WO2020115542A1

WO2020115542A1 - Suitcase, case or bag with height adjustable wheels

Info

Publication number: WO2020115542A1
Application number: PCT/IB2019/000728
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hubert Laenen
Original assignee: Hubert Laenen
Priority date: 2018-12-05
Filing date: 2019-09-09
Publication date: 2020-06-11
Also published as: BE1026442B1

Abstract

A suitcase, case or bag with at least one elastic deformable body (6), such as at least one leaf spring, which extends longitudinally along the back wall of the housing (1) of the suitcase, case or bag through gliding bars (5) or via guiding tracks (12) in order to be clamped on a desired height and with a wheel (3) at its lower extremity with the aim to facilitate the transport the suitcase, case or bag over irregular surfaces.

Description

Suitcase, case or bag with height adjustable wheels

This invention concerns a suitcase, case or bag which is provided with wheels, such as a trolley, but with height adjustable wheels that are mounted on an elastic deformable body, like a leaf spring that is extending over the entire length of the back wall of the suitcase, case or bag. In a particular embodiment, it concerns a suitcase, case or bag, like a travel trolley, a school bag, a shopping trolley or a tool trolley with a handgrip and that is provided with at least two deformable bodies which are fitted on a support or a f,rame and wherein the elastic deformable ^bodies have wheels on their lower extremities, which are height adjustable. Both elastic deformable bodies are more particularly a leaf spring which improves the comfort of a user during travelling.

Travel trolleys, schoolbags, shopping trolleys or tool trolleys are known in the state-of-the-art with wheels to displace them over the ground. Such suitcases, cases or bags can be divided in rigid, semi-rigid or flexible carrying bags. They are made of metal, plastics, fabrics or leather and are used to carry objects over a distance. Like already mentioned before, these objects can be shopping goods, computer ware, medical needs, tools, clothing, ...etc . This means that many of these suitcases, cases or bags can be heavily loaded and thus difficult to transport. This is a major problem for elderly, disabled people and for children. Therefore, the suitcase, case or bag are provided with wheels. These wheels are directly fitted to the suitcase, case or bag. These suitcases, cases or bags are also provided with^’ a handgrip to pull or push them over the ground. Generally, this handgrip is connected directly to the suitcase, case or bag and is in some cases telescopic height adjustable. According to another embodiment is the suitcase, case or bag on its backside provided with a frame, like described in JPH11299520A. This frame is used as an enforcement and as a support for fastening the handgrip and/or the wheels. In W02005035400 , the frame is built of a number of rigid upright rods with a· telescopic handgrip.

An important disadvantage, with such devices is that during the transport of the suitcase, case or bag, over an uneven or irregular surface, vibrations are transmitted to the arms of a user. This is e.g. the case with uneven footpaths, sidewalks and grass fields, at small stone paths, cobbled roads and streets with small irregularities. This makes that a user experiences an unpleasant feeling and moreover it requires a larger force of the user to transport the suitcase, case or bag over the surface. Another problem arises when the user want to displace the suitcase, case or bag over the stairs. However, many solutions are already proposed to address this problem, like described in WO2007149579, wherein a spiral spring is provided in the housing of the wheels of a carrying bag to absorb the vibrations. This requires^f an adaption of the case and after a while, the spring can lose its resilience. EP3143899 concerns a ca'se with foldable wheels, activated by rotatable spiral rods by pushing or pulling a cross bar which turn the wheels in and^' out a recess in the housing of the case. The cross bar is further provided with a spiral spring. CN203353860U describes a case with wheels, which can be set under an angle and which are mounted by a spiral spring. The latter two inventions clearly differ from this invention, wherein the wheels are mounted on a leaf spring that only allows a straight linear vertical displacement along the case wall without the aim to fold the wheels in and out the case body nor to incline the wheel axle. This makes that the invention is far less complex and easier to install than the state-of-the-art solutions. -

This invention overcomes the precedent inconveniences by using an elastic deformable body, such as at least One 5 leaf spring as support for the wheels on a suitcase, case or bag. A leaf spring can be defined as a lath shaped body, with a length that is many times its thickness. This shape allows an elastic deformation. It is precisely this feature of the leaf spring that makes that during the 10 rolling the suitcase, case or bag over a surface will absorb the vibrations.

This device has a first advantage that at least one wheel, connected to at least one leaf spring can be mounted on a suitcase, case or bag in an easy way. The 15 leaf spring is height adjustable by using gliding means.

This facilitates to fit the leaf spring in a number of height adaptable positions in relation to the required resilience for the wheels.

This invention has a second advantage that the leaf 20 spring can be replaced easily even by a leaf spring made of another material.

