Trunks and hand-carried luggage – Supporting devices – Wheeled
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-13
2002-04-23
Garbe, Stephen P. (Department: 3727)
Trunks and hand-carried luggage
Supporting devices
Wheeled
C280S047260
Reexamination Certificate
active
06374969
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The field of the present invention is wheeled luggage.
Wheeled luggage has become increasingly popular as a way to facilitate travel. Such luggage frequently has trucks which are wholly inadequate to the task. The wheels are typically quite small to facilitate convenience and a compact design. As a result, such wheels often are unable to withstand the substantial shock loads resulting from a heavy burden being drawn over abrupt curbs and rough surfaces. The practice of many travelers is also to use such wheeled luggage as a carrier for other pieces of luggage, packages and the like. Naturally, the burden is further increased.
Typically wheeled luggage includes truck assemblies that are permanently affixed to the case. Rivets are frequently employed and the mounting is inappropriately configured or oriented to receive the shocks and loads imposed during use. Downtime and resulting inconvenience to the user often occurs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to truck assemblies for luggage and the combination thereof. The truck assemblies include a base panel, a bottom panel which intersects with the base panel at a mutual edge and at least two wheel cavities extending across that mutual edge. Mounting cavities are located to the sides of each wheel cavity to receive an axle of a wheel positioned within the wheel cavity.
In a first separate aspect of the present invention, the truck assembly includes mounting caps fixable to the base panel to close the mounting cavities. These mounting caps include reusable fasteners.
In a second separate aspect of the present invention, the mounting caps include extended bosses which are positionable in excess passages associated with the mounting cavities. The mounting cavities and the extended bosses define cylindrical mountings when assembled to receive wheeled axles.
In a third separate aspect of the present invention, the mounting caps are defined as plates with extended bosses extending from one side of the plates. Reusable fasteners include screws which extend through the plates and are fixable to the base panel. Recesses may be provided in the base panel to receive the mounting plates.
In a fourth separate aspect of the present invention, any of the foregoing aspects are contemplated to be employed in combination with luggage including a case and a handle mounted to the case on the other side from the base.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide improved luggage truck assemblies. Other and further objects and advantages will appear hereinafter.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3809231 (1974-05-01), Palma et al.
patent: 5163539 (1992-11-01), Yang
patent: 5323886 (1994-06-01), Chen
patent: 5374073 (1994-12-01), Hung-Hsin
patent: 5393079 (1995-02-01), Wang
patent: 5396974 (1995-03-01), Pedlar
patent: 5433461 (1995-07-01), Chang
patent: 5524737 (1996-06-01), Wang
patent: 5575361 (1996-11-01), Chou
patent: 5590748 (1997-01-01), Chang
G&A Trading Company
Garbe Stephen P.
Lyon & Lyon LLP
Ngo Lien
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