Traveling Case Patents (Class 280/37)
  • Patent number: 5803470
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for use in storing and transporting a child's stroller. In its broadest context, the present invention includes a rear cover, with an associated stroller wheel receiving recess, hingedly secured to a front cover, with an associated stroller wheel receiving recess. The storing and transporting device of the present invention also employs a number of detachable pouches which are securable within the interior of the device. Wheels and a retractable handle are both provided for use in transporting the entire assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1998
    Inventor: Jayne E. Smith
  • Patent number: 5797617
    Abstract: A luggage system including a plurality of luggage pieces has a dolly connector unit including a latch plate member fixably located on each of the luggage pieces; and a dolly including a wheeled base. A handle frame including a parallel spaced pair of telescoping columns of first through last column members projecting from the base. A handle member being rigidly connected between the last column members of the columns for manipulation of the dolly. A platform is pivotally connected to the base on a platform axis proximate the handle frame and having an extended position perpendicular to the handle frame and a retracted position parallel to and proximate the handle frame, a support for contacting the roadway surface in the extended position of the platform for providing a rest position of the dolly wherein the platform is fixed parallel to the roadway surface with the wheels also contacting the roadway surface, the dolly also having an inclined transport position with the wheels rollably supporting the dolly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1998
    Inventor: Shiou Chang Lin
  • Patent number: 5778488
    Abstract: A baggage caster is composed of a wheel frame, a wheel, and a retrieving mechanism. The wheel frame is fastened pivotally with a baggage shell such that the wheel frame is capable of swiveling between a retraction position and an extraction position. The wheel is fastened pivotally with the wheel frame such that a plummet of the pivot center of the wheel does not coincide with a plummet of the pivot center of the wheel frame at such time when the wheel frame is located at the retraction position. The wheel frame is therefore capable of swiveling to remain at the extraction position when the baggage shell is exerted on by a load. The retrieving mechanism is intended to provide the wheel frame with an elastic force to enable the wheel frame to return to the retraction position when the baggage shell is relieved of the load exerting thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Inventor: Wang Mei-Li Tsai
  • Patent number: 5769194
    Abstract: A luggage truck includes a base frame fixedly fastened to a luggage body at the bottom, two parallel sleeves respectively pivoted to the base frame and joined by a transverse connecting bar, two sliding tubes respectively sliding in the sleeves and joined by a handle grip outside the sleeves, and two sliding coupling devices moved on the sleeves and coupled to a locating frame at the rear side of the luggage body, each sliding coupling device including a sliding block mounted around one sleeve, a connector having a first coupling tube coupled to the sliding block and a second coupling tube extended from the first coupling tube at right angles, a first link having a hooked bottom end inserted into a through hole in the sliding block and hooked on the first coupling tube of the connector and a top end coupled to the handle grip, and a second link having one end pivoted to the locating frame of said luggage body and an opposite end connected to the second coupling tube of the connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1998
    Assignee: Tandu Incorporation Canniness Import-Export Associated Ltd.
