DE29905844U1 - Trolley case with extendable platform - Google Patents

Description

Reitstötter. Kinzebach *

Patent attorneys

Reitstötter, Kinzebach & Partner PO Box 86 06 49, D-81633 Munich

Dr. Werner Kinzebach Dr. Peter Riedl Dr. Georg Schweiger Dr. J. Uwe Müller Prof. Dr. Dr. Reitstötter (1982) Dr. Wolfram Bunte (1976)

Authorized representatives before the European Patent Office European Patent Attorneys Telephone: +49(0)89 99 83 97 Fax: +49(0)89 98 73 04 (Gr. III) Sternwartstr. 4, D-81679 Munich

Munich, 30.03.99

Our File: M/40082 Our Ref.:

Michael Pfeiffer Design and Marketing GmbH Fichtenstr. 25
D-85649 Hofolding

Roller case with extendable platform

MUNICH LUDWIGSHAFEN

Sternwartstrasse

Luciwigspiätz**: : ; :

D-67tf59*Ludwigsha'fen* Telephone: (089) 998397-0 j _m jTelefax: (Ö89J 987304 ^: * I * Tftlefori: (062 &xgr;» 59139-0

Fax:'(0621)628441

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1 Rolling case with extendable platform

The present invention relates to a rolling suitcase, in particular a so-called trolley, with an extendable platform.
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Wheeled suitcases, also known as board cases or trolleys, usually have a luggage case with wheels on the bottom. There is usually a retractable telescopic handle on the top for transport.

Such trolleys are well known. They have the advantage over conventional suitcases that they can be transported on wheels and therefore place less of a burden on the user. In the event that a trolley cannot be rolled, for example when transporting it up stairs or over rough terrain, additional handles are usually provided on one or more sides of the suitcase so that the trolley can also be carried like a conventional suitcase. To ensure that the telescopic handle does not represent a hindrance in these cases, it is usually designed to be retractable and can be retracted so far that it no longer protrudes beyond the outer circumference of the suitcase. One or more front pockets are often attached to the suitcase, which can be closed with zippers or are designed as open pockets. The suitcase itself can consist of a single suitcase element or be constructed in a modular manner from several suitcase elements. The suitcase is often made of a fabric or synthetic material that is flexible to a certain extent. However, trolleys made of a rigid, shell-like suitcase material are also known. Due to its convenient handling, the trolley has become very popular in recent years, especially among business travelers.

The luggage case usually has an elongated, parallelepiped general shape, with two wheels parallel to the axis usually arranged on one edge of the bottom of the case. The elongated case is, in the parked resting position, usually vertically oriented and has a small footprint compared to its height. The stability of a case parked, resting on its two wheels and possibly one or more support feet, is therefore relatively low. If such a trolley is used as a work platform, for example during stays at airports or train stations or by representatives when visiting customers, and serves as a base for expensive electronic devices such as portable computers (laptops), this is due to the risk of tipping.

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The risk of damage to sensitive and expensive equipment associated with such a trolley is unacceptably high.

A rolling suitcase with the features of the preamble of the present claim 1 has become known from the international patent application WO 97/30607. This rolling suitcase has a telescopically extendable platform on its underside. The platform consists of two parallel telescopic profiles that are connected at their front end by a crossbar. The platform is arranged at approximately the height of the trolley's wheels and, in its retracted position, is essentially flush with the outer circumference of the luggage body. In the extended position, the platform protrudes beyond the outer circumference of the suitcase on the side of the suitcase opposite the wheels. When the platform is extended, the suitcase's standing area is enlarged, so that the risk of accidental tipping is significantly reduced.

However, the case described in WO 97/30607 has disadvantages: the platform on the bottom is extended via spring-loaded telescopic rails. According to the variant described in the patent application, the spring mechanism is connected via a cable to a release button arranged on the top of the case. However, such a mechanism requires a complex and correspondingly error-prone construction.

The connection between the platform and the top of the suitcase creates a relatively rigid, inflexible system, the concrete design of which must be specifically tailored to the shape and size of the respective luggage body. In a variant commercially implemented by the applicant of WO 97/30607, the platform therefore has a sliding button on the front crossbar of the platform instead of a push button on the top of the luggage, by pressing this button the user can trigger the spring system to push the platform out. This variant is not without disadvantages either, as it also requires a relatively complicated trigger mechanism. In addition, the user has to bend down far each time the sliding button is pressed. This is particularly disadvantageous if the platform has to be pulled out and pushed in again very frequently, as is the case, for example, when the trolley is used as a mobile office for sales representatives or other business travelers. The known operating system for the platform is also less suitable for less flexible people, but especially for older people, who generally prefer rolling suitcases to conventional carry-on suitcases.

