ROLLER BALL LUGGAGE SYSTEM

Abstract

A roller travel luggage system includes a standard carry-on case or travel bag fitted with a large roller ball at the bottom end. The roller ball is captured in a socket ring on the bottom end that allows the roller ball to turn in any direction. The roller ball and socket ring are positioned at the center of the leading edge and two legs for upright standing are placed on the outside corners of the trailing edge of the bottom end. These legs are sized such that the roller travel luggage can stand up upright on its own without assistance. Alternatively, these legs can be fitted with small roller bearings on their ends such that the roller travel luggage can be easily scooted around short distances while standing upright.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to travel luggage, and in particular to roller traveling cases commonly used as carry-on bags in air travel.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The airline industry has started to charge extra fees for checked luggage and has limits on the weights and sizes of all the things travelers usually bring with them on a flight. The incentives have been increasing to bring carry-on luggage at the same time strict limits have been placed on the dimensions that are acceptable.

International airports have been getting more common and grown larger in size over what airports used to be. Air travelers frequently have to walk several hundred yards to get from parking to their gates and between concourse on connecting flights. So carry-on cases with little wheels and telescoping handles have been a universal convenience for millions of modern travelers.

However the small wheels commonly used on roller travel bags are difficult to steer and do not roll well over many common surfaces. Steering the roller travel bag usually requires large lateral swings of the handle that may not be possible in confined aisles. The little wheels are fixed in a straight ahead direction and the roller travel bag will resist being nudged to the side. Any such nudging will usually tip the bag over on its side, and righting it can be clumsy and obstruct other passengers.

What is needed is large ball roller that is quick and easy to maneuver in confined aisles and other obstacles often encountered by air travelers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly, a roller travel luggage system embodiment of the present invention includes a standard carry-on case or travel bag fitted with a large roller ball at the bottom end. The roller ball is captured in a socket ring on the bottom end that allows the roller ball to turn in any direction. The roller ball and socket ring are positioned at the center of the leading edge and two legs for upright standing are placed on the outside corners of the trailing edge of the bottom end. These legs are sized such that the roller travel luggage can stand up upright on its own without assistance. Alternatively, these legs can be fitted with small roller bearings on their ends such that the roller travel luggage can be easily scooted around short distances while standing upright.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will no doubt become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after having read the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments that are illustrated in the various drawing figures.

IN THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A and 1B are side and front views of a roller travel luggage system embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded assembly view of a roller ball and socket ring that can be used in various embodiments of the present invention;

FIGS. 3A and 3B are a perspective view and an exploded assembly view of a ball caster with a vertical pivot that can be used in various embodiments of the present invention;

FIGS. 4A-4C are side views with superimposed schematics of a travel roller bag that is similar to roller travel luggage system of FIGS. 1A-1B, but has a ball transfer caster and tilting extension mechanism mounted on a pivot. The superimposed schematics detail the mechanism that connects the handle to the ball transfer caster and tilting extension mechanism; and

FIGS. 5A-5D are side and back views of a roller travel bag in an embodiment of the present invention that uses a very different kind of single roller compared to FIGS. 1A-1B and 4A-4C. In FIGS. 5A-5B, the single roller is extended for standing or walking, and in FIGS. 5C-5D, the single roller is retracted for stowing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1A and 1B represent a roller travel luggage system embodiment of the present invention, and is referred to herein by the general reference numeral 100. In general, roller travel luggage system 100 includes a carry-on case or travel bag 102 fitted with a large roller ball 104 at a bottom end 106. In one embodiment, the carry-on case or travel bag 102 has two halves, a front half case 108 and a back half case 110. A telescoping handle 112 pops out of a top end 114 from the back half case 110. A compartment 116 provides quick access and storage for small items, especially those needed when shuffling through security lines, passport control, and ticketing.

