Luggage apparatus

Abstract

A luggage apparatus is described. The luggage apparatus comprises an apparatus body having a moveable portion and a fixed portion, the moveable portion being movable with respect to the fixed portion between a deployed position and a stowed position. In the deployed position, a moveable portion surface and a fixed portion surface are arranged to define a seat for a child and in the stowed position, the moveable and fixed portion surfaces are substantially contained within the luggage apparatus body.

Claims

1. A wheeled, cabin-sized suitcase, the wheeled, cabin-sized suitcase comprising: a suitcase body comprising: a moveable portion comprising: a first moveable portion section comprising a first moveable portion section first surface; and a second moveable portion section comprising a second moveable portion section first surface and a second moveable portion section second surface; wherein the first moveable portion section is pivotably connected to the second moveable portion section via a hinge between the first moveable portion section first surface and the second moveable portion section first surface; and a fixed portion comprising a fixed portion first surface; wherein the moveable portion is pivotably connected to the fixed portion via a hinge between the second moveable portion section second surface and the fixed portion first surface; wherein the moveable portion is movable with respect to the fixed portion between a deployed position and a stowed position; wherein in the stowed position, the first moveable portion section first surface rests against the second moveable portion section first surface, the second moveable portion section second surface rests against the fixed portion first surface, and the first moveable portion section first surface, the second moveable portion section first surface and the second moveable portion section second surface are substantially contained within the apparatus body; and wherein in the deployed position, the fixed portion first surface and the second moveable portion section second surface are aligned substantially in parallel to define an extended seat for supporting a child's bottom and the first moveable portion section first surface and the second moveable portion section first surface are aligned substantially in parallel to define a leg rest.

2. The wheeled, cabin-sized suitcase according to claim 1, wherein the first moveable portion section comprises a support member adapted to support, in the deployed position, a child's feet.

3. The wheeled, cabin-sized suitcase according to claim 2, wherein the support member is a foot rest.

4. The wheeled, cabin-sized suitcase according to claim 2, wherein the support member is pivotally mounted to the first moveable portion section.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Various embodiments disclosed herein will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a luggage apparatus shown in a stowed position according to a moveable embodiment described herein;

(3) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the luggage apparatus of FIG. 1 shown in a deployed position:

(4) FIG. 3, comprising FIGS. 3a to 3c, is a series of side views of the apparatus of FIG. 1 showing the deployment of the movable portion

(5) FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 showing the steerable wheels in a stored position:

(6) FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 in the stowed position; and

(7) FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of part of the apparatus of FIG. 1 in the deployed position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(8) Reference is firstly made to FIGS. 1 and 2, perspective views of a luggage apparatus, generally indicated by reference numeral 10, according to various embodiments disclosed herein.

(9) The luggage apparatus 10 comprises an apparatus body 12 having a moveable portion 14 and fixed portion 16, the moveable portion 14 being movable with respect to the fixed portion 16 between a deployed position (FIG. 2), in which a moveable portion surface 18 and a fixed portion surface 20 are arranged to define a seat 22 for a child, and a stowed position (FIG. 1) in which the moveable and fixed portion surfaces 18, 20 are substantially contained within the apparatus 10.

(10) The moveable portion 14 is connected to the fixed portion 16 by a hinge 26 extending the length of a moveable portion edge 28 and a fixed portion edge 30. The hinge 26 allows the moveable portion 14 to pivot with respect to the fixed portion 16 from the stowed position shown in FIG. 1 to the deployed position shown in FIG. 2.

(11) The fixed portion surface 20 is shaped to receive a child's bottom and includes a curved surface section 32, providing a gradual transition through 90? from a fixed portion surface flat section 34 to an apparatus backrest 36. As can be seen, particularly from FIG. 1, the apparatus backrest 36 when not in use is stored in a recess 38 defined by the apparatus body 12, and in the deployed position shown in FIG. 2, is supported and reinforced by an apparatus handle 42, provided for pulling or pushing the luggage apparatus 10. Referring to FIG. 2, it will also be noted that the apparatus backrest 36 is curved across its width to provide a comfortable surface for the child to lean against, in use.