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The present invention is therefore based on the technical problem of providing a rolling suitcase with an extendable, bottom-side platform, which is structurally simple and can be operated by the user without great effort.
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This problem is solved by the rolling suitcase according to claim 1. According to the invention, it is proposed that the extension of the platform takes place via an actuating means that can be displaced essentially in the vertical direction, with suitable deflection means converting the vertical movement of the actuating means into a horizontal movement of the platform. The subject of the present invention is therefore a rolling suitcase with a pull handle, a wheel arrangement, a platform arranged in the lower region of the suitcase, which can be positioned in a first position that is essentially aligned with the outer circumference of the suitcase, and with means for extending the platform horizontally beyond the outer circumference of the suitcase, the rolling suitcase being characterized in that the means for extending the platform comprise an actuating means that can be displaced essentially vertically and means for deflecting the vertical movement of the actuating means into a horizontal movement of the platform.

Preferably, the actuating means is designed as a handle or switch that can be operated manually by a user. However, the actuating means is particularly preferably a step bar that can be operated by the user with his foot.

The platform of the rolling case according to the invention is mechanically particularly simple. It does not have a spring system for extending the platform, so that a correspondingly complex release and tensioning mechanism can be dispensed with. The invention proposes instead that the extension of the platform be triggered by an actuating means that can be moved vertically by the user, the movement of which is mechanically directly coupled to the movement of the platform. If, for example, the platform is to be extended beyond the front of the case, it is advantageous to arrange the actuating means, for example a handle or a step, on the back of the case. If the user then moves the handle or step downwards manually or with his foot, the platform is extended forwards beyond the circumference of the case. The platform can be returned to its original position in two ways: Either the user pushes the platform back into the original position with his foot by horizontally moving the front edge of the platform.

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its starting position; the handle or the step rail simultaneously returns to its upper starting position with a vertical movement. Or the user grasps the handle or step rail with their hand or reaches under the step rail with the tip of their foot and pulls it upwards back to its starting position; with the upward movement of the actuating means, the direct mechanical coupling also ensures a horizontal movement of the platform back to its starting position, in which it is aligned with the outer circumference of the case.

The deflection means preferably consist of a flat band or a thin plate that is bendable perpendicular to its surface and relatively stiff parallel to its surface, with one end of the band or plate being connected to the actuating means, such as the step rail, and the other end being connected to the platform. This band can be made of metal sheet, for example. However, the band is particularly advantageously made of a thin plastic plate. The actuating means and the platform itself are also particularly preferably made of plastic materials. Suitable, mechanically highly resilient plastics are known to the expert, for example from the construction of roller shutter cabinets.

Instead of a flexible band, the deflection means can also consist, for example, of relatively rigid slats which are constructed like a roller shutter and are movably connected to one another at their longitudinal edges.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the actuating means, the flexible band and the platform form a one-piece slide element. This eliminates the need for additional fastening and holding means for connecting the three elements to one another and the necessary mechanical coupling between the actuating means and the platform can be implemented particularly easily.

If the one-piece slide element is made of plastic, it is manufactured as an injection-molded component according to an advantageous embodiment, which further reduces the manufacturing costs, especially in the production of larger series.

In order to enable a reliable transmission of force from the vertical to the horizontal when the step or handle is operated, an advantageous embodiment of the rolling suitcase according to the invention is characterized in that at least the

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Deflection means are arranged between a first and a second guide element. The guide elements are preferably rigid and define a substantially L-shaped path for the deflection means. The deflection means are essentially freely movable along this path. Perpendicular to the path, however, the guide elements restrict the movement of the deflection means, so that, for example, the formation of traps or kinks in the deflection means is prevented. The actuating means and the platform are also advantageously guided by the guide elements.

The platform itself is preferably made of a rigid plastic material and advantageously has longitudinal profiles which are arranged so as to be displaceable in rails of a substantially horizontally oriented foot part of the second guide element. These rails also serve to guide the entire slide element consisting of the actuating means, belt and platform and in particular prevent the platform from deviating sideways from its substantially straight horizontal extension. The rails preferably have a stop which limits the complete pulling out of the platform. Accordingly, the vertical movement of the actuating means downwards can be limited by a stop.

The actuating means is also preferably guided during its movement. For this purpose, a cutout is advantageously provided in a rear part of the second guide element, in which the actuating means can be moved. In addition, vertical guide wings can be provided on the sides of the cutout.