    Inventor: Fu-Chin Chang
  • Patent number: 5762168
    Abstract: A suitcase has four casters respectively fitted to the four corner portions of the suitcase body, and a handle capable of being stopped in an extended position where the handle is extended up from the suitcase body and a lowered position where the handle is pushed into the suitcase body. The casters are free casters which can freely run in all directions. The handle is provided at its upper end with a gripping part. The gripping part of the handle is disposed in the middle or substantially in the middle of the upper face of the suitcase, and is oriented in the longitudinal direction of the upper face of the suitcase body. When the handle is pushed down into the suitcase body, a gripping space is defined between the gripping part and the upper face of the suitcase body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1998
    Assignee: Swany Corporation
    Inventor: Etsuo Miyoshi
  • Patent number: 5758752
    Abstract: Automatically retractable and extendable wheel assembly is disclosed for use in conjunction with luggage cases, especially upright carry-on luggage cases and garment bags. Luggage wheels automatically extend to provide a luggage case which is tilted and with a long wheel base so that the case may comfortably and with stability be pushed or pulled across the floor upon three or more wheels, thereby removing the weight of the case from the user's arm. When the case is removed from the floor, the luggage wheels automatically retract to a protected position, thereby reducing the overall dimensions of the case to permit it to be carried aboard aircraft and stored in overhead luggage bins. Apparatus is disclosed for preventing inadvertent retraction of a wheel when the wheel encounters a pebble or crack in the floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1998
    Assignee: Samsonite Corporation
    Inventors: William L. King, David Crumrine
  • Patent number: 5749446
    Abstract: A collapsible luggage piece is provided. The luggage piece has a collapsed configuration and an erect configuration and includes a front panel, a rear panel and a collapsible wall structure disposed between the front and rear panels for cooperation therewith to define an expandable compartment. The wall structure has a first aperture therethrough and a first erecting panel is connected to the collapsible wall structure. The first erecting panel has a first locking element disposed thereon, wherein in the erect configuration the first erecting panel is substantially perpendicular to the rear panel and the first locking element is disposed through the aperture to rigidly attach the first erecting panel to the collapsible wall structure to maintain the luggage piece in the erect configuration and wherein in the collapsed configuration the first erecting panel is moved to a position not perpendicular to the rear panel to allow the luggage piece to collapse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1998
    Assignee: Jet General Investment Company
    Inventor: Aquino Hsieh
  • Patent number: 5746295
    Abstract: Disclosed is Manually-drayable Floor-rollable Luggages including a preferably wholly-cellulosic upright and cargo-chargeable hollow container that is upwardly/downwardly slidably provided at vertical-bars with a manually-drayage which has underlying wheeled first-axle and co-horizontal wheeled second-axle that are together upwardly abuttable against the hollow container's lower extremity as the vertical-bars' manual-drayage is upwardly manually motivated by virtue of a manually-engageable pull-handle located above the hollow container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Inventor: Frederick G. Schweser, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5730264
    Abstract: A luggage structure to which an additional luggage case can be freely added. The luggage structure includes a luggage pull rod and a pair of adjustable latch boards. The luggage pull rod includes a pair of inner tubes, a handle, an engaging board and a base seat. The adjustable latch boards includes an upper pressing board and a base board. The upper pressing board is a reverse L-shaped board body having a vertical section disposed with two latch clips on two sides. Each latch clip is disposed with a through hole for the outer tube to pass thereinto and for a bolt to tighten the outer tube. A horizontal section of the pressing board is formed with several through holes for riveting pin members therein so as to secure the additional luggage case. The base board is an L-shaped board body having a vertical section disposed with two latch clips on two sides. Each latch clip is disposed with a through hole for the outer tube to pass thereinto and for a bolt to tighten the outer tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1998
    Assignee: Ting Cheng Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Lien-Ching Lu
  • Patent number: 5709398
    Abstract: A telescopic pull lever structure for a luggage case, which can be adjusted up and down according to the size of the luggage case so as to snugly receive the luggage case. The pull lever structure includes a pull lever receiving board having a pair of handle pull levers and a pair of telescopic pull levers and a base seat. Any specific luggage case can be snugly received between the upper locking end of the receiving board and the base seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1998
    Inventor: Lien-Ching Lu
  • Patent number: 5685552
