Luggage apparatus

Abstract

A luggage apparatus is described. The luggage apparatus comprises a body portion and a stabilizing mechanism, the stabilizing mechanism being movable with respect to the body portion from a stowed position to a deployed position. With the stabilizing mechanism in the deployed position, the body portion can be tilted from an upright position to an inclined position, in the inclined position the stabilizing mechanism at least partially supporting the body portion.

Claims

1. A luggage apparatus, the luggage apparatus comprising: a body portion, the body portion comprising a frame and a base, wherein the frame covered with a surface covering, wherein the base comprising a plurality of corners, wherein the body portion further comprises a pair of wheels, each wheel associated with a corner of the base of the body portion; a stabilising mechanism, the stabilising mechanism being movable with respect to the body portion from a stowed position to a deployed position, wherein the stabilising mechanism is pivotally attached to the body portion such that in moving from the stowed position to the deployed position the stabilising mechanism pivots with respect to the body portion, wherein the stabilising mechanism further comprises at least one wheel; and a handle, wherein the handle comprising a gripping portion and a connecting portion, the connecting portion connecting the gripping portion to the body portion, the connecting portion telescopically attached to the body portion and able to telescopically extend between a retracted position, a first extended position, and a second extended position; wherein the luggage apparatus is convertible from a compact configuration to an interim configuration, and from the interim configuration to a stabilised configuration; wherein in the compact configuration, the handle connecting portion is in its retracted position and the stabilising mechanism is in its stowed position; wherein in the interim configuration, the handle connecting portion is in its first extended position and the stabilising mechanism is in its stowed position; wherein in the stabilised configuration the luggage apparatus is configured for conversion to form a seat comprising a bottom support and a back support, wherein the handle connecting portion is moved to its second extended position, wherein a plate stored in a slot defined in the frame is pulled up to the gripping portion to form the back support, wherein the surface covering is unclipped from the frame to expose a seat bottom support defined by the frame in a top side of the frame; wherein the unclipped surface covering is attached to the handle connecting portion to provide padding for the back support, and wherein attached to the surface covering are straps and side webs to assist in securing a child within the seat; and wherein in the stabilised configuration, the stabilising mechanism can be moved to the deployed position, wherein in the deployed position, the body portion can be tilted from an upright position to an inclined position, in the inclined position the stabilising mechanism at least partially supporting the body portion.

2. The luggage apparatus of claim 1, wherein in the compact configuration, the bottom support and the back support are concealed within the body portion.

3. The luggage apparatus of claim 1, wherein a stabilising mechanism storage portion comprising a recess defined in the body portion for receiving the stabilising mechanism when in its stowed position.

4. The luggage apparatus of claim 1, wherein the frame further defines a footrest.

5. The luggage apparatus of claim 1, wherein the handle is linked to the stabilising mechanism such that moving the handle from the first extended position to the second extended position moves the stabilising mechanism to the deployed position.

6. The luggage apparatus of claim 1, wherein the surface covering comprises a front surface covering and an upper surface covering.

7. A luggage apparatus, the luggage apparatus comprising: a body portion, the body portion comprising a frame and a base, wherein the frame covered with an upper surface covering and a front surface covering, wherein the base comprising a plurality of corners, wherein the body portion further comprises a pair of wheels, each wheel associated with a corner of base of the body portion; a stabilising mechanism; the stabilising mechanism being movable with respect to the body portion from a stowed position to a deployed position, wherein the stabilising mechanism is pivotally attached to the body portion such that in moving from the stowed position to the deployed position the stabilising mechanism pivots with respect to the body portion, wherein the stabilising mechanism further comprises at least one wheel; and a handle, wherein the handle comprising a gripping portion and a connecting portion, the connecting portion connecting the gripping portion to the body portion, the connecting portion telescopically attached to the body portion and able to telescopically extend between a retracted position, a first extended position, and a second extended position, wherein the handle is linked to the stabilising mechanism such that moving the handle from the first extended position to the second extended position moves the stabilising mechanism to the deployed position; wherein the luggage apparatus is convertible from a compact configuration to an interim configuration, and from the interim configuration to a stabilised configuration; wherein in the compact configuration, the handle connecting portion is in its retracted position, the stabilising mechanism is in its stowed position, and the bottom support and the back support are concealed within the body portion; wherein in the interim configuration, the handle connecting portion is in its first extended position and the stabilising mechanism is in its stowed position; wherein in the stabilised configuration the luggage apparatus is configured for conversion to form a seat comprising a bottom support and a back support, wherein the handle connecting portion is moved to its second extended position, wherein a plate stored in a slot defined in the frame is pulled up to the gripping portion to form the back support, wherein the front surface covering and the upper surface covering are unclipped from the frame to expose a seat bottom support defined by the frame in a top side of the frame, wherein the unclipped front surface covering and the unclipped upper surface covering are attached to the handle connecting portion to provide padding for the back support, and wherein attached to at least one of the front surface covering and/or the upper surface covering are straps and side webs to assist in securing a child within the seat; and wherein in the stabilised configuration, the stabilising mechanism can be moved to the deployed position, wherein in the deployed position, the body portion can be tilted from an upright position to an inclined position, in the inclined position the stabilising mechanism at least partially supporting the body portion.

