U.S. patent number 3,861,695 [Application Number 05/378,771] was granted by the patent office on 1975-01-21 for luggage carrying device.
Invention is credited to John Edward Shourek, Ruth W. Shourek.
United States Patent |
3,861,695 |
Shourek , et al. |
January 21, 1975 |
LUGGAGE CARRYING DEVICE
Abstract
A portable luggage carrying dolly is provided having an upright
back portion and a hinged base connected thereto. Both the back and
the base include spaced composite members interconnected by
transverse spacer portions which may be folded down thereby moving
the composite members together and providing for subsequent
collapsing of the composite member into a compact hand-held unit.
The base is extendable to accommodate many pieces of luggage.
Inventors: |
Shourek; Ruth W. (West Chicago,
IL), Shourek; John Edward (West Chicago, IL) |
Family
ID: |
23494487 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/378,771 |
Filed: |
July 12, 1973 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
280/5.24;
211/195; 280/659 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B62B
1/125 (20130101); B62B 2202/24 (20130101); B62B
2205/02 (20130101); B62B 2206/04 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B62B
1/12 (20060101); B62B 1/00 (20060101); B62b
005/02 (); B62b 001/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;211/178R
;280/36C,36R,41D,34B,5.24 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Knowles; Allen W.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Conlon; James J.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A portable luggage carrying device having collapsible portions
to provide for folded transport and including an upright back
portion and a base portion which are unfoldable into an operative
extended position, the improvement comprising:
said upright back portion including a pair of spaced post means and
each post means comprising a plurality of joined sections including
extensible and collapsible sections;
said base portion including a pair of spaced leg members pivotally
attached to an associated post means of the upright back
portion;
collapsible crossbar means interconnecting the spaced post means of
the upright back, and crossbar means also interconnecting the
spaced leg members of the base portion;
each of said crossbar means being constructed to pivotally attach
to at least one of the associated post means of the upright back
and also to pivotally attach to one of the spaced leg members of
the base portion, whereby each of said spaced post means and each
of said spaced leg members may be selectively moved into an
adjacent collapsed position thus reducing the size of the luggage
carrying device for easy portable transport.
2. The invention according to claim 1, and:
said leg members also including extensible portions thereby
providing said base portion with an adjustable length to adapt to
various sized pieces of luggage.
3. The invention according to claim 1, and:
said plurality of joined sections of the spaced post means and said
spaced leg members each comprising at least two telescoping
segments; and
biased detent means mounted on at least one of said telescoping
segments for restraining engagement with the associated telescoping
segments when said telescoping segments are extended to said
operative extended position.
4. The invention according to claim 1, and:
flexible belt means having spaced end portions attached to both the
back portion and the base portion to thereby form an enclosed
triangle for restraining the transported luggage.
5. The invention according to claim 1, and:
said collapsible crossbar means comprising pivotally interconnected
bar members connecting the spaced post means of the back portion
and the spaced leg members of said base portion;
said collapsible crossbar means including first and second portions
joined by a pivotal connection and said pivotal connection
comprising lost motion slot and pin means providing relative
lateral movement between the first and second portions of the
crossbar means;
said first and said second portions of the collapsible crossbar
means also including cam means cooperating to provide folding of
the collapsible crossbar means during said relative lateral
movement of the first and second portions of the collapsible
crossbar means.
6. The invention according to claim 1, and:
said post means of the upright back portion including lower post
portions being connected to said base portion by hinge means and
said lower post portion also including step ascending means
comprising a vertically extending keeper having step contacting
friction reducing means contained therein.
7. The invention according to claim 5, and:
said cam means including a nose portion and an associated cam
surface and said cam surface having an inclined portion for
cooperative engagement with said nose portion to thereby fold said
collapsible crossbar means upon said relative lateral movement
between said first and second portions of the crossbar means.
8. The invention according to claim 1, and:
said crossbar means including one piece members interconnecting the
spaced post means of the upright back portion and interconnecting
the spaced leg members of the base portion;
each of said one piece members including one end fixedly attached
to said luggage carrying device and the other end removably
attached to the luggage carrying device to thereby facilitate
folding and collapsing of said luggage carrying device.