This invention further provides additional wheels at a distance along the leaf spring in order to transport the suitcase, case or bag comfortable over the steps of the 25 stairs under an angle.

Overview of the drawings:

Fig.1 : back view of a suitcase, according to the state-of-the-art

\ Fig .2 : back view of a suitcase, according to this

30 invention

Fig .3 : Side view of a suitcase, according to this invention

Fig .4 : side view of gliding means, according to this invention

L Fig.5 : inside view of a suitcase with retracted wheels, according to this invention

Fig .6 : inside view of a suitcase with extended wheels, according to this invention

Fig .7 : view backside of a suitcase with frame

Fig .8 : detail view backside of a suitcase with gliding tracks ^

Fig .9 : side view of gliding tracks

Fig , 10 : side view of gliding tracks with additional wheels

The invention will be described next more in detail by using the drawings like mentioned previously. According to fig , 1 it is known in the state-of-the-art to provide a suitcase, case or bag with on its underside fastening means (2)' whereon wheels (3) are mounted to push or pull it over a surface. The suitcase, case or bag consists of a housing (1), made of metal, fabrics, plastics or leather. The housing (1) concerns the walls of the suitcase, case or bag, wherein a space is provided to store goods. This housing (1) .consists of an upper and lower wall, front and back walls and two sidewalls. The wheels (3) , mostly made of plastics, are directly of by the aid of a border (2) in plastic fitted to the lower wall of the housing (1). In such an embodiment, the wheels (3) can be provided by a damping body, such as a spiral spring to absorb the vibrations. This is not shown in fig .1. On the upper wall of the housing (1), a height _< adjustable handgrip (4) is provided. This handgrip (4) can slide into the housing (1) when not used. In an active state, the handgrip (4) can be extended outside the case housing (4) . ¹

In fig.2, the invention is illustrated by a first embodiment. On the upper wall of the housing (1) of the suitcase, case or bag, a height adjustable handgrip (4) is provided. A wheel (3) is mounted on the lower extremity of an elastic deformable body (6), wherein its length is larger than its thickness and width. The elastic deformable body (6) extends along the back wall 5 of the suitcase, case or bag between the upper and lower wall of the housing (4) . According to fig .2 two elastic deformable bodies (6) are provided, but it can also be just one or even more. More particularly, such an elastic deformable body is lath shaped, hollow or solid with a 10 slight curve and that is provided of a wheel (3) at the lower extremity, and elastically deformable compared with the central part of the lath. Such an elastically deformable body (6) can be preferable a leaf spring.

The leaf springs (6) with the wheels (3) are height 15 adjustable relative to the lower wall of the housing (1) because they are adjustable by gliding through gliding bars (5) along the length of the housing (1) . Regarding fig .2 , three gliding bars (5) are provided for each leaf spring (6) . The .number of gliding bars (5) can be adapted 20 to the kind of suitcase, case or bag. According to another embodiment, the leaf spring (6) is provided with a local thickening (7), which helps to clamp the leaf spring at the preferred height in relation to the gliding bar (5) . The thickening (7) comprises a spring or a 25 friction material.

The leaf spring of leaf springs (6) can be provided i,

on their upper extremity, according to a particular embodiment and like shown in fig .2 and fig.5, of a grip (8). In the case of two leaf springs (6), both are 30 connected to a grip (8) . The grip (8) serves to displace the leaf springs (6) to the preferred height.

These leaf springs (6)^' are made of i.a. wood, metal, stainless steel, plastics, carbon, Kevlar, or glass fiber reinforced plastics or carbon. However, this list is not exhaustive because all materials that can cause an elastic bending are useful. The wheels (3) are fastened to the leaf springs (6) by fastening means. The elasticity of the leaf spring (6) absorbs the vibrations on the wheels (3) . Fig .3 shows a side view of the clamping of the leaf spring (6) between the‘gliding bars (5).

According to another embodiment in fig.4, a convex spring (9) is provided at the level of a gliding bar (5) to clamp the leaf spring (6). The direction arrow "Y" shows a potential displacement pf the leaf spring (6) along the back side of the housing (1) of a suitcase, case or bai_j. With the back^’ wall of the housing (1) is meant as well as the interior as the exterior side of the suitcase, case or bag. Fig.5 and fig.6 show respectively the retracted and extended wheels (3), attached to the leaf springs (6) in the interior space of a suitcase, case or bag. This embodiment has the advantage that aesthetically, the leaf springs (6) are not visible on the back wall of the suitcase, case or bag. In this embodiment is the height of the wheels (3) regulated by a grip (8) that also serves as handgrip (4). This grip (8) can be pulled or pushed and locked to regulate the desired position of the leaf springs (6) .- According to still another embodiment, shown in fig .7 , the housing (1) of the suitcase, case or bag is provided with a frame (10). This frame_r(10) is provided on the back wall of the suitcase, case or bag and consists of 2 vertical strips (11), extending _.along the back wall from the upper wall to the lower wall of the housing (1) and a horizontal cross bar (10) ' located nearby the upper wall of the housing (1). A handgrip (4) is connected to the horizontal cross bar (10). The leaf springs (6) can be regulated within the strips of the frame (11) to the preferred height by sliding them through the gliding bars (5) . In this embodiment and like already mentioned before, the leaf springs (6) can be connected with a grip (8) .