    Abstract: A collapsible wheeled luggage carrier having a collapsible center structure, a handle, a pair of luggage support wings, wheels, and a kickstand. The luggage support wings when in the extended position are in the same plane on each side of the center structure and including a plurality of wing members lying perpendicular to and pivotally secured at one end to the center structure, and pivotally secured at the other end to wing end members. Foldable diagonal locking members are pivotally connected to the wing members on the center structure to hold the wings in the open position. A kickstand is pivotally attached to the center structure and having a cross brace communicating between the center structure and the kickstand. A carrying collar adjustably secured to the center structure including a strap the luggage is suspended from and supported in place by the luggage support wings. The collapsible luggage carrier is foldable to a small size and storable in a pouch which is carryable in the fold of a garment bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1997
    Inventor: Sam Osaki
  • Patent number: 5676387
    Abstract: An apparatus for transporting garment bags comprising a frame in a rectangular configuration which has a lower member and an upper member. Each portion has parallel vertical legs and a horizontal leg therebetween. Also included are a pair of longitudinally aligned wheels with offset, normally parallel axes and which extend downwardly from the lowermost surface of the lower portion. One of the wheels is adapted to rotate 360 degrees about a vertical axis. Each wheel includes a horizontal shaft for allowing the wheels to rotate freely about a horizontal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 14, 1997
    Inventor: Patricia L. Kirkpatrick
  • Patent number: 5653319
    Abstract: A retractable handle includes two parallel sleeves, two inner tubes joined by a hand grip and moved in and out of the sleeves, and a control bar having two opposite beveled ends respectively inserted into the inner tubes and coupled to the hand grip by a respective slip joint, wherein when the control bar is depressed, the beveled ends are moved downwards to force two spring-supported retainer rods of the inner tubes out of respective locating holes on the sleeves, permitting the inner tubes to be pushed upwards by springs inside the sleeves, and therefore the inner tubes can be pulled out of the sleeves by the hand grip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 5, 1997
    Inventor: King-Sheng Wang
  • Patent number: 5645146
    Abstract: A suitcase has a retractable pull handle. The suitcase includes parallel front and back panels and a wall member which combine to define an enclosed volume. A rigid pull handle is mounted in juxtaposition to the top portion of the wall member. Rollers are mounted on the bottom portion of the wall member opposite the pull handle. The pull handle is extendable to pulling position extending generally parallel to the front and back panels. In the extended position, the pull handle is operable to enable a user to roll the suitcase across a surface on the rollers with the weight of the suitcase being distributed between the rollers and the pull handle. The pull handle is retractable into the inside of the suitcase when not in use. In the retracted position, the gripping member of the pull handle is received into a handle receptacle recessed into the top portion of the wall member. A closure secures the pull handle inside the handle receptacle to prevent accidental extension of the pull handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 8, 1997
    Assignee: Airway Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: David Bieber, Hyun S. Kim, Richard L. Conrad, John N. Gualtieri
  • Patent number: 5590891
    Abstract: A handle assembly for carts and wheeled luggage includes a pair of tube assemblies disposed in substantially parallel relation and connected by a handle member. The tube assemblies carry lock buttons which cooperate with a pair of rotatable release members to releasably lock the tube assemblies in an extended or retracted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Assignee: Remin Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Eugene A. Kazmark, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5588513
    Abstract: A wheeled luggage comprises a tilt-locking pull handle having a rod member on its lower end, a rod receiving mechanism for slidably receiving the rod member, and a locking mechanism for locking the rod member to prevent it from moving downward when the wheeled luggage is tilted for moving, and unlocking the rod member when the wheeled luggage is repositioned to an upright position. It provides a very simple and reliable pull handle locking mechanism which is controlled by tilting the wheeled luggage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1996
    Inventor: Jerhong Lin
  • Patent number: 5588512
    Abstract: An internal frame for supporting a wheeled suitcase comprises a base, a U-shaped frame mounted on top of the base and a central frame comprising a horizontal U-shaped member having two legs on its rear end and two vertical elongated supporting members. The top ends of the two supporting members are connected to the rear ends of the two legs of the U-shaped member. The upper end of the central frame is mounted to the central part of the top panel of the U-shaped frame and the lower end of the central frame is mounted to the bottom panel of the base so that the structure of the internal frame is greatly strengthened by the central frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1996
    Inventor: Jerhong Lin
  • Patent number: 5588569
    Abstract: A carrier bag including a box member having a bottom plate and a plurality of side plates that extend from the outer-periphery of the bottom plate in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the bottom plate. The box member is defined with an opening which is always oriented in an upper-diagonal direction relative to a surface when the box member is positioned on the surface with either the bottom plate or one of the side plates being in contact therewith. Furthermore, the carrier bag is provided with a caster at each corner portion defined between the bottom plate and one of the side plates. The opening is covered with a fastenable and unfastenable cover. The carrier bag is thereby fabricated so as to allow articles to be put therein in downward and side directions in relation to the surface. Thus, the carrier bag provides a choice of storage space for each size and shape of article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1996