It is also particularly advantageous for the two guide elements to be designed as one-piece injection-molded components. Together with the slide element, the two guide elements in this case form a platform module consisting of just three, preferably one-piece individual components. During production, the three individual components can be easily put together and the guide elements can be screwed, glued or welded together. The production costs of such a platform module are particularly low due to its simple structure. Since there is no connection to the top of the case, in particular the case handle, the same platform module can be used for a wide variety of roller cases. To attach it to the case, it is inserted into the platform module, which is preferably also L-shaped. Suitable fastening means are provided for connecting the two components.

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The first guide element advantageously comprises a substantially vertical back part and a substantially horizontal base part, whereby the case can be connected to the back part and the base part. A wide variety of fastening means can be used to connect the case to the first guide element. The case is preferably screwed or glued. It is also conceivable to provide detachable fastening means, for example Velcro fasteners, so that the rolling case can be used with or without a platform.

Particularly preferably, the rolling suitcase according to the invention is a trolley which has a telescopically extendable pull handle on its top for more convenient handling.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to a preferred embodiment shown in the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing shows:

Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of an inventive

rolling suitcase;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the

Platform module of the case of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an exploded view of the platform module of Figure 2 in a first

perspective view;

Figure 4 is an exploded view of the platform module of Figure 2 in a second

perspective view;
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Figure 5 is a side view of the platform module of Figure 2 with retracted

platform; and

Figure 6 is a side view of the platform module of Figure 2 with extended platform.

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Figure 1 shows a schematic of a trolley 10 which has an essentially parallelepiped, elongated luggage body 11. The luggage body 11 has a recess 12 on its top and lateral recesses 13, 14 in the area of the bottom of the case. A retractable telescopic handle 15 is arranged in the upper recess 12, which connects the ends of two extendable telescopic rods 16, 17. It is understood that instead of the two telescopic rods, for example, a single telescopic rod can also be used. Coaxial wheels or rollers 18, 19 are arranged in the lower recesses 13, 14. If the user extends the telescopic handle 15 and tilts the trolley 10, shown in Figure 1 in its vertical rest position, slightly about the common axis of the wheels 18, 19, the trolley can be transported while rolling. A platform module 20 is arranged on the underside of the luggage body 11, the structure of which is described in more detail in the following figures. In Figure 1, the actuating means, which in the example shown is designed as a step 41 of the platform module 20, can already be seen, which in the position shown is pushed completely downwards and has caused an extension of a platform 43, which comprises a longitudinal profile 45, beyond the circumference of the suitcase.

The platform module 20 according to the invention is shown in its entirety in Figure 2. In the basic position shown here, the step bar 41 is at its upper stop and the platform 43 is completely retracted. The dimensions of the module are selected such that the platform 43 in this basic position does not protrude, or only protrudes insignificantly, beyond the outer circumference of the luggage case 11.

For the following more detailed description of the structure of the platform module 20, reference is also made to the exploded views of Figures 3 and 4. As can be seen in particular from Figures 3 and 4, the preferred embodiment of the platform module 20 shown consists of three, one-piece injection-molded components made of plastic: a first, essentially L-shaped guide element 30, which has an essentially vertically oriented front part 31 and an essentially horizontally oriented base part 32. The first guide element 30 can have fastening means (not shown here) for connecting the luggage body 11 to the platform module 20.

In addition, a second guide element 50 is provided, which has the same L-shaped general form as the first guide element 30. It has a back part 51 and a foot part 52 oriented essentially perpendicularly thereto. The back part 51 has

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Holes 61 into which screws can be inserted, which can engage in corresponding threaded holes 38 provided on the front part 31 of the first guide element. Likewise, holes 62 for screws (not shown) are provided in the foot part 52 of the second guide element 50, which can engage in corresponding threaded holes 39 in the base part 32 of the first guide element 30 to connect the two guide elements.

A slide element 40 is arranged between the two guide elements 30, 50, which is also designed as a one-piece injection-molded component. The slide element 40 has a tread 41 and an extendable platform 43. In the example shown, the platform 43 consists of two longitudinal profiles 44, 45, which are connected at their front end by a cross bar 46. For additional stabilization, a flat, wide connecting web 47 is formed between the two longitudinal profiles 44, 45. The platform 43 and the tread 41 are connected to one another via a flexible band 42.

The three elements 30, 40, 50 of the platform module 20 are placed one inside the other in such a way that the slide element 40 can be moved in an L-shaped space defined between the guide elements 30, 50. The movement is carried out by pressing the step bar 41 downwards or by pushing the cross bar 46 back horizontally in the direction of the housing-like structure formed by the guide elements 30, 50. A cutout 48 is cut out in the back part 51 of the second guide element, the width of which essentially corresponds to the width of the step bar 41 and the length of which is essentially equal to the maximum extension of the platform 43. The step bar 41 can be moved in this cutout 48.