The vertical strips (11) of the frame can be provided with a layer of friction material to keep theleaf springs (6) on at the desired height. Moreover, a layer of friction material can cover the leaf spring (6) .

According to an alternative embodiment, regarding fig .8 , the frame consists of guiding tracks (12) wherein the' leaf springs (6) glide into a groove and can be fixed to the' desired height by clamping means (13). The clamping means (13) can be a press button of turning knob with screw thread that presses against the elastic deformable body. According to fig .8 , two clamping means (13) are provided for each guiding track (12). However, more or less clamping means (13) can be used, divided over the entire track (12) . In fig .9 the leaf spring (6) is pressed against a convex spring (14) by clamping means (13). The spring is provided on the inner side of the guiding track (12) . This enables to clamp the leaf spring (6) on the desired ^!height in the guiding track (12), like shown with the vertical direction arrow "Y".

In fig .10 , a suitcase, case or bag is illustrated wherein a leaf spring (6) glides in a guiding rail (12) and wherein at the.outer side of the guiding rail (12) at least one additional gliding wheel (15) is provided along its longitudinal direction. This gliding wheel (15) is located at the outer side of the back wall of the suitcase, case or bag in order to facilitate the transport over an inclined surface, like the stairs and to make a supplementary contact with the surface. Several gliding wheels (15) can be provided and be divided over the longitudinal direction of the guiding track (12).

Claims

1. A suitcase, case or bag consisting of a housing (1) with an upper and lower wall, sidewalls, a front and back wall, a handgrip (4) on the upper wall and characterized in that at the back wall of the housing (1) ^'at least one elastic deformable body (6) with a wheel (3) on its lower extremity is provided, whereby the length of the elastic deformable body (6) is larger than its thickness and width and extends between the upper and lower wall of the housing (1) through a least one gliding bar (5) or guiding tracks (12) and wherein the elastic deformable body (6) is a hollow or solid leaf spring which is vertically height adjustable relative to the lower wall of the housing ( 1 ) .

2. A suitcase, case or bag according to claim 1 and characterized in that at least two elastic deformable bodies (6) are provided, extending between the upper and lower wall along the back wall of the housing (1) through at least one gliding bar (5) or guiding tracks (12) .

3. A suitcase, case or bag according to claims 1 or 2 and characterized in that the elastic deformable bodies (6) extend at the -interior of the housing (1) along its back wall.

4. A suitcase, case or bag according to claims 1-3 and characterized in that at least one elastic deformable body (6) is provided with a grip (8) on its upper extremity.

5. A suitcase, case or bag according to claims 1-4 and characterized in that the elastic deformable body (6) has the shape of a lath.

6. A suitcase, case or bag according to at least one of the previous claims and characterized in that the elastic deformable body (6) is made of wood, metal, stainless steel, plastics, carbon, kevlar or glass fiber reinforced plastics or carbon.

7. A suitcase, case or bag according to claims 1-6 and characterized in that at least one gliding bar

(5) and a spring (7) are provided to clamp the leaf spring (6) on a desired height.

8. A suitcase, case or bag according to claims 1-6 and characterized in that at least gliding bar (5) and a friction material (7) are provided to clamp the leaf spring (6) on a desired height.

9. A suitcase, case or bag according to claims 7-8 and characterized in that a frame with vertical strips (11) are provided on the back wall of the housing (1) with at least one gliding bar (5) to clamp the leaf spring (6) on a desired height.

10. A suitcase, case or bag according to claims 1-6 and characterized in that on the back side of the housing (1) a frame with guiding tracks (12) is provided, wherein a leaf spring (6) in a groove of the guiding track (12) is height adjustable.

11. A suitcase, case or bag according to claim 9 and characterized in that the leaf spring (6) by clamping means (13) , like a press button or a turning knob is clamped against the guiding track (12) onto the desired height.

12. A suitcase, case or bag according to claim 11 and characterized in that the leaf spring (6) is pressed against a convex spring (14) on the inner side of a guiding track (12) .

13. A suitcase, case or bag according to claims 10- 12 and characterized in that at least one gliding wheel (15) is located longitudinally at the outer side of the guiding track (12).