U.S. patent application number 11/373449 was filed with the patent office on 2006-09-28 for wheeled carrier stair sliding system.
Invention is credited to Alex W. Weinstein, James D. Weinstein.
Application Number | 20060213735 11/373449 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37034073 |
Filed Date | 2006-09-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060213735 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Weinstein; Alex W. ; et
al. |
September 28, 2006 |
Wheeled carrier stair sliding system
Abstract
This invention is a luggage construction allowing luggage to be
slid, rather than the carried or dragged, up and down stairs. The
essence of this invention is the combination of a super
extendable/angleable pull handle, fixable in the angled position,
with a smooth sliding surface on the stair resting face of the
luggage body. The handle, super extended and locked in the angled
position, is capable of being gripped comfortably by the user at
hip level as the bag is being slid up the stairs. The smooth
sliding surface removes protrusions from the bag face which slides
along the points of the stairs. A brake device is added to prevent
the bag from sliding out of control if it is accidentally released
by the user.
Inventors: |
Weinstein; Alex W.;
(Bridgeport, WV) ; Weinstein; James D.;
(Bridgeport, WV) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Alex Weinstein
1109 Woodland Dr.
Bridgeport
WV
26330
US
|
Family ID: |
37034073 |
Appl. No.: |
11/373449 |
Filed: |
March 11, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60661612 |
Mar 14, 2005 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
190/18A ;
190/115 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45C 5/14 20130101; A45C
13/262 20130101; A45C 13/00 20130101; A45C 2005/147 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
190/018.00A ;
190/115 |
International
Class: |
A45C 5/14 20060101
A45C005/14; A45C 13/30 20060101 A45C013/30 |
Claims
1. The combination of a. smooth sliding surface on the bottom face
of luggage, such surface long enough to touch two adjacent step
edges so as to present a smooth surface along which the bag can be
slid up or down stairs and b. a variable position handle for the
luggage which can function fixed 1. along the axis of the bag
allowing the bag to be pulled on its wheels 2. extended at an acute
angle to the top of the bag to allowing the handle to be
comfortably gripped and the bag slid up or down the stairs while it
rests flat against the them on its smooth sliding surface.
2. a baggage system set forth in claim 1 which includes an
automatic locking unit which fixes the handle of claim one at the
desired angle when the bag is to be slid up or down and stairs and
which can b readily unlocked to allow the handle to return and be
fixed in the pull position.
3. a baggage system set forth in claim 1 wherein there is a braking
system attached to the stair impacting face of the luggage,
comprising a spring loaded flap which is pushed back to a neutral
and unobtrusive position by the impacting action of the stairs
against its surface as the bag ascends but will obtrusively impact
and catch the stairs as the bag descends a spring loaded emergency
handle, which when released will actuate the brake action but when
held or keeps the brake in the neutral and unobtrusive position a
coil spring and plunger apparatus to keep the brake in a neutral
and unobtrusive position when the bag is not being slid on stairs.
Description
[0001] Portable, rollaboard luggage, suitcases with built in wheels
and a retractable, locking handles have been around for more than a
decade. (U.S. Pat. No. 4,995,487-1991) The convenience of wheeled
luggage is unquestioned, as a bag no longer had to be carried but
rather could be rolled across a flat or sloping distance. However,
luggage is still inconvenient during one almost universal encounter
in travel: stairs. When a wheeled carrier must be gotten up stairs,
it has to be either lifted, an exhausting enterprise when dealing
with a heavy and bulky bag, or has to be dragged, quite
uncomfortably, as the bottom edge of the carrier slams each
successive stair as it ascends. When the carrier must be gotten
down stairs, the two options and results are the nearly the same
and equally difficult and inconvenient.
[0002] The issue of stair climbing is addressed in U.S. Pat. No.
6,938,740. It is clear however that it is deficient in several key
respects. First, and most importantly, it does not detail or
emphasize the importance of an angled handle in conjunction with
its track sliding surface. It is nearly impossible to slide a bag
up its stairs along its bottom without an angled handle, for the
user must stoop to a terribly steep angle to do so. Alone, this
lack of an angled handle makes U.S. Pat. No. 6,938,740 impractical.
Further, this patent describes not a sliding surface but rather a
tank track type roller system to facilitate sliding. Because a
smooth sliding surface is all that is required, this track and
roller system is an unnecessary, not to mention a very expensive
and delicate, construction. Additionally, this patent also notes a
brake system. However this brake is a brake pad that engages with
the rollers, not a brake that impacts with the stairs themselves.
Therefore the luggage would still be free to slide out of control,
even with the brake engaged, because there is nothing that would
effectively hinder its downward sliding path. U.S. Pat. No.