9. A luggage carrying device comprising:
a two-component frame member including an upright back portion and
a horizontally extending base portion adapted to receive and
transport luggage;
hinge means pivotally connecting the back portion and the base
portion;
said back portion including spaced post means being interconnected
by crossbar means;
said base portion including leg portions attached to said hinge
means and rotatable from an operative horizontal position to a
stored position adjacent said upright portion;
said leg portions having nonextendable portions and also having
extendable sections movable from a stored position adjacent the
nonextendable portions to an operative position protruding from
said nonextendable portions thereby accommodating transport of
additional luggage;
said crossbar means having at least one end pivotally attached to
an associated part of the upright back portion and also having
locking means for fixedly and securely spacing apart the posts
whereby each of said post means may be selectively moved into an
adjacent collapsed position thus reducing the size of the luggage
carrying device for portable transport.
10. The invention according to claim 9, and:
said upright back portion including spaced post portions having
telescoping sections;
said leg portions of the base portion also being interconnected by
crossbar means;
said crossbar means comprising collapsible members thereby
providing for lateral folding of the upright back portion and the
horizontally extending base portion.
11. The invention according to claim 9, and:
flexible means having portions attached to both the upright back
portion and to the horizontally extending base portion thereby
forming an enclosed reinforcing triangle about said luggage.
12. The invention according to claim 10, and
said crossbar means comprising first and second bar members
pivotally attached to the luggage carrying device and
interconnected by pivot means;
said pivot means including a pivotal connection joining the first
and second bar members and also including first and second bar
locking means comprising a locking portion extending from one of
said bar members and an associated receiving portion provided on
the other locking member.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention pertains to portable luggage carrying devices which
may be folded or collapsed into a compact unit.
2. Description of the Prior Art
While some disclosures have sought to provide a portable luggage
carrying device such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,580,600 and in
U.S. Pat. No. 3,612,563, the applicant's luggage carrier provides
an improved stabilized and rigidified unit capable of carrying a
plurality of pieces of luggage on an extendable base and also
having stabilizing members which prevent tipping of the unit during
luggage transport.
SUMMARY
The nature of this invention is directed to luggage carrying
devices and in particular those devices which may be collapsed into
a portable, lightweight, and compact unit which may be easily
carried by hand.
Operative features of the invention are provided by including a
pair of spaced uprights or posts which form a back portion of the
luggage carrier and are hingedly connected to a pair of associated
horizontally disposed leg members which form the lower or bottom
portion and upon which luggage is positioned for transport. Each of
the upright and base portions have telescoping portions which
provide an adjustable length capability to both the base and the
upright or back portions which may be varied depending upon the
quantity and the weight of the luggage being carried. Additionally,
the spaced members of the back and the base portions are
interconnected by rigidifying crossbar assemblies which stabilize
the entire unit by interconnecting the space members thereby
preventing tipping of the luggage or the dolly. A luggage holddown
strap is also provided to extend between the base and back portions
of the luggage carrier and forms an enclosed triangle which
functions to retain the transported luggage securely in
position.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a lightweight
portable luggage transporting device having collapsing and folding
portions thereby enabling the unit to be folded into a compact
assembly which may be easily hand carried.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a portable
luggage carrying device including an upright or back portion
comprising a pair of spaced upright post members interconnected by
crossbars and rigidly held in the spaced operative position
thereby.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a base
portion pivotally connected to an associated rigidified upright or
back portion and provide the base portion with a pair of spaced
side leg members also interconnected by rigidifying crossbar
members and including telescoping portions thereby providing for an
adjustable length to said spaced portions.
Another object of the present invention is to provide roller means
on the lower and outer portions of each of the upright members of
the back portion thereby enabling the luggage carrying device to
easily and efficiently ascend and descend stairs.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide
wheel means at the junction of the back and the base portions of
the luggage carrying device and also include base support legs
depending from the side members of the base portion and providing
ground support for the same.
