GB2197637A

GB2197637A - Wheeled case having retractable handle

Info

Publication number: GB2197637A
Application number: GB08627623A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter William Bothwell; Roy Bothwell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1986-11-19
Filing date: 1986-11-19
Publication date: 1988-05-25
Anticipated expiration: 2006-11-19
Also published as: GB2197637B; GB8627623D0

Abstract

A case incorporates a retractable handle 22 and wheels 15, 16 which are preferably automatically moved from retracted to protruding positions when the handle is extended. With the extended handle upright, a major face of the case is substantially horizontal and further luggage can be stacked on the case, which serves as a trolley. The handle may be rigidly attached to carriers 17, 18 on which the wheels are mounted. In its retracted position, the handle may be received in channels 25, 26, 34, 35. <IMAGE>

Description

Title: "Case" Description of Invention The present invention relates to a case of the kind incorporating wheels for supporting the case on a floor so that the case can be wheeled about.

According to the invention, there is provided a case comprising a hollow body which presents first and second opposite major faces and which has a retractable handle, the handle being setable in an extended position relative to the body, in which extended position the handle extends from the body generally in the direction in which the first major face is spaced from the second major face.

When the handle of a case in accordance with the invention extends upwardly from the body, the first major face is at least approximately horizontal and further cases can be stocked on the first major face of the body so that the case in accordance with the invention can be used as a trolley to transport additional cases.

The case preferably has wheels which are permanently connected with the body and which are or can be moved into a position in which they protrude from the second major face of the body. With this arrangement, when the first major face is the upper most face of the case so that additional cases can rest on the first major face, the wheels are at the underside of the body.

An example of a case embodying the invention will now be described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein FIGURE I shows a perspective view of the case with a handle of the case extended so that the case is in a suitable condition to serve as a trolley for transporting additional cases, FIGURE 2 shows a perspective view of the case with the handle in a retracted position so that the case is in a suitable condition to be loaded into a luggage compartment or to be transported on a conveyor, FIGURE 3 shows a cross-section through the case with the handle in the extended position, FIGURE 4 shows a similar cross-section of the case with the handle in the retracted position, FIGURE 5 shows, on an enlarged scale, a fragmentary cross-section on the line V-V of Figure 4 and FIGURE 6 shows, on another scale, an alternative geometry of the wheel and wheel carrier.

The case illustrated in the accompanying drawings comprises a hollow body 10 which includes a generally rectangular major wall II and peripheral wall portions 12 which are transverse to the major wall. The walls 11 and 12 collectively define a cavity open at one side and the case further comprises a lid 13 for closing the open side of the cavity. The lid is connected with one of the peripheral wall portions 12 by a hinge 14.

The case further comprises a pair of wheels I S and 16 rotatably mounted on respective carriers 17 and 18. The carriers are connected with the body 10 for pivoting relative thereto about a common pivot axis 19 between the stowed position illustrated in Figure 4 and the protruding position illustrated in Figure 3. When the wheels and carriers are in the protruding position, the wheels protrude from a major face 21 of the case which is presented partly by the lid 13 and partly by the body 10. In the stowed position, the wheels and carriers lie entirely within recesses defined by the body I 0.

It will be noted that, when the wheels and carriers 17, 18 are in the stowed position, the pivot axis 19 lies nearer to the centre of the body 10 than does the axis of rotation 20 of the wheels. Furthermore, in the stowed position, the pivot axis 19 lies nearer than does the wheel axis 20 to the major face 21 of the case which is presented partly by the lid 13. In the stowed position, the wheel axis lies approximately mid-way between the opposed major faces of the case and the first axis 19 lies at least twice as far from the face presented by the wall II as the axis 19 is from the face 21..

When the wheels and carriers are moved from the stowed position to the 0 protruding position, they move through an angle within the range 60 to 120 about the pivot axis 19. In the protruding position, the wheel axis 20 lies near to but at the outside of the major face of the case presented partly by the lid 13. Accordingly, somewhat more than half of each wheel protrudes beyond that face. The distance between the axes 19 and 20 is at least as great as the radius of the wheels but is preferably less than the diameter of the wheels.

A handle assembly 22 is connected with the wheel carriers 17 and 18.

The handle assembly can be moved between a retracted position and an extended position relative to the body 10 and the connection with the wheel carriers is such that movement of the handle assembly to the extended position automatically causes movement of the wheel carriers to the protruding position and that movement of the handle assembly into the retracted position automatically causes movement of the wheels and wheel carriers into the stowed position.