8. The luggage apparatus of claim 7, wherein in the compact configuration, the bottom support and the back support is concealed within the body portion.

9. The luggage apparatus of claim 7, wherein a stabilising mechanism storage portion comprising a recess defined in the body portion for receiving the stabilising mechanism when in its stowed position.

10. The luggage apparatus of claim 7, wherein the frame further defines a footrest.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a luggage apparatus in a compact configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention;

(2) FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the luggage apparatus of FIG. 1 in an interim configuration;

(3) FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the luggage apparatus of FIG. 1 in a stabilised configuration in which the luggage apparatus defines a seat for an infant; and

(4) FIG. 4 shows a different perspective view of part of the luggage apparatus of FIG. 1 in a stabilised configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(5) Referring to FIG. 1, a perspective view of a luggage apparatus, generally indicated by reference numeral 10 in a compact configuration, according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2, a perspective view of the luggage apparatus of FIG. 1 in an interim configuration, and FIG. 3, a perspective view of the luggage apparatus of FIG. 1 in a stabilised configuration, the luggage apparatus 10 comprises a body portion 12, a handle 14 and a stabilising mechanism 16. As can be best seen in FIG. 3, both the body portion 12 and the stabilising mechanism 16 have wheels 18,20 respectively, which permit the luggage apparatus 10 to be manoeuvred.

(6) The luggage apparatus 10 is usable in three configurations. The first configuration, the compact configuration, is shown in FIG. 1. In this configuration, a handle gripping portion 24 is adjacent an upper surface 26 of the body portion 12.

(7) The second configuration, the interim configuration, is shown in FIG. 2. In this configuration, the handle 14 is telescopically extended from a handle support 75 such that the apparatus 10 can be dragged behind a person, with the weight of the luggage apparatus being supported on the wheels 18,20. The handle 14 is secured in the compact configuration by a locking mechanism (not visible) and the luggage apparatus 10 is provided with a first button 22 to release the locking mechanism and allow the handle 14 to telescope to the interim position from the handle support 75.

(8) The handle 14 can be further elevated to the position shown in FIG. 3 which facilitates pushing of the luggage apparatus 10. This configuration is called the stabilised configuration because elevation of the handle 14 to the stabilised configuration deploys the stabilising mechanism 16. The provision of stabilising mechanism 16 moves the centre of gravity of the luggage apparatus 10 to a more stable position.

(9) To elevate the handle 14 to the highest position and to stabilise the luggage apparatus 10, the user firstly releases a clip 52 which permits relative movement of the handle support 75 with respect to the body portion 12.

(10) The handle 14 can then be raised to the highest position, the handle 14 and handle support 75 moving together.

(11) The stabilising mechanism 16 is stored in a recess 54 defined by the body portion 12 and is connected to the handle support 75 by a pair of hinged bars 77, 79. As the handle support 75 moves up the body portion 12 with the handle 14, the hinged bars 77, 79, deploy the stabilising mechanism 16 by pivoting stabilising mechanism 16 about a pair of spring loaded hinges 56.

(12) It will be noted that the body portion wheels 18 are swivel mounted to the body portion 12 which assists when pushing the luggage apparatus 10 in the stabilised configuration. However in the other configurations, particularly the interim configuration where the apparatus is to be dragged, swivelling wheels are not necessary and may actually be a hindrance. For this reason, in the compact and interim positions the body portion wheels 18 are prevented from swivelling by the stabilising portion wheels 20.

(13) FIG. 3 shows a side panel 32 with an access zip 58, the zip 58 is to access an interior of luggage apparatus 10, which can be seen on FIG. 4, a further perspective view of the luggage apparatus 10 of FIG. 1 in the stabilised configuration. As can be seen from FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the body portion 12 comprises a frame 30, the frame 30 being covered with a series of removable coverings 34 of which the side panel 32 is one.

(14) The frame 30 is moulded entirely out of expanded polypropylene and defines storage compartments 44,46 and part of a child's seat 34. Particularly the frame defines a footrest 60 and the child's bottom support 42.

(15) The rest of the child seat, that is the backrest 62 and the associated safety features, can be formed once the luggage apparatus 10 is in the stabilised configuration. A plate 70, stored in a slot 72 (FIG. 3) is pulled up to form a backrest 62. An upper surface covering 36 and part of the front surface covering 38 can be unclipped from the frame 30 and plate 70 to reveal the bottom support 42 and to provide padding for the backrest. Attached to the coverings 36, 38 are straps 64 and side webs 66 to assist in securing the child within the seat 34.

(16) Various modifications and improvements may be made to the above-described embodiment without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the coverings 36, 38 could be stiff and form a back support in their own right.