Another object of the invention is to provide a luggage carrying
device having spaced upright post portions forming a back of the
luggage dolly and having attached thereto base portions also
comprising telescoping members which may be extended to an
operative position and collapsed to a stored position.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a
flexible holddown strap extending from the end portion of both the
back and base portions of the luggage transporting device and
having luggage engaging and restraining portions for securely
holding transported luggage on the dolly.
These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from
reference to the following description, attached drawings and
appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a pictorial illustration of the luggage carrying device
in a folded position within a carrying case;
FIG. 2 is a pictorial illustration of a luggage carrying device in
the unfolded operative position with luggage shown in phantom;
FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the luggage carrying device
illustrated in FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is an end view of the luggage transporting dolly illustrated
in FIG. 3 showing, in phantom, the back portion in the collapsed
position;
FIG. 5 is a removed and enlarged view taken along line 5--5 of FIG.
3;
FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view taken generally along line 6--6 of
FIG. 3; and
FIG. 7 is a pictorial view of a modification of the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now to the drawings and in particular to FIG. 1, there is
shown the luggage carrying device 10 as it will appear in the
collapsed position and positioned within an associated carrying
case 10a. It is contemplated that in the folded position the
luggage transported device 10 will be compact enough to be easily
hand held and lightweight enough to permit convenient
transport.
FIG. 2 shows a pictorial illustration of the luggage carrying
device in the fully expanded operative position and discloses an
upright or back portion designated generally by the numeral 11 and
including a pair of posts 11a and a pivotally attached lower or
base portion 12 connected thereto. The upright back portion 11
includes a pair of spaced uprights 11a comprising an upper
telescoping portion 13 forming the top part of the back portion, an
intermediate telescoping portion 14, and a lower telescoping
portion 15. These telescoping portions form the posts designated
generally by the numeral 11a which are spaced apart and form the
basic outer frame member of the back assembly 11.
The lower or base portion 12 upon which luggage is initially
positioned prior to movement includes a pair of spaced leg
assemblies including leg portions 16 which are pivotally attached
to the upright or back portion 11 and have a hollow portion into
which an extendable leg portion 17 may reciprocate into thereby
adjusting the length of the base portion 12. Interconnecting the
spaced legs of the base portion 12 is a flexible connecting member
18 which corresponds to an associated flexible connecting member
similarly designated by the numeral 18 which extends between the
upright legs 11a of the back portion 11 and is used as a fixed
connecting member for attachment of an adjustable strap 19 which is
provided to secure luggage to the luggage carrier 10 and also to
form a reinforced triangular structure in combination with the
pivotally connected back portion 11 and the associated base portion
12. Thus, by utilizing an extendable member or adjustable strap 19
which may contain a buckle or other suitable length adjusting means
20 to surround the luggage which is being transported, and which is
indicated in phantom by the number 21 in FIG. 2, the applicant has
eliminated the need for a heavy duty hinged connection to absorb
the high stresses which are normally produced when a cantilever
connection is provided between the lower or base portion 12 and the
attached upright or back portion 11. Also, by utilizing a belt to
interconnect the end portions of both the back portion 11 and the
lower or base portion 12, the invention allows for providing an
extendable lower base portion 12 which may be adjusted to increase
the number of pieces of luggage which may be transported. The belt
in interconnecting the upper and lower portions will be placed in
tension depending on the load of the transported luggage and, as
mentioned above, has eliminated the requirement of a heavy duty
hinged connection which normally must be provided between the lower
base of a dolly and the associated upright or back portion.
The posts 11a of the back portion 11 may terminate with a rubber or
plastic cap portion or handle 22 which is fixedly attached to the
upper telescoping portion 13 and which is provided to facilitate
ease of grasping the luggage carrier.