    Assignees: Nifco, Inc., Kabushiki Kaisha Cosmo Area
    Inventors: Masako Mitomi, Ryo Hoshino
  • Patent number: 5579877
    Abstract: A suitcase with a tank track roller assembly comprises a first segment and a second segment. At least one of the segments is formed as a hollow generally rectangular shaped box with one open side. One segment includes a carry handle affixed to its upper extent and one segment includes a long indentation. A track roller assembly is comprised of a flexible track and a plurality of wheels. The wheels are formed in a cylindrical configuration with holes at their center. A base is formed as the lower extent of the suitcase which includes a plurality of downwardly extending members with a centrally located aperture extending therethrough. A plurality of axles is centrally positioned within the apertures in the members. Each axle has a wheel mounted on each end thereof. The track is positioned around the wheels forming an oval shaped configuration. A hinge has two generally planar rectangular wings. The wings join the first and second segments. A pull handle consists of a long cylindrically shaped rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1996
    Inventor: Richard Homayoon
  • Patent number: 5575362
    Abstract: The invention relates to a telescoping pull handle for use in towing wheeled luggage. The handle may be collapsed to a reduced length to accommodate easy use with luggage that is carried onto and stowed in passenger transportation vehicles. The invention also is extendable to a sufficient length to permit the user comfortably to tow the wheeled luggage across a supporting surface. The invention includes incorporating into the telescoping handle devices permitting the user to strap or hook to the wheeled luggage auxiliary items of luggage. An improved extendable grip is disclosed for use with the inventive handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1996
    Assignee: Samsonite Corporation
    Inventors: Dana Franklin, Bonnie M. Earl
  • Patent number: 5575361
    Abstract: A suitcase includes a rectangular suitcase body with a vertical side wall and a horizontal bottom wall, two roller assemblies disposed on the suitcase body and located at a corner between the side and bottom walls of the suitcase body, and a handle assembly disposed on the suitable body. Each of the roller assemblies includes a roller seat mechanism fixed on the suitcase body and has a shaft hole unit formed through the roller seat mechanism, a rotating shaft that extends through the shaft hole unit of the roller seat mechanism, and a roller sleeved rotatably on the rotating shaft. The suitcase body further includes a flexible long wire positioned on a peripheral portion of the vertical side wall of the suitcase body and has two end portions located between the bottom and side walls of the suitcase body, and a horizontal short wire positioned between the bottom and side walls of the suitcase body and between the two end portions of the long wire in alignment with the rotating shafts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1996
    Inventor: Ming-Shi Chou
  • Patent number: 5573089
    Abstract: An article of luggage exhibits improved mobility characteristics by mounting two sets of wheels to its bottom surface and a slidable and pivotable handle to its top surface. A first set of wheels projects from the bottom surface to a height greater than the projection of a second set of wheels so that the article is highly maneuverable when the article is in its upright orientation supported by the first set of wheels. The second wheels project from the bottom surface at a location more closely proximate a transverse edge of the bottom surface than the first wheels so that when the article is tilted about the second wheels, it may be stably maneuvered by a user during fast-paced movement or cornering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1996
    Inventor: Joseph Liang
  • Patent number: 5568848
    Abstract: An article of wheeled luggage having improved mobility characteristics employs a wheeled pivotable leg operatively coupled to a retractable and extendable handle. The article becomes self-supported in a forwardly-tilted configuration when the user tilts the article and causes the wheeled pivotable leg to swing outwardly from the forward surface of the article. Stable support in the tilted position is provided by at least one rolling member on the bottom surface of the article proximate a forward surface thereof and by at least one rolling member on the base of the pivotable leg. In the tilted configuration, the article has a lower center of gravity and a larger wheelbase or footprint than when the article is standing upright, and is better able to counteract overturning forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1996
    Inventor: Joseph Liang
  • Patent number: 5564538
    Abstract: A wheeled carry-on case has a rigid base and a guide extending perpendicular to said base in which a retractable handle is slidably received, the base having wheels positioned along the major dimension of the base at one edge thereof, and having wheels positioned at spaced positions along at least one of the minor dimensions of the base, thus permitting the case to be wheeled over a ground surface in a direction perpendicular to a front and rear of the case, and also, in a direction extending parallel to the front and rear wall of the case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1996
    Assignee: Outrigger, Inc.