As can be seen in particular from Figure 4, the longitudinal profiles 44, 45 are designed as U-shaped profiles, the legs of which engage in corresponding guide rails 44, 45 which are formed on the foot part 52 of the second guide element 50. The rails 54, 55 have stops 56, 57 which limit the movement of the longitudinal profiles 44, 45 of the slide element 40.

From the drawings it is clear that the tread 41 moves essentially exclusively in a vertical direction, while the platform 43 is only moved in a horizontal direction. The coupling of both movements takes place via a flexible thin plastic plate 42, which is guided by the guide elements 30, 50 in the

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is deflected essentially by an angle of 90°. The guide elements 30, 50 are designed in such a way that the formation of kinks, folds or bulges of the plate 42 perpendicular to its surface is avoided. For this purpose, for example, the second guide element 50 has a guide surface 53 curved in the deflection area, while pressure struts 35, 36, 37 are provided on the underside of the base part 31, which are shaped essentially complementarily to the guide surface 53 in their rear sections 35a, 36a, 37a located near the guide surface 53. The front part 31 of the first guide element 30 has lateral strips 33, 34 which on the one hand laterally close off the arrangement of the first and second guide elements and on the other hand also take on a guide function for the flexible plate or the flexible band 42.

In order to guide the step rail 41 when actuated by the user, two wings 49, 60 are also provided on the rear side of the back part 51 of the second guide element 50.
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If necessary, suitable studs can be screwed into the holes 62 in the foot part of the second guide element, which can serve as feet for the case 10.

Figure 5 shows a side view of the platform module 20, with the extendable platform 43 in the retracted basic position. The step rail 41, which is hidden by the guide wing 59 in the illustration, is in its uppermost position.

Figure 6 shows, in the same view as in Figure 5, the guide module 20 with extended platform 43. In this case, the step bar 41 is in its lowest position, while the longitudinal profiles (here the longitudinal profile 44 can be seen) and the cross bar 46 of the platform 43 are extended to the maximum.

Claims (11)

1. A roller suitcase with a pull handle ( 15 ), a wheel arrangement ( 18 , 19 ), a platform ( 43 ) arranged in the lower region of the suitcase, which can be positioned in a first position substantially aligned with the outer circumference of the suitcase, and with means for horizontally extending the platform ( 43 ) beyond the outer circumference of the suitcase, characterized in that the means for extending the platform ( 43 ) comprise a substantially vertically displaceable actuating means ( 41 ) and means ( 42 ) for deflecting the vertical movement of the actuating means ( 41 ) into a horizontal movement of the platform ( 43 ). 2. A roller suitcase according to claim 1, characterized in that the deflection means comprise a flat band ( 42 ) which is bendable perpendicular to its surface and rigid parallel to its surface, one end of which is connected to the actuating means ( 41 ) and the other end of which is connected to the platform ( 43 ). 3. A roller case according to claim 2, characterized in that the actuating means ( 41 ), the band ( 42 ) and the platform ( 43 ) form a one-piece sliding element ( 40 ). 4. A roller case according to claim 3, characterized in that the slide element ( 40 ) is an injection-molded component made of plastic. 5. A roller suitcase according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that at least the deflection means ( 43 ) are arranged displaceably in an L-shaped space defined by a first and second guide element ( 30 , 50 ). 6. A roller case according to claim 5, characterized in that the platform ( 43 ) has longitudinal profiles ( 44 , 45 ) which are arranged to be displaceable in rails ( 54 , 55 ) of a substantially horizontally oriented foot part ( 52 ) of the second guide element ( 50 ). 7. A rolling suitcase according to one of claims 5 or 6, characterized in that the second guide element ( 50 ) has a back part ( 51 ) with a cutout ( 58 ) in which the actuating means ( 41 ) is displaceable. 8. A roller case according to one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that each of the two guide elements ( 30 , 50 ) is a one-piece injection-molded component. 9. A rolling suitcase according to one of claims 5 to 8, characterized in that the first guide element ( 30 ) comprises a substantially vertical back part ( 31 ) and a substantially horizontal bottom part ( 32 ), wherein the suitcase ( 11 ) can be connected to the back part ( 31 ) and the bottom part ( 32 ). 10. A rolling suitcase according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the actuating means is designed as a handle or switch that can be manually operated by a user. 11. A rolling suitcase according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the actuating means is designed as a step bar ( 41 ) which can be actuated by a user with his foot.