[0031] Mounted on each of the longer sides of the suitcase are two skids 14 of resilient material such as fibre-reinforced plastics. These skids extend beyond the sides in extensions 15, in the direction of, but not to the same extent as, the castors 5. The extensions are bevelled such that they narrow in the direction of the wheels. The bevelled surfaces may bear slots, in which are mounted wheels 16, which assist in the transition from flat surfaces to staircases, as will be further described hereinunder.

[0032] FIG. 2 shows the embodiment of FIG. 1 equipped with a pulling member 16 shown in the fully extended position. At the top is a pulling handle 18, this having the shape of a hollow rectangle with grips on three sides, such that the suitcase can be moved on the flat or on a staircase. The pulling member is locked in position by means of a locking pin (not shown) interacting with the central locking hole 13. Both the locking pin and the retraction of the handle into the recess 10 are actuated by a button 19 on the pulling handle 18.

[0033] In FIG. 3, a suitcase is shown being pulled up a staircase.

[0034] In FIG. 3a, the pulling member 17 is fully extended and locked in the central pulling position, the suitcase moving on the castors 5. The skids 14 are pushed against the first step of the staircase 20.

[0035] In FIG. 3b, the locking button 19 is depressed. This unlocks the pulling member 17 from its central position, and it is then pivoted, in the case shown, in an anticlockwise direction until it abuts the side 9 of the V-shaped recess 7. It may then be locked in this position by means of the locking hole 13 for this position. The suitcase is then tilted with the skids 14 against the first stair. As tilt continues, the skid extensions 15 touch the ground, preventing slipping, and the suitcase pivots around them. This is shown in magnified detail in FIG. 3c.

[0036] With further tilting, the wheels 16 mounted on the extensions come in contact with the floor, allowing the suitcase to be moved more easily to bring the skids 14 into contact with the steps of the staircase 20. This is shown in magnified detail in FIG. 3d.

[0037] In FIG. 3e, the transition from castors to skids 14 is now complete and the suitcase is now complete, and the suitcase 2 may be pulled up or down the staircase with relative ease.

[0038] This procedure works also for going down a staircase—the pulling member 18 is moved to the appropriate extreme pivot position and the suitcase pivoted, first on the extensions 14 and then on to the wheels 15, which allow the suitcase to be rolled on to the skids 14 on the steps.

[0039] The skilled person will appreciate that there are possible many workshop variations on this embodiment, all within the skill of the art, and all falling within the scope of this disclosure.