    Inventor: Bernard D. Sadow
  • Patent number: 5560458
    Abstract: A handle and restraint assembly is for carries and maneuvering a main luggage case having wheels. An extendable handle is moveable into a fully extended position, a fully retracted position, and a selected intermediate position. A restraint device is operatively connected to the handle to selectively restrain the handle in the extended and retracted positions. The restraint device includes a selectively extendable elongated flexible belt by which to connect an auxiliary luggage case for carrying on the main case. The elongated flexible element is extendable for connection to the handle, and may restrain the handle in an intermediate position for carrying the case or for pulling the case on the wheels. A first clutch controls the extension, retraction and retention of the belt, and a second clutch controls the extension, retraction and retention of the handle. The first and second clutches are separately operable independently or they are interconnected to operate simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1996
    Assignee: Samsonite Corporation
    Inventors: Dana Franklin, Bonnie M. Earl
  • Patent number: 5553692
    Abstract: A steering handle assembly is exteriorly mounted on an end wall of a mobile carrying case. The assembly is movable among a stowed position and a plurality of steering positions, and a steering handle is extendible and retractable to a desired elevation. The case can either be carried by hand or rolled along the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1996
    Assignee: Crest Lock Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Samuel R. Sheiman
  • Patent number: 5542510
    Abstract: A catalog case has a molded body attached to its bottom or hinge thereto and forming channels for the shanks of a pull-out handle which can be used to pull the case along. Preferably the case has two wheels at the rear end opposite the handle so that the case can be tilted upwardly about these wheels and pulled along the ground or floor while the wheel rides thereon. The pull-out handle can engage in grips at both ends of its travel so that the handle is only fixed relative to its guides at the opposite ends of its travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1996
    Assignee: Royalox International, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard J. Rekuc, James O'Shea
  • Patent number: 5526908
    Abstract: A retractable handle assembly for a suitcase includes a hollow bracket mounted on a top plate of one of the half bodies thereof, a pair of lug portions each formed on one of the distal end portions of the bracket and each having a first bore laterally defined therein, a pair of outer tubes each securely mounted between the lug portion and a bottom plate of the half body and each having a second bore laterally defined therein for aligning with the first bore, a pair of inner tubes each slidably mounted in one of the outer tubes and each having a third bore laterally defined therein for aligning with the second bore, a substantially U-shaped handle portion mounted on the bracket and having two free end portions each fixedly engaged with the upper end of a corresponding one of the inner tubes, a pressing member movably mounted in the hollow bracket and including a knob extending through an opening of the hollow bracket, a biasing member mounted on an underside of the pressing member and including a pair of stubs
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1996
    Inventor: King-Sheng Wang
  • Patent number: 5524915
    Abstract: A multi-purpose repair assembly including a first member having two platforms, a first cavity between the two platforms, and two alcoves each at one side of each of the platforms, each of the two platforms being provided with two castors, a first drawer engaged with the first cavity of the first member, a second member pivotally connected with the first member, the second member having two indentations, a second cavity between the two indentations, and two shoulders each at one side of each of the two indentations, each of the shoulders being provided with a castor adapted to be received in a corresponding one of the alcoves of the second member, the second cavity being adapted to receive the two castors of the first member, and a second drawer engaged with the second cavity of the second member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1996
    Assignee: Chao Li Smeltion Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Lien C. Liu
  • Patent number: 5524737
    Abstract: A retractable handle and wheel assembly includes a flat handle mounting frame and a circularly arched wheel mounting frame joined together and mounted on the back and bottom panel of a collapsible travel bag. Two wheel holders are respectively fastened to the wheel mounting frame each wheel holder having a wheel coupling portion fitted over a respective recessed hole on the wheel mounting frame to hold a respective wheel by a bearing and a channel bar bearing block fixedly fastened to the handle mounting frame to hold a respective channel bar, with a retractable handle sliding in an out of the channel bars, the retractable handle having two rubber blocks at two adjacent ends for positioning the handle at either end of each channel bar to hold the handle in the collapsed or extended out position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1996