Roller ball 104 is a hollow sphere that fits into and is captured by a socket ring 118. These pieces can be made from polycarbonate, Poly-Ether-Ether-Ketone (PEEK), nylon, or other plastics and metals with good wear and abrasion resistance and sliding ability. Roller ball 104 is free to rotate in any direction inside socket ring 118, much like a shoulder socket. Socket ring 118 may be a complete orbit closed all around roller ball 104. It can include small roller ball bearings to help roller ball 104 twist and turn inside socket ring 118.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the roller ball 104 and socket ring 118 are fixed, in others they are articulated to extend out and retract in. One kind of articulating mechanism can be attached to telescoping handle 112 such that when the users pulls out the handle, the roller ball 104 and socket ring 118 are forcefully extended and locked to take on the weight of the whole roller travel luggage system 100. And when the telescoping handle 112 is pushed back down in back-half case 110, the roller ball 104 and socket ring 118 are unlocked and retracted back inside bottom end 106.

Two outrigger stands 120 and 122 are provided to help roller travel luggage system 100 stand up on its end. These and roller ball 104 form a stable tripod. Outrigger stands 120 and 122 may include ball roller ends that would assist a user trying to scoot the roller travel luggage system 100 around on the floor while standing upright.

FIG. 2 provides more detail on how roller ball 104 and socket ring 118 can be constructed. A roller ball assembly 200 comprises a socket 202 that cups dozens of small roller bearings 204, and has a retaining ring and seal 206. A hollow spherical ball 208 comprises two hemispherical halves 210 and 212 that are joined together and inserted into retaining ring and seal 206. Under load, hollow spherical ball 208 is able to rotate in any direction with very little friction within retaining ring and seal 206. The design and construction of roller ball 104 and socket ring 118 can be like the ball transfer casters described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,920,290, issued Nov. 18, 1975 to Kingsley S. Evarts, and also U.S. Pat. No. 3,466,697, issued Sep. 16, 1969, to Earl S. Cain, et al. Commercial flange-mount and stud-mount ball transfer casters are sold on the Internet at www.castersupply.com.

FIGS. 3A and 3B represent a ball caster 300 with a vertical pivot 302. Two independent hemispheres, 304 and 306 share a common axle 308 that passes through a hub 310. Ball caster 300 can be used as a substitute for roller ball 104 and socket ring 118 in alternative embodiments of roller travel luggage system 100.

FIG. 4A-4C represent a travel roller bag 400 that is similar to roller travel luggage system 100 of FIGS. 1A-1B. The travel roller bag 400 includes a carry-on case or travel bag 402 fitted with a ball transfer caster and tilting extension mechanism 404 mounted on a pivot 406. The carry-on case or travel bag 402 has two halves, a front half case 408 and a back half case 410. A telescoping handle 412 can be pulled out by the user from a top end from the back half case 410, and this will cause the ball transfer caster and tilting extension mechanism 404 to extend out on pivot 406, as in FIG. 4B.

A compartment 416 provides quick access and storage for small items, especially those needed when shuffling through security lines, passport control, and ticketing.

A handle linkage 418 connects handle 412 to a 180-degree bell crank 420 with a mechanical advantage of 8:1. For every eight inches handle 412 is moved up or down, ball transfer caster and tilting extension mechanism 404 will be pushed oppositely one inch on pivot 406. A pushrod 422 attaches the 180-degree bell crank 420 to the ball transfer caster and tilting extension mechanism 404. A pair of standing legs 424 can be articulated to move in and out in tandem with ball transfer caster and tilting extension mechanism 404.

Pivot 406 and the geometry of ball transfer caster and tilting extension mechanism 404 provide the optimum extension angles seen in FIG. 4C. When a user extends handle 412 and tilts the whole travel roller bag 400 forward to begin walking, the ball transfer caster will be square with the ground surface.

FIGS. 5A-5D represent a roller travel bag 500 in an embodiment of the present invention that uses a very different kind of single roller compared to FIGS. 1A-1B and 4A-4C. The main case can be a single construction or two half shells 502 and 504. The back half shell is fitted with a telescoping handle 506 and the front half shell 502 may include a convenience pouch 508 to hold small items needed during travel.