In the example illustrated, the handle assembly comprises a pair of bars 23 and 24, each rigidly connected at one of its end portions with a respective one of the wheel carriers. Accordingly, the bars 23 and 24 turn about the pivot axis 1 9 when they are moved between the retracted and extended positions. The wall 11 presents a pair of channels 25 and 26 outwardly of the body 10 and these receive respective ones of the bars 23 and 24, when the handle assembly is in the retracted position. In the example illustrated, the channels 25 and 26 are rectilinear and mutually parallel, the bars 23 and 24 also being mutually parallel.

Each of the bars 23 and 24 is foldable at a joint which lies approximately halfway along the bar. There is associated with each joint 27 known means for locking the corresponding bar in a rectilinear configuration.

Each joint 27 is so arranged that, when the handle assembly is in the retracted position, the two halves of each bar lie one above the other. The two halves of the bar are received in the same channel. As illustrated in Figure 5, each of the channels 25 and 26 may have at its mouth opposed, resiliently flexible lips 28 which are spaced apart by a distance slightly less than the outside diameter of the bars 23 and 24 so that the bars are trapped in the channels and the lips must be deformed resiliently during insertion of the bars into the channels and removal of the bars from the channels.

Free-end portions of the bars 23 and 24 are curved to form hand grips 29, 30. When the handle assembly is in the retracted position, the hand grips extend partly around the circumference of respective ones of the wheels 15 and 16 and lie entirely in the recesses containing the wheels and wheel carriers. A crosspiece 3 1 extends between the hand grips 29 and 30. When the handle assembly is in the retracted condition, this crosspiece occupies a recess defined by a peripheral wall portion of the body I 0, the recess providing sufficient clearance around the crosspiece to facilitate use of the crosspiece as a carrying handle. Further crosspieces 32 and 33 extend between the bars 23 and 24. The wall 11 of the body defines transverse channels 34 and 35 extending between the channels 25 and 26 to receive the crosspieces 32 and 33.

The presence of the channels 25, 26, 34 and 35 in the wall II contributes substantially to the stiffness of that wall. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 5, there may extend inwardly of the body from the base of each of these channels a corresponding web 36 which further stiffens the wall 11.

Webs 36 may be associated only with the channels 25 and 26, these webs being spaced sufficiently far apart to receive between them a folded suit, possibly on a hanger.

Restraining means is provided for limiting pivoting of the handle assembly 22 relative to the body 10 when the handle assembly is moved from the retracted to the extended position. The restraining means may comprise a linkage between the handle assembly and the body, flexible ties or telescopic connectors. In the example illustrated, there is formed on the body 10 an abutment 37 which is spaced from the pivot axis 19 in a direction away from that major face of the case which is presented partly by the lid 13. When the handle assembly is in the extended position, the abutment 37 is engaged by a further crosspiece 38 which extends between the bars 23 and 24.

Means may be provided to retain the crosspiece 38 in contact with the abutment 37 and thereby prevent folding of the handle assembly 22.

The case may further comprise a fastener for fastening the lid 13 in a closed position and being operatively associated with the handle assembly and wheel carriers so that the lid is automatically locked in the closed position when the handle assembly is moved from the retracted position.

In addition to, or in place of the crosspieces, the handle assembly 22 may comprise a web extending between the bars 23 and 24. The web may be formed of flexible material, for example a woven cloth, or of material which is stiff, relative to woven cloth.

The shape of the handle assembly may be modified. For example, the bars 23 and 24 may be mutually convergent and be joined to a common stem which may be a foldable stem or telescopic stem. With these arrangements, the bars would extend approximately half the height of the handle assembly and the upper half of the handle assembly would consist of the stem, possibly having laterally projecting hand grips at its free end. The channels defined by the wall 11 would be modified accordingly to receive the handle assembly.

In a case where a web extends between the bars of the handle assembly, the wall II may define a relatively large recess which receives the bars and the web.

It will be noted that the wheels 15 and 16 and the wheel carriers 17 and 18 are inset from corresponding peripheral wall portions of the body 10, so that the wheels and wheel carriers are unlikely to suffer damage during handling and transport of the case with the wheels and carriers in the stowed position.