    Inventor: King-Sheng Wang
  • Patent number: 5524920
    Abstract: A base frame assembly for suitcase trucks, including a base frame equipped with a pair of wheels and having two longitudinal sleeves; two first tubes respectively slidably coupled to the sleeves; two tubular stop members respectively fastened to the outer ends of the first tubes on the inside; two second tubes respectively slidably inserted through the tubular stop members into the first tubes, each second tube having an inner end fixedly mounted with a plug cap, which is stopped in place by one tubular stop member when the second tubes are extended out of the first tubes; two stands respectively fixed to the outer ends of the second tubes; and a transverse connecting bar connected between the stands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1996
    Inventor: Cheng-Hsien Tsai
  • Patent number: 5522615
    Abstract: A handle assembly for carts and wheeled luggage includes a pair of tube assemblies disposed in substantially parallel relation and connected by a handle member. The tube assemblies carry locks that cooperate with the tubes to releasably lock the tube assemblies in an extended or a retracted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1996
    Assignee: Remin Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Eugene A. Kazmark, Jr., Thaddeus Strozak, Tadeusz Rutkowski
  • Patent number: 5513873
    Abstract: A handle of a push cart includes two rods slidably engaged in two tubes and each having a number of teeth. Two sleeves are secured on top of the tubes and each has a pair of lugs. Two pins are secured between the lugs. A resilient arm has two ends slidably engaged with the pins, the ends each includes a tooth for engaging with the teeth of the rods so as to secure the rods to the tubes. The teeth of the resilient arm are disengaged from the teeth of the rods when the resilient arm is depressed. A fence is secured to the sleeves for preventing the resilient arm from being depressed inadvertently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1996
    Inventor: Shou-Mao Chen
  • Patent number: 5511806
    Abstract: A rolling suitcase (10), equipped with a pair of wheels (14) on one edge (18) of its base (26), can be transported by tilting the suitcase (10) so that only wheels (14) are in contact with the surface. A second set of wheels (20) are mounted on an adjacent narrower edge (24) of base (26). When approaching a narrow restriction the user would tilt suitcase (10) so that only wheels (20) are in contact with the surface, and proceed thru the restriction. A second embodiment utilizes a caster (36) near the corner of edge (18) and edge (24) in conjunction with a single wheel (14) or single wheel (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1996
    Inventor: Edward P. McNair
  • Patent number: 5507508
    Abstract: A trunk case assembly includes a case body and a collapsible chair connected pivotably to a side face of the case body. The case body has a pair of engaging members and a positioning device fixed respectively to the upper and lower portions of the side face. A pair of crank arms is provided in order to connect the collapsible chair to the case body. The collapsible chair has two rectangular frames in a scissors configuration. Each crank arm has a first end connected pivotally to a respective one of the engaging members, and a second end connected pivotally to a respective one of the rectangular frames.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1996
    Inventor: Sung-Ming Liang
  • Patent number: 5499702
    Abstract: A retractable handle assembly of a wheeled suitcase includes a handle, a receiving element, a first tube and a second tube. The handle has two legs, each leg having an inclined end formed on a distal end thereof, a slot defined in each of the legs. The receiving element has two ends, each end has a hole defined therein for the leg inserted therethrough, each of the two ends of the receiving element, a first end of the second tube and the slot of the leg have a pin extending therethrough. There is at least one resilient element disposed between the receiving element and the handle. The first tube is fixedly received in the suitcase and at least one hole is defined in a periphery thereof, the second tube is sized to be retractably received in the first tube and has an upper hole and a lower hole defined in a periphery thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 19, 1996
    Inventor: King-Sheng Wang
  • Patent number: 5498010
    Abstract: An edge bumper guard assembly for a rollable suitcase luggage article is provided. The edge guard assembly has two edge guards located at the lower rear corners of the suitcase. Each of the edge guards protects a section of the lower, rear and side panels of a suitcase body forming a part of the rollable suitcase. Each of the guards also rotatably supports a wheel in close proximity to the side panels and protects the wheels from impacts with obstructions as the suitcase is being pulled along the surface. The two edge guards are interconnected by a spanning member so that the edge guards may be used on suitcase bodies having differing width dimensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1996