As noticed in FIG. 4 and particularly in FIG. 6, each of the
telescoping portions 11a of the back portion 11 and the telescoping
portions 16, 17 of the base portion 12 are interconnected with an
indexing or locking assembly 23 which retains the telescoping
portions in their extended position. The biasing means contemplated
for use with this invention includes a cantilever spring biasing
member designated generally by the numeral 24 and which may be
attached by any suitable means to the outside of a receiving
telescoping member and includes a pair of spaced cantilever arm
portions 25 which engage locking rollers or small ball bearing
members 26 which are positioned within an opening in an outer
receiving telescoping member and extend into a smaller opening or
depression 27 in the inside telescoping member. The small opening
or depression 27 in the inside telescoping portion 17 allows the
ball 26 to snap into the depression and thereby, in combination
with the spring biasing force provided by the cantilever flat
spring arm 25, retain the telescoping portion in the extended
position. Likewise, the telescoping portions may include detents or
small openings which permit them to be snapped into the folded
position and likewise held in the closed or folded position.
The legs 17 of the base 12 may have a plurality of length adjusting
openings 27 to allow for adjusting the length of the base 12.
In the open and extended position both the upright legs 11a of the
back portion 11 and the spaced outer legs 16 of the lower or base
portion 12 are interconnected by crossbar assemblies designated
generally by the numeral 28 and which will hereinafter be
described.
These crossbar assemblies 28 are disclosed as horizontally
extending members but also may be diagonally disposed to
interconnect the associated upright portions for stabilizing the
luggage carrying unit in the expanded position.
Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 4, a detailed explanation of the
crossbar assembly 28 will be forthcoming. The description of the
crossbar assembly 28 will be directed to the crossbar
interconnecting the upright posts 11a of the back portion 11 which
is disclosed with reference to FIGS. 2 and 4 but the description
given will apply similarly to all of the crossbar assemblies 28
which interconnect the spaced portions of both the upright or back
portion 11 and also the lower or base portion 12.
As noticed in FIG. 4, the crossbar assembly 28 is pivotally
attached at pivot point 29 to the spaced upright legs 11a. The
crossbar assembly 28 includes a common pivot 30 which interconnects
a first crossbar portion 31 and a second associated crossbar
portion 32. The pivot 30 includes a pin fixedly attached to the
second bar portion 32 and which extends through a slot 33 in the
second bar portion 32. Of course the pivot pin will include a head
portion which forms a connection between the two bar members and
prevents disjoining of the two members. Such a construction is well
known to one having ordinary skill in the art and is not disclosed
in detail herein.
Because it is desired to provide a luggage transporting unit which
may be easily collapsed by simple closing force application by a
person using the luggage carrying device, it is therefore required
that the crossbar assembly 28 not include any complicated locking
or latching mechanism which would require manual unlocking movement
to allow the associated upright to be pushed together into a
collapsed position. Therefore the invention provides the first bar
portion 31 with a rounded or cammed nose portion 34 positioned
adjacent an associated cammed surface 35 which is part of the
second bar portion 32. The spacing between the nose portion 34 and
the associated cam surface 35 corresponds to the length of the slot
33 and will be understood to permit the crossbar to break
downwardly as the spaced posts 11a are urged together. As the
upright posts 11a are moved together the camming action between the
nose 34 and the cam surface 35 will produce a downward folding
movement of the first bar portion 31 and the second bar portion
32.
A locking pin 36 is positioned on the second bar portion and is
receiveable within an associated locking lip cutout 37 which is
formed in the first bar portion 31. When the locking lip 37 has
received the lock pin 36 horizontal movement of the crossbar
assembly is prevented. Associated with this locking lip cutout 37
is an inclined or sloped surface 37a which also may act in
combination with the lock pin 36 to provide a camming action which
results in the crossbar components 31, 32 folding upon horizontal
compressive movement of the crossbar assembly when it is desired to
collapse the luggage carrier.
As noticed in FIGS. 2 and 4, the crossbar assembly 28 which
interconnects the lower telescoping portions 15 of the upright or
back portion 11 is the reverse of the crossbar assembly which is
used to connect the intermediate portions 14. By this reverse
positioning the bottom crossbar assembly 28 will fold upwardly as
the upright legs 11a are moved toward each other and the crossbar
assembly 28 will assume the folded position illustrated in phantom
in the bottom left portion of FIG. 4. After this lateral collapsing
movement of the upright legs has been completed the telescoping
upright portions are then pushed together and will thereby assume
the folded collapsed position which is also illustrated in phantom
in FIG. 4.
