Trunks and hand-carried luggage – Supporting devices – Wheeled
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-28
2001-03-20
Weaver, Sue A. (Department: 3727)
Trunks and hand-carried luggage
Supporting devices
Wheeled
C190S039000, C190S115000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06202808
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a rolling carrying case which includes a rolling means, such as an elongated roller along an edge of its bottom wall, and an extensible handle above the top wall for rolling the case along a ground surface.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A plurality of luggage cases are known which may be readily converted from a manual carrying mode of operation to a rolling mode of operation when it is desired to extensively traverse a ground surface. A rolling means, which may be in the form of individual wheels or an elongated roller assembly, is located along, and depends downwardly from, the bottom wall. When it is desired to operate the rolling case in its rolling mode of operation, an extensible handle is moved above the top wall, grasped by the user, and the case is tilted backwards to provide appropriate engagement between the rolling means and ground surface without an interference relationship with respect to other portions of the bottom wall. The bottom wall may also typically include a plurality of feet downwardly extending therefrom. The feet are positioned to support the case on the ground surface in its stationary mode of operation, with the bottom surface being generally parallel to the ground surface.
The wheels, or other form of rolling means, provided along the bottom surface have, in prior cases, generally depended downwardly an amount greater than the length of the supporting feet. Thus when such prior cases are in their stationary mode of operation and supported by the depending feet, the rolling means has also been in contact with the ground surface. This disadvantageously can affect the stability of the rolling case, particularly if it is on an inclined surface, while the case is being maintained in its stationary mode of operation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention the rolling means which is carried at the bottom edge of the case is predeterminedly inwardly recessed from the edge of the case such that the outer periphery of the rolling means will be spaced away from the ground surface when the case is in its stationary mode of operation. When it is desired to convert the case to its rolling mode of operation, the extensible handle is grasped and the case is tilted back to provide the necessary engagement between the rolling means and ground surface. Thus the rolling means of the present invention is predeterminedly spaced with respect to the edge of the bottom wall of the case such that it will not contact the ground surface, and disadvantageously affect its stability, while the case is in its stationary mode of operation.
The rolling means, which is preferably in the form of an elongated roller assembly which extends substantially along the entire length of a bottom edge of the case, has a radius appropriately coordinated with the radius of the bottom edge of the case, and the axial mounting of the elongated roller assembly to provide the requisite radial recessing of the rolling means to prevent contact with the case is in its stationary mode of operation.
The radial recession of the rolling means also advantageously provides a smoother and overall more aesthetically desirable case silhouette, compared to a case in which there is a greater projection of the rolling means beyond the periphery of the walls of the case.
As a further advantageous feature of the present invention, when the rolling means is in the form of an elongated roller assembly it may be advantageously manually removed from the case, should it be necessary to remove debris from the roller assembly or replace a damaged roller assembly. The removable elongated roller assembly may be secured to the case by a spring biasing means which may be readily manually defeated when it is desired to remove the elongated roller assembly from the bottom of the case.
As a further advantageous feature of the present invention, when the rolling means is in the form of an elongated roller assembly that extends substantially along the entire length of the bottom edge of the case, an intermediate roller support member is provided. The intermediate roller support member engages an intermediate section of the roller axis to prevent distortion thereof at the center region.
It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a rolling case in which the roller at the bottom of the case will be spaced from the ground surface when the case is in its stationary, non-rolling, mode of operation.
A further object of the present invention is to provide such a rolling carrying case which includes a plurality of downwardly extending feet for supporting the case in its stationary mode of operation, with the feet extending downward from the bottom wall of the case an amount greater than the downward extent of the roller when the case is in its stationary mode of operation.
Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide such a rolling case in which the rolling means is in the form of an elongated roller assembly mounted to a bottom edge of the case, and extending substantially along the entire length thereof.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide such a rolling case in which the elongated roller assembly may be manually removed therefrom for cleaning or replacement.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide such a case which includes an elongated roller assembly which extends along substantially the entire length of a bottom edge of the case, and includes an intermediate support.
These as well as other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon a consideration of the following description and drawings:
REFERENCES:
patent: 3809231 (1974-05-01), Palma et al.
patent: 3948365 (1976-04-01), Gregg et al.
patent: 5447216 (1995-09-01), Freyvogel
patent: 2005520 (1971-09-01), None
patent: 3702723 (1988-02-01), None
patent: 1292341 (1962-03-01), None
patent: 1539021 (1979-01-01), None
patent: 2030966 (1980-04-01), None
Outrigger, Inc.
Weaver Sue A.
LandOfFree
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