US20080217129A1

US20080217129A1 - Airport Seat

Info

Publication number: US20080217129A1
Application number: US11/682,373
Authority: US
Inventors: Patrick J. Whelan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-03-06
Filing date: 2007-03-06
Publication date: 2008-09-11

Abstract

A wheeled luggage includes a housing and a collapsible seat connected to said housing movable between a first position and a second position. The housing includes an outer frame which a longitudinal support member and includes a pivotable seat member connected to the longitudinal support member. The longitudinal support member is connected to the pivotable seat member by a first pivot device, and the housing includes a leg support member connected to the pivotable seat member. The leg support member is connected to the pivotable seat member by a second pivot device and the wheeled luggage includes a handle attached to the longitudinal support member.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to wheeled luggage, and more particularly to wheeled luggage with a collapsible seat.
2. Description of Related Art
A conventional wheeled luggage shown in FIG. 1 comprises main body 1, retractable handle 2, two wheel assemblies 3, and bracket 4 for supporting the wheel assemblies 3. As such, user may pull the retractable handle 2 along the ground.
Another conventional wheeled luggage is shown in FIG. 2. This luggage is characterized in that rod sleeves 5 and most part of wheel assemblies 6 are provided within the storage space of luggage. This design aims at providing a smooth appearance of luggage.
The wheeled luggage of FIGS. 1 and 2 does not disclose a collapsible seat. Travelers today are faced with long delays while waiting to board a plane or rail car or simply waiting for transportation to be provided. The luxury of having a seat being provided under these circumstances may not be available. Consequently, there is a need for a collapsible seat that can cooperate with wheeled luggage that is lightweight and does not require a large amount of space when the seat has been collapsed.
Thus, it is desirable to provide a new and improved wheeled luggage in order to overcome the above drawbacks of the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a wheeled luggage having a collapsible seat which moves from a first position to second position to allow the user to sit.
A wheeled luggage includes a housing and a collapsible seat connected to said housing movable between a first position and a second position.
The housing includes an outer frame which a longitudinal support member and includes a pivotable seat member connected to the longitudinal support member.
The longitudinal support member is connected to the pivotable seat member by a first pivot device, and the housing includes a leg support member connected to the pivotable seat member.
The leg support member is connected to the pivotable seat member by a second pivot device and the wheeled luggage includes a handle attached to the longitudinal support member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The invention may be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which, like reference numerals identify like elements, and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a conventional wheeled luggage;

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of another conventional wheeled luggage;

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of a wheeled luggage with a collapsible seat in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates another perspective view of the wheeled luggage with the collapsible seat;

FIG. 5 illustrates a back view of the wheeled luggage with a collapsible seat in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 3 illustrates the wheeled luggage 100 with a collapsible seat 101. The wheeled luggage 100 includes an interior frame (not shown), a housing 108 to cover the interior frame and an outer frame. The housing 108 may be formed from flexible material or may be formed from rigid material. The outer frame includes outer frame members which are formed from a rigid material such as plastic, metal or other suitable materials and which includes a longitudinal support member 112 (shown in FIG. 5), a pivotable seat member 114, a leg support member 116, a first pivot device 104, a traverse member 120 and a second pivot device 106 (shown in FIG. 5). The longitudinal support member 112 is connected to the housing 108 and extends from the bottom of the housing 108 to the top of the housing 108. The longitudinal support member 112 is connected to a pivotable seat member 114 by a second pivot device 106 which allows the pivotable seat member 114 to rotate from the first position to the second position and allows the pivotable seat member 114 to rotate between a substantially parallel position with respect to the longitudinal support member 112 and a substantially perpendicular position with respect to the longitudinal support member 112. A traverse member 120 is connected between opposing pivotable seat members 114 to provide a seat for the user and to support and stabilize the pivotable seat member 114 and the collapsible seat 101. The handle 118 is connected to the end of the longitudinal support member 112.
The leg support member 116 is connected to the pivotable seat member 114 by a first pivot device 104 so that the leg support member 116 rotates between a substantially parallel position with respect to the pivotable seat member 114 and a substantially perpendicular position with respect to the pivotable seat member 114. When the leg support member 116 is perpendicular to the pivotable seat member 114, the leg support member 116 contacts the surface (ground) supporting the wheeled luggage 100 and supporting the pivotable seat member 114.
FIG. 3 additionally illustrates a flexible support member 122 connecting the leg support member 116 with the longitudinal support member 112 to limit the travel of the leg support member 116.
FIG. 4 illustrates the collapsible seat 101 pivoting between the first position and the second position.
FIG. 5 illustrates a back view of the wheeled luggage 100 including the collapsible seat 101. FIG. 5 illustrates the longitudinal support member 112 mounted on the housing 108, the pivotable seat member 114 and the leg support member 116. The second pivot device 106 rotates the pivotable seat member 114 with respect to the longitudinal support member 112, and the first pivot device 104 rotates the leg support member 116 with respect to the pivotable seat member 114.
While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the description herein of specific embodiments is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed.

Claims

1. A wheeled luggage, comprising:

a housing; and

a collapsible seat connected to said housing movable between a first position and a second position.

2. A wheeled luggage as in claim 1, wherein said housing includes an outer frame.

3. A wheeled luggage as in claim 2, wherein said outer frame includes a longitudinal support member.

4. A wheeled luggage as in claim 3, wherein the outer frame includes a pivotable seat member connected to the longitudinal support member.

5. A wheeled luggage as in claim 4, wherein the longitudinal support member is connected to the pivotable seat member by a first pivot device.

6. A wheeled luggage as in claim 2, wherein the housing includes a leg support member connected to the pivotable seat member.

7. A wheeled luggage as in claim 6, wherein the leg support member is connected to the pivotable seat member by a second pivot device.

8. A wheeled luggage as in claim 3, wherein the wheeled luggage includes a handle attached to the longitudinal support member.