A large, American football shaped roller 512 is mounted through its opposite pointed ends to a horizontal axle 514. Roller 512 is shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B extended out and ready to carry the weight of roller travel bag 500 and its contents. A pair of small legs 516 and 518 are also extended out so the roller travel bag 500 can be stood up on its end.

Handle 506 is connected through handle links 520 to a tie bar 522. A pair of connecting rods 524 and 525 attach to left and right 180-degree bellcranks 526 and 527. These can rotate on pivots 528 and 528, producing a mechanical advantage. For example, the mechanical advantage can be fixed from 4:1 to 16:1, depending on how far handle 506 can be pulled up and how far down roller 512 needs to be extended out. This, of course, will vary with each particular application. An axle yoke 530 is comprised of left and right yoke arms 532 and 533 connected to the outboard ends of axle 514.

FIGS. 5A-5B show handle 506 extended out and roller travel bag 500 ready to stand or be walked. FIGS. 5C-5D show handle 506 pushed in and roller travel bag 500 ready to stow.

Although the present invention has been described in terms of the presently preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not to be interpreted as limiting. Various alterations and modifications will no doubt become apparent to those skilled in the art after having read the above disclosure. Accordingly, it is intended that the appended claims be interpreted as covering all alterations and modifications as fall within the “true” spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A roller travel luggage system, comprising:

a carry-on case or travel bag fitted with a large roller ball at its bottom end, wherein the roller ball is captured in a socket ring on the bottom end that allows the roller ball to turn in any direction;

wherein, the roller ball and socket ring are positioned at the center of the leading edge of the carry-on case or travel bag, and two legs for upright standing are placed on the outside corners of the trailing edge of the bottom end; and

wherein, the legs are sized and located such that the roller travel luggage system can stand up upright on its own without assistance.

2. The roller travel luggage system of claim 1, further comprising:

roller bearings fitted on the ends of the legs such that the roller travel luggage can be scooted around short distances while standing upright.

3. A roller travel bag, comprising:

a carry-on case with a top, sides, front, back, and bottom;

a ball transfer caster mounted on a pivot and embedded in the bottom of the carry-on case, wherein the ball transfer caster is able to rotate on the pivot and extend out the bottom to carry the weight of the carry-on case;

a handle attached to the top of the carry-on case; and

a pair of standing legs fixed to the bottom of the carry-on case.

4. The roller travel bag of claim 3, further comprising:

a tilting extension mechanism mounted on the pivot such that ball transfer caster will roll normal to a ground surface when the carry-on case is tilted forward and walked by a user.

5. The roller travel bag of claim 4, further comprising:

a linkage connecting the handle to the tilting extension mechanism, wherein extending the handle causes the ball transfer caster to be extended out, and wherein collapsing the handle causes the ball transfer caster to be retracted in.

6. The roller travel bag of claim 5, further comprising:

a 180-degree bell crank to give the linkage a mechanical advantage between the handle and the tilting extension mechanism.

7. A roller travel bag, comprising:

a carry-on case with a top, sides, front, back, and bottom;

a football-shaped roller mounted through its opposite pointed ends to a horizontal axle and a yoke, and embedded in the bottom of the carry-on case, wherein the roller is able to turn on the axle and extend out the bottom to carry the weight of the carry-on case;

a handle attached to the top of the carry-on case; and

a pair of standing legs fixed to the bottom of the carry-on case.

8. The roller travel bag of claim 7, further comprising:

a linkage connecting the handle to the horizontal axle, wherein extending the handle causes the roller to be extended out, and wherein collapsing the handle causes the roller to be retracted in.

9. The roller travel bag of claim 8, further comprising:

a 180-degree bell crank to give the linkage a mechanical advantage between the handle and the horizontal axle and the roller.