    Assignee: Boyt Limited Partnership
    Inventor: Thomas L. Stube
  • Patent number: 5497865
    Abstract: A retractable travel bag handle assembly includes a retractable handle moved in and out of two cylindrical casings fixed to the inside of a travel bag, two socket caps mounted on the travel bag and connected to the cylindrical casings to prevent disconnection of the retractable handle from the cylindrical casings, wherein the retractable handle consists of two sleeves respectively coupled to the cylindrical casings by movable couplings and a substantially U-shaped handlebar having two opposite ends moved in and out of the sleeves, each movable coupling including a base block having two square projections at two opposite sides moved in two hollow side wings along the cylindrical casings, and a connecting rod having one end fixedly connected to one sleeve and an opposite end pivotably connected to the base block by a pivot for allowing the retractable handle to be turned relative to the travel bag to change the steering direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1996
    Inventor: Wu Yun-Pi
  • Patent number: 5494305
    Abstract: A fitter's trolley includes an elongated plate member, a number of casters mounted to the lower side face of the elongated plate member, and a drawer member mounted slidably to the lower side face of the elongated plate member. The elongated plate member of the fitter's trolley is formed of a front panel and a rear panel which is hinged to the front panel, so that the fitter's trolley can be folded when the front and rear panels are rotated toward each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1996
    Inventor: Shou-Te Chen
  • Patent number: 5489107
    Abstract: A device for transporting a suitcase is provided including a removeable wheel assembly and two supporting brackets which are permanently attached integral with the suitcase. The wheel assembly includes a handle which is welded to the assembly axle and is used to install the wheel assembly on the brackets by positioning the axle across the brackets, parallel to the bottom surface of the suitcase, then rotating the handle and axle through an angle until the axle and handle are retained by the brackets. The suitcase may then be easily transported over uneven surfaces on the two large wheels provided by the device. An alternate embodiment provides a plastic handle that may be removed for convenient storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 6, 1996
    Inventor: Dick T. Kho
  • Patent number: 5480169
    Abstract: A wheel and leg assembly fastened to one short side of a travel bag at the bottom, including a leg assembly which fits over one corner of the short side and has an oblong hole on a horizontal extension thereof, and a wheel assembly, which fits over an opposite corner of the short side and has an oblong hole on a horizontal extension of the wheel holder thereof, the oblong hole on the leg assembly being overlapped on the oblong hole on the wheel holder and connected with it to the travel bag at the bottom by a rivet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1996
    Inventor: King-Sheng Wang
  • Patent number: 5474162
    Abstract: The partitionable traveling bag includes a support wall, an external covering including a body portion and a lid portion, a perimeter support band, and a partition material secured within the body portion between the support wall and the perimeter support band. The partition material spans across the traveling bag's body portion partitioning the traveling bag into front and rear compartments, while simultaneously providing structural support to the traveling bag. The partition material includes a zippered flap portion providing access to the rear compartment without having to detach the partition material from the body portion of the traveling bag. The partitionable traveling bag additionally includes a base plate, at least two wheel assemblies attached to the base plate, and an extendable handle assembly attached to the base plate and extending through the rear compartment of the traveling bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1995
    Inventors: Michael H. Shyr, Godfrey S. Shyr
  • Patent number: 5464080
    Abstract: A steering apparatus for steering an article of luggage, such as a suitcase, as it is pulled on and along an underlying support surface in a desired direction. An elongated member is connected to the suitcase via a ball and socket arrangement and a handle is rotatably mounted to the distal end of the member. The handle is manipulatable in and into a plurality of positions to omnidirectionally rotate the ball relative to the socket and thereby steer the article in a particular direction. In the preferred embodiment, the member is formed of an elongated arm and a relatively shorter connecting member that extends from the ball and is pivotally connected to the arm upon which the handle is mounted. The arm may, in turn, be formed of a pair of telescoping rods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 7, 1995
    Inventor: Joseph Liang
  • Patent number: 5456342