When the handle assembly 22 is in the extended position, the case can rest on a level floor surface by the wheels 15 and 1 6 and by a further contact element 39 provided on the lid 13. The position of the contact element relative to the major face of the case which is presented entirely by the body 10 may be such that this face is substantially horizontal, when the case rests on a horizontal floor. Further cases can then rest on this major face. It will be noted that the body 10 functions as a cantilever beam, when supporting further cases and resting on the wheels 1 5 and 1 6 only.

The case preferably comprises one or more straps 40 for holding such further cases against the handle assembly 22. The or each strap may be wound on to a corresponding reel disposed in a recess defined by the body 10 at a position remote from the wheels 15 and 1 6. The or each strap can be drawn upwardly from its reel around the further cases and attached to the handle assembly 22. Known means for holding the straps in a tightened condition may be provided. Each reel may be spring-loaded, so that the strap will be retracted automatically, when released.

If the major face of the body on which further cases are rested is adapted to impede sliding of the further cases, then the position of the contact element 39 may be such that this major face is inclined to the horizontal when the case is supported on a horizontal floor by means of the wheels and the contact element. The contact element may be a skid or a rolling element, for example a sphere mounted in a socket provided on the lid 13. In a further alternative arrangement, the contact element is connected with the lid for movement relative thereto between a stowed position and a protruding position.

The folding bars 23 and 24 may be substituted by telescopic bars.

The body 10 and the lid 13 may each be formed as a moulding of a plastics material, for example a high density polyethylene.

Provision may be made for braking rotation of the wheels.

The peripheral wall portion which is remote from the pivot axis 19 preferably presents an outer surface which is generally flat, over at least a part of that wall portion, so that the suit case can stand in a stable condition with this generally flat face resting on a horizontal floor. The cross-piece 31 may carry an additional handle portion which can pivot between a stowed position, in which it occupies a position generally between the cross-piece 31 and the adjacent wall portion of the case and an extended position, in which it extends outwardly from the cross-piece 31. The additional handle portion may have the shape of the handle commonly provided on suit cases.

Whilst the example of case illustrated in the accompanying drawings is particularly suitable for use as a suitcase, it will be understood that the invention may be applied to cases intended for containing articles other than cloths and to large cases, such as those generally designated trunks.

Figure 6 illustrates a modification of the case shown in Figures I to 5.

In Figure 6, parts corresponding to those hereinbefore described are identified by like reference numerals with the prefix I and the preceeding description is deemed to apply, except for the differences hereinafter mentioned. The pivot axis 119 is spaced from the wheel axis 120 by a distance less than the radius of the wheel and the shape of the carrier 118 is modified accordingly.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately or any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A case comprising a hollow body which presents first and second opposite major faces and which has a retractable handle, the handle being settable in an extended position relative to the body, in which extended position the handle extends from the body generally in the direction in which the first major face is spaced from the second major face.

2. A case according to Claim I further comprising wheels which are or can be moved into a position in which they protrude from the second major face of the body.

3. A case according to Claim I having wheels, wherein each wheel is rotatably mounted on a carrier and the carried is connected with the body for pivotal movement of the carrier and wheel relative to the body about a pivot axis between protruding and stowed positions and wherein the pivot axis lies nearer to the centre of the body than does the axis of rotation of the wheel when the carrier and wheel are in the stowed position.

4. A case according to Claim 3 wherein the handle is so connected with the carrier that movement of the handle to the extended position is automatically accompanied by movement of the carrier and wheel to the protruding position.

5. A case according to Claim 4 wherein a portion of the handle is rigid with the carrier.

6. A case according to any preceding Claim wherein the handle folds relative to the body when moved between extended and retracted positions relative to the body.

7. A case according to Claim 6 wherein, when folded into the retracted position, the handle occupies a recess in the first major face of the body.

8. A case according to any preceding Claim wherein the first major face is presented by a first wall of the body which is integral with further walls of the body at the periphery of the first wall and which further walls extend transversely of the first wall and wherein the body further comprises a lid which can be moved relative to the first wall and which presents at least a part of the second major face.

9. A case according to Claim 8 as appendant to any one of Claims 2 to 7 having a further ground-engaging element spaced from the wheels and so positioned relative to said first major face that when the wheels are in respective protruding positions, the wheels and said ground-engaging element collectively can support the case on a level floor with said first major face substantially horizontal.

10. A case according to Claim 9 wherein the ground-engaging element protrudes only slightly from the second major face and wherein the second major face is inclined generally upwardly from the ground-engagement element towards the wheels, when the first major face is substantially horizontal.

I. A case substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

12. Any novel feature or novel combination of features disclosed herein or in the accompanying drawings.