The luggage carrier 10 may also include the wheels or rollers
designated by the numeral 38 which provide for ease of movement
when loaded with heavy luggage. These wheels 38 are contemplated as
being positioned at the lower terminal portion of the upright legs
11a and may be associated with the hinge gussets 39 which
interconnect both the upright back portion 11 and the base portion
12. These hinge gussets 39 may be interconnected by a bottom
connecting plate 39a which impinges upon the leg 16 of the base
portion 12 and is intended to permit the luggage carrying device to
stand freely in the upright position and also provide support to
the base portion when only a few pieces of luggage are being
carried and it is not necessary to use the strap 18 to connect the
upright back portion 11 with the base 12. As mentioned previously,
because of the utilization of an adjustable strap 19 this bottom
gusset connecting plate 39a need not be a heavy duty member which
must absorb the cantilever forces produced by heavy luggage placed
along the base 12.
The crossbar assembly 28 illustrated in FIG. 2 may be dimensioned
to provide smooth operation when the members they connect are urged
together. Additionally, the first and second bar portions may
include a holding means such as the indexing assembly 23 which
retains the telescoping post portions in the extended position. The
holding means (not shown) would retain the crossbar assembly
rigidly in the operative horizontal position.
Additionally, means are provided for permitting ease of movement up
and down steps with a load of luggage by providing the lower
telescoping portions 15 with a step roller assembly 41 which is
shown generally in FIG. 3 and with the specific details disclosed
in FIG. 5. This roller assembly includes a plurality of roller
members and as shown includes ball bearings 42, however roller
bearings or other suitable means may be utilized which will allow
ease of movement up and down steps. These rollers 42 are retained
within a vertically extending roller keeper or race 43.
Base support legs 40 are attached at the end of the leg 16 of the
base portion 12 and also assist in permitting the luggage carrier
10 to stand in an upright position in preparation for loading and
also to permit convenient stopping of the luggage carrier when
loaded.
In the modification shown in FIG. 7 the intersecting crossbar
members 28a and the horizontally extending crossbars 31a may be
used for rigidifying the upright portion 11 and the base portion
12. The members 28a are connected at their mid points by a slider
block 28b which allows the diagonally intersecting members to be
folded as the posts 11a are brought together. The crossbars 28a and
31a are pivotally connected at one end to an associated upright
post and at the other end is a bent portion 31b insertable into a
locking opening of the lower telescoping leg portion 15, or as with
the base portion 12, a locking opening in the leg 16 of the base
portion 12.
THE OPERATION
The description of the operation will be given with reference to
folding the luggage carrier 10 from an expanded unfolded position
to a folded position whereby it may be easily carried in a handheld
carrying case.
As illustrated in FIG. 2, when the luggage carrier 10 is loaded and
ready for movement the flexible and adjustable strap 19 will
interconnect the extreme end portions of the upright back portion
11 and the pivotally attached lower or base portion 12 thereby
forming a triangular transporting structure and eliminating the
need for large heave hinge members interconnecting the pivotally
attached lower and back sections.
To collapse the luggage carrier 10 after the luggage has been
unloaded the lower or base portion is merely pivotally moved into a
position adjacent the upright or back portion 11 whereby both
portions may be shortened by pushing down the telescoping members
followed by a lateral joining of their spaced leg portions; or, the
leg portions 17 and posts 11a may be initially moved into a
contiguous relationship followed by compression of the telescoping
members. The invention does not require a given sequence of folding
and will allow for either alternate method. As mentioned earlier,
the crossbar assemblies 28 are so positioned as to fold
conveniently adjacent the telescoping members of the luggage
carrier 10 and by providing the interacting cam and slope portions
the crossbar component portions 31 and 32 will fold in a
predetermined direction thus enabling the luggage carrier to be
easily, conveniently and rapidly and reliably folded and
unfolded.
The foregoing description and drawings merely explain and
illustrate the invention and the invention is not limited thereto,
except insofar as the appended claims are so limited, as those
skilled in the art who have the disclosure before them will be able
to make modifications and variations therein without departing from
the scope of the invention.
* * * * *