6,938,740 is identifies the problem of stair sliding, but it does
not solve this problem simply, cheaply, or successfully.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Objects and Advantages
[0003] It is therefore an important object of the present invention
to provide rolling luggage which can readily slide up and down
stairs
[0004] Another object of the present invention is the provision of
rolling luggage with both an super extendable/angleable/fixable
handle in conjunction with a smooth stair-facing sliding surface,
the combination being necessary to accomplish the previous
object.
[0005] Another object of the present invention is the provision of
rolling luggage with a laterally super extendable/retractable and
acutely `angleable` handle, and that which functions via a locking
hinged sleeve at the end of the guide tube to effectively lock the
handle in the angled position, so that the bag can comfortably be
pulled (up) or pushed (down) as it lies flat against the stairs or
rolled conventionally.
[0006] A further object of the present invention is the provision
of rolling luggage with a smooth surface or surfaces on the back
(bottom) that is capable of touching the points of consecutive
steps, providing for an unrestricted sliding movement.
[0007] An additional object of the present invention is the
provision of rolling luggage with a brake device to prevent
uncontrolled downward staor sliding of an accidentally released
bag.
[0008] Other objects and advantages of the present invention may
become apparent from use of the structure disclosed herein.
SUMMARY
[0009] The luggage construction of the present invention solves
these problems encountered by the prior art with the provision of a
fixable angleable super extendable handle in conjunction with a
smooth sliding surface or surfaces, on the back (bottom) which
allows the cargo carrier to be slide easily, rather than be
carried, up or down stairs.
BRIEF DESRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is a 3/4 perspective view of an article of luggage in
accordance with the present invention.
[0011] FIG. 2a is a side view of the luggage in a predating rolling
mode.
[0012] FIG. 2b is a side view of the luggage in sliding mode
ascending/descending stairs FIG. 2c is a side view of the luggage
returned to rolling mode after ascension/descension.
[0013] FIG. 3 is a side cross section view of the handle assembly
in extended (rolling) position.
[0014] FIG. 4a is a perspective view of the hinging-handle
angle-locking assembly during rolling mode.
[0015] FIG. 4b is a perspective view of the hinging-handle
angle-locking assembly as said hinging-handle angles for
sliding.
[0016] FIG. 4c is a perspective view of the hinging-handle
angle-locking assembly during sliding mode.
[0017] FIG. 5 is a side cross section view of the handle assembly
in super extended (sliding) position.
[0018] FIG. 6 is a side view of said luggage as it is restricted
from uncontrolled sliding by the brake mechanism.
[0019] FIG. 7a is a side view of the brake retraction mechanism
during sliding mode.
[0020] FIG. 7b is a side view of said brake retraction mechanism
during rolling or inactive mode.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERED EMBODEMENT
[0021] FIG. 1 gives an overview of the present invention. An
article of conventional rolling luggage 17, consisting of a
suitcase body 9, roller wheels 13 and a vertically extendable pull
handle 7 is further equipped with a set of parallel sliding
surfaces/skis/runners of plastic 15 and is adapted so that pull
handle 7 further telescopes out and also bends and locks in an
angled position. Also in FIG. 1 is brake device 36 and
hinging-handle angle-locking assembly 38.
[0022] The handle 7 is shown in operative detail in FIGS. 3 and 5.
In FIG. 5 pull handle 7 is shown to comprise handgrip 6 mounted
atop telescoping rods 8 which are in turn connected to telescoping
rods 10. Telescoping rods 8 are of a slightly lesser diameter than
telescoping rods 10 so that the former can slide snuggly within the
latter. Telescoping rods 10 are of a slightly lesser diameter than
master rod sleeves 12 so that the former may also slide into the
latter. However, telescoping rods 10 are not attached to master rod
sleeves 12. Rather they can slide completely out of master rod
sleeves 12 and are only prevented from being totally removed from
luggage 1 by catch mechanism 30.
[0023] FIG. 3 shows pull handle 7 in extended/half
retracted/rolling mode, whereby telescoping rods 8 are completely
retracted into telescoping rods 10, but where telescoping rods 10
are partly extended from master rod sleeves 12. This position of
the rods is affixed by retractable pins 14, whose mechanism is
permanently within telescoping rods 8 and which can pass through
pin holes 16, 18, 20, and 22. Retractable pins 14 are activated by
depressing button 24. In FIG. 5, when the handle is in
superextended/skiing mode, retractable pins 14 lock telescoping
rods 8 into telescoping rods 10 at pin hole 16. In FIG. 3, in
rolling mode, retractable pins 14 lock telescoping rods 8 into
telescoping rods 10 by passing through pin holes 18 and in turn
lock telescoping rods 10 into master sleeves 12 by passing through
pin holes 20. When in collapsed/stowed mode (not pictured),
retractable pins 14 pass lock telescoping rods 8 into telescoping
rods 10 by passing through pin holes 18 and in turn locking
telescoping rods 10 into master sleeves 12 by passing through pin
holes 22.
