Wheeled carrier stair sliding system
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.
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.
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 AdvantagesIt is therefore an important object of the present invention to provide rolling luggage which can readily slide up and down stairs
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.
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.
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.
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.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention may become apparent from use of the structure disclosed herein.
SUMMARYThe 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
The handle 7 is shown in operative detail in
- 6 handgrip
- 7 handle
- 8 telescoping rods
- 9 suitcase body
- 10 telescoping rods
- 11 hinge mechanisms
- 12 master rods sleeves
- 13 roller wheels
- 14 retractable pins
- 15 sliding surfaces
- 16 pin holes
- 17 rolling luggage
- 18 pin holes
- 20 pin holes
- 22 pin holes
- 24 depressing button
- 26 hinges
- 28 sleeves
- 30 catch mechanisms
- 36 brake device
- 38 hinging-handle angle-locking assembly
- 40 catch units
- 42 compression spring
- 44 hinging rivets
- 46 emergency brake handle
- 48 brake wire
- 50 brake reel
- 52 plunger
- 54 plunger wire
- 60 coil spring
- 64 brake
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.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 11, 2006
Publication Date: Sep 28, 2006
Inventors: Alex Weinstein (Bridgeport, WV), James Weinstein (Bridgeport, WV)
Application Number: 11/373,449
International Classification: A45C 5/14 (20060101); A45C 13/30 (20060101);