(12) The fixed portion 16 further comprises extendable sections 78 which have a number of purposes. The extendable sections 78 act as armrests for a child using the seat 22, extendable sections 78 assist in securing the child within the seat 22, and, together with the fixed portion surface 20, the extendable sections 78 define a recess 80 into which the movable portion 14 may be wholly contained in the stowed position. The extendable sections 78 form part of the side 82 of the fixed portion 16 which, in turn, defines the side profile of the luggage apparatus 10 when it is in the stowed position, and as usable as a suitcase.

(13) The apparatus 10 further comprises a barrier 70 which, in the deployed position, sits across and between the child's legs to resist, in use, the child climbing out of the seat 22 or sliding off the apparatus 10. The barrier 70 is pivotable from the position shown in FIG. 2 to a position in which it lies against the fixed portion surface flat section 34. Barrier guide slots 72 are provided in the fixed portion extendable sections 78 to guide the barrier 70 as it pivots. When the barrier 70 lies against the fixed portion surface flat section 34, the movable portion 14 can be moved to the stowed position, the barrier 70 been received within a recess 74 defined by the movable portion surface 18.

(14) The apparatus further comprises a set of wheels 40 which can be used to facilitate movement of the luggage apparatus 10 either n the stowed position shown in FIG. 1 or the deployed position shown in FIG. 2. The wheels 40 comprise first and second fixed wheels 40a, 40b and a pair of stability wheels 40c. The stability wheels 40c are steerable and can be stored against the back surface 44 of the apparatus body 12 (FIG. 1) or be extended from the back surface 44 (FIG. 2) to provide stability for the luggage apparatus 10 in an inclined orientation which a child using the seat 22 may find more comfortable than the upright orientation of FIG. 1. The stability wheels 40c are however usable in both the stowed position or the deployed position of the movable portion 14. They are not restricted to use only in the deployed position of the movable portion 14.

(15) The moveable portion 14 comprises a first moveable portion section 14a and a second moveable portion section 14b. The first and second moveable portion sections being connected by a second hinge 46.

(16) The first movable portion section 14a also includes a footrest 48 which is hingedly connected to the first movable portion section 14a and can be lifted out of a footrest recess 50 when the movable portion 14 is deployed to provide a footrest for a child.

(17) The first movable portion section 14a defines a curved surface 52 which in the stowed position, is engaged with the curved surface section 32 of the fixed portion surface 20. This arrangement provides a usable movable portion surface 18 which is longer than the fixed portion surface 20 to provide a greater support area for the infant's legs.

(18) The deployment of the movable portion 14 will now be described with reference to FIG. 3, comprising FIGS. 3a to 3c, a series of side views of the apparatus 10 of FIG. 1 showing the deployment of the movable portion 14.

(19) In FIG. 3a, the stability wheels 40c, the backrest 36 and the apparatus handle 42 have been deployed. The movable portion 14 is pivoted around the first hinge 26 by the application of a pull force to a knob 90 on the upper surface of the movable portion 14 (most clearly visible on FIG. 1).

(20) Once the movable portion 14 is in the position shown in FIG. 3a, the first movable portion section 14a is pivoted away from the second movable portion section 14b around the second hinge 46 to the position shown in FIG. 3b.

(21) Finally, referring to FIG. 3c, the footrest 48 is pivoted out of the footrest recess 50 to complete the deployment of the movable portion 14 and convert the luggage apparatus 10 from a suitcase shown in FIG. 1 to a pram shown in FIG. 2.

(22) Further features of the luggage apparatus 10 are visible from FIGS. 4, 5 and 6. FIG. 4 shows the back surface 44 of the apparatus 10 and, particularly, shows the deployable wheels 40c in a stored position in which they sit in a recess 56 defined by the apparatus back surface 44.

(23) FIG. 5 shows the front and side of the apparatus and particularly shows the fixed portion 16 has first and second storage compartments 58, 60. Each of these storage compartments 58, 60 have a side access 62 and a front access 64 facilitating quick and easy access to the storage compartments 58, 60. The side access is 62 is of greatest benefit when the movable portion 14 is in the deployed position (shown in FIG. 6) in which accessing the storage compartments 58, 60 from the front may be restricted by the movable portion 14.

(24) Various modifications and improvements may be made to the above described embodiment without departing from the scope of the invention. The sentence for example, harness may be provided to provide additional security for the child using the pram.