[0024] FIG. 5 shows that handle 7 is in an angled position, whereas
in FIG. 3 handle 7 is in a straight position. This angling is
accomplished by the following mechanism. FIG. 5 details hinge
mechanism 11. This mechanism consists of hinges 26 attached on one
end to master rods sleeves 12 and on the other to sleeves 28.
Sleeves 28 are of the same diameter as master rod sleeves 12 thus
allowing telescoping rods 10 to pass through. Telescoping rods 10
are permitted to pass through sleeves 28 until they have completely
parted from master rod sleeves 12. At this point catch mechanisms
30 prevent telescoping rods 10 from being pulled free of sleeves
28. Sleeves 28, using hinges 26, are now free to bend into the
angled position desirable for sliding as shown in FIG. 5.
[0025] FIG. 4 show one of many possible mechanisms for fixing
handle 7 in the angled position. Affixed to the handle-side top
face of suitcase body 9 is hinging-handle angle-locking assembly
38, consisting of catch units 40 and compression spring 42.
Hinging-handle angle-locking assembly 38 is secured to suitcase
body 9 by hinging-rivets 44. As handle 7 is rotated upward in FIG.
4b, telescoping rods 10 impact the sloping face of catch units 40.
Catch units 40's sloping face, in conjunction with its
pivotability, provided by hinging rivets 44, allows telescoping
rods 10, and with them handle 7, to slide past and lock, coming to
rest against catch units 40's opposite flat face. In FIG. 4c
compression spring 42 forces catch units 40 to return to a neutral
position and prevent handle 7 from angling back from whence it
came. Nor can handle 7 angle further upward, as the cavity
construction of suitcase body 9 prevents it from doing so. Handle 7
can return to the rolling or stowed position by squeezing catch
units 40 together and then sliding telescoping rods 10 past catch
units 40.
[0026] FIG. 6 shows the use of the brake device 36. Brake device 36
is on the same face of the luggage as sliding surfaces 15, and is
unobtrusive to this smooth surface as long as emergency brake
handle 46 is engaged. However, if rolling luggage 17 is being slid
up or down the stairs, as in FIG. 2, and the traveler accidentally
allows handgrip 6, and thus luggage 17, to slip from his grasp,
brake device 36 deploys. creating a protuberance against the
nearest flat stair surface that disables the bags ability to slide
and prevents it from inflicting injury on a third party.
[0027] FIG. 7 shows the brake mechanism in detail. In FIG. 7a brake
64 is forced open by coil spring 60. But brake 64 may be closed and
kept out of the way while luggage 17 is in sliding mode by
squeezing emergency handle 46. Emergency handle 46 is connected by
reel wire system, consisting of brake reel 50 and brake wire 48, to
brake 64. When handle 7 is full extended, brake wire 48 is also
fully extended from brake reel 50. When the traveler squeezes
emergency handle 46 to ascend or descend stairs, brake wire 48 is
pulled, and because brake reel 50 is out of additional brake wire
48, brake 64 is pulled closed. If emergency handle 46 is released,
coil spring 60 forces brake 64 open, impacting the stairs and
preventing out of controlled sliding. When luggage 17 is in rolling
or stowed mode, as shown in FIG. 7b, the impact of handle 7 on
plunger 52 inside master rod sleeves 12 forces brake 64 closed as
plunger wire 54 is pulled taught.
REFERENCE NUMERALS
[0028] 6 handgrip [0029] 7 handle [0030] 8 telescoping rods [0031]
9 suitcase body [0032] 10 telescoping rods [0033] 11 hinge
mechanisms [0034] 12 master rods sleeves [0035] 13 roller wheels
[0036] 14 retractable pins [0037] 15 sliding surfaces [0038] 16 pin
holes [0039] 17 rolling luggage [0040] 18 pin holes [0041] 20 pin
holes [0042] 22 pin holes [0043] 24 depressing button [0044] 26
hinges [0045] 28 sleeves [0046] 30 catch mechanisms [0047] 36 brake
device [0048] 38 hinging-handle angle-locking assembly [0049] 40
catch units [0050] 42 compression spring [0051] 44 hinging rivets
[0052] 46 emergency brake handle [0053] 48 brake wire [0054] 50
brake reel [0055] 52 plunger [0056] 54 plunger wire [0057] 60 coil
spring [0058] 64 brake
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