    Abstract: An article of luggage having a container body of the fabric-wall type can have a pull handle along its bottom and a wheel assembly by which the article is guided over the ground or floor. The wheel assembly comprises wheel housing members and, if desired, an impact shield member or spacer between the wheel housing members which enables the length of the wheel assembly to be adjusted to suit different widths of the article to which the assembly is to be applied. The handle can be withdrawn from a frame within the article which provides structure for the latter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 10, 1995
    Assignee: Royalox International, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard J. Rekuc, James O'Shea
  • Patent number: 5452778
    Abstract: A retractable luggage carrying handle positioning device comprised of two outer tubes connected between two tubular mounting blocks on an upper mounting frame and two tubular mounting blocks on a lower mounting frame, two inner tubes linked by a hand grip and made to slide in two outer tubes, wherein two friction blocks are retained in a respective hole on either tubular mounting block on the upper mounting frame and controlled by a toothed lever to stop against either inner tube in holding it at the desired position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 26, 1995
    Inventor: Jing-Sheng Wang
  • Patent number: 5447261
    Abstract: A carrier bag including a box member having a bottom plate and a plurality of side plates that extend from the outer-periphery of the bottom plate in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the bottom plate. The box member is defined with an opening which is always oriented in an upper-diagonal direction relative to a surface when the box member is positioned on the surface with either the bottom plate or one of the side plates being in contact therewith. Furthermore, the carrier bag is provided with a caster at each corner portion defined between the bottom plate and one of the side plates. The opening is covered with a fastenable and unfastenable cover. The carrier bag is thereby fabricated so as to allow articles to be put therein in downward and side directions in relation to the surface. Thus, the carrier bag provides a choice of storage space for each size and shape of article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1995
    Assignees: Nifco Inc., Kabushiki Kaisha Cosmo Area
    Inventors: Masako Mitomi, Ryo Hoshino
  • Patent number: 5447217
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an adjustable towing handle for a trunk to provide a towing structure that is convenient and practical to use and to increase the convenience for the use of the trunk. The adjustable handle has a support seat, two fixed rods, two adjustable ends, a fixed rod seat, and a control tube, with two pins. The control tube with springs and two pins are attached in the support seat and sealed with a coverplate. The fixed rod extends between the fixing rod seat and the support seat on the back of a trunk or case body. A handle is mounted on the adjustable ends and they are inserted into the two fixed rods. The pins are rotated by the motion of a body on the control tube to retain or release the adjustable rods to effect the adjusting and positioning of the adjustable handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1995
    Inventor: Cheng-Tsan Chou
  • Patent number: 5435423
    Abstract: A catalog case has a molded body attached to its bottom or hinge thereto and forming channels for the shanks of a pull-out handle which can be used to pull the case along. Preferably the case has two wheels at the rear end opposite the handle so that the case can be tilted upwardly about these wheels and pulled along the ground or floor while the wheel rides thereon. The pull-out handle can engage in grips at both ends of its travel so that the handle is only fixed relative to its guides at the opposite ends of its travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1995
    Assignee: Royalox International, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard J. Rekuc, James O'Shea
  • Patent number: 5433461
    Abstract: A hand truck for carrying luggage having two wheel holders slidably fastened to a base frame thereof at two opposite ends and locked in position by a respective lock pin. The base frame has a longitudinal through hole through two opposite ends thereof, and two series of pin holes longitudinally spaced near the two opposite ends and respectively perpendicularly communicated with the longitudinal through hole. Each wheel holder comprises a bearing plate provided with a wheel at the bottom, a mounting rod horizontally extended from the bearing plate at one side and slidably inserted into the longitudinal through hole on the base frame and releasably locked in position by a respective lock pin being inserted into either pin hole at either end of the base frame, the mounting rod having a longitudinal series of pin holes for alternatively connecting to either pin holes at either end of the base frame by the respective lock pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1995
    Inventor: Wen-Chen Chang
  • Patent number: D379481
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1997
    Inventor: Merwyn R. Johnson