Wheeled luggage and associated devices

Abstract

A luggage article including first rollers and selectively deployable or nondeployable second rollers. The luggage article includes a handle that is movable between a retracted position and an extended position. The user can selectively deploy or not deploy the second rollers even when the handle is in the extended position. An improved detent device and also an improved caster system are also disclosed. Also, a wheeled panel mechanism by itself for use not only with luggage but also other articles such as carts, dollies and baby carriages, is disclosed.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A luggage article comprising: 
 a storage compartment;    a first rolling means projecting from said storage compartment;    a wheeled panel mechanism including a pivotably mounted panel, said panel having second rolling means;    a handle operatively associated with said wheeled panel mechanism, said handle being movable between a retracted position and an extended position; and    means for selective deployment or nondeployment of said second rolling means when said handle is moved from said retracted position to said extended position.    
     
     
         2 . The luggage article of  claim 1 , wherein 
 said wheeled panel mechanism includes a body portion and linkage means connecting said body portion to said pivotably mounted panel.    
     
     
         3 . The luggage article of  claim 2 , wherein 
 said means for selective deployment or nondeployment of said second rolling means includes: 
 detent means operatively associated with said handle;  
 a slider mechanism movable in said body portion, said slider mechanism causing movement of said pivotably mounted panel between a deployed position where said second roller means are deployed and a nondeployed position where said second roller means are not deployed; and  
 a lockdown device for locking said slider mechanism so that said pivotably mounted panel remains in said nondeployed position when said handle is moved from said retracted position to said extended position, said detent means being operatively associated with said lockdown device in order to unlock said slider mechanism therefrom so that said slider mechanism can move and cause movement of said pivotably mounted panel from said nondeployed position to said deployed position.  
   
     
     
         4 . The luggage article of  claim 3 , wherein 
 said handle includes a pair of spaced apart female tubes secured to a frame of said storage compartment; and    a pair of male tubes, each of which is slidingly engaged in respective female tubes, said male tubes being joined by a gripping portion at one end thereof and having free ends opposite said gripping portion.    
     
     
         5 . The luggage article of  claim 4 , wherein 
 said detent means includes: 
 a detent mechanism disposed in said free end of each of said male tubes, said detent mechanism including a detent housing and a movable detent disposed in said detent housing;  
 a button mounted in said gripping portion; and  
 first and second cables connecting said button to said respective movable detents such that movement of said button causes corresponding movement of both of said movable detents.  
   
     
     
         6 . The luggage article of  claim 5 , wherein 
 said female tubes each include a longitudinal slot, said slider mechanism having opposed portions which engage into each said respective longitudinal slot, said detent housing engaging respective said opposed portions of said slider mechanism, whereby movement of said male tubes in said female tubes can cause corresponding movement of said slider mechanism in said body portion.    
     
     
         7 . The luggage article of  claim 6 , wherein 
 each of said female tubes includes a separate lockdown device mounted therein, each said lockdown device including a projection, said projection having a slider mechanism engagement portion and a detent engagement portion, said opposed portions of said slider mechanism engaging against said respective slider mechanism engagement portions when said slider mechanism is locked;    said movable detent engaging against said detent engagement portion and moving said projection in order to unlock said slider mechanism from said lockdown device when said pushbutton is engaged in order to move said detent.    
     
     
         8 . The luggage article of  claim 7 , wherein 
 each said lockdown device includes a spring that biases said respective opposed portions of said slider mechanism against said respective slider mechanism engagement portions; and    said linkage means includes at least one spring that biases said pivotably mounted panel into said deployed position, whereby unlocking said slider mechanism will automatically move said pivotably mounted panel into said deployed position.    
     
     
         9 . The luggage article of  claim 8 , including 
 a belt having a first end attached to said body portion and a second end attached to said linkage means, said belt being operatively associated with said slider mechanism so that movement of said slider mechanism causes movement of said linkage means.    
     
     
         10 . The luggage article of  claim 9 , including 
 said slider mechanism includes a first roller;    a second roller mounted to said body portion;    a third roller spaced apart from said second roller and also mounted to said body portion; and    said belt engaging against said first, second and third rollers in order to translate movement of said slider mechanism to movement of said pivotably mounted panel in order to move said pivotably mounted panel between said deployed position and said nondeployed position.    
     
     
         11 . The luggage article of  claim 10 , wherein 
 said linkage means includes a first link and a second link, said first link is pivotably mounted to said panel and said second link and said second link is pivotably mounted to said first link and said body portion, whereby when said pivotably mounted panel is in said nondeployed position, said first and second links fold on top of each other and are disposed in a cavity formed by said body portion with said panel being overlaid thereon.    
     
     
         12 . The luggage article of  claim 5 , wherein 
 each of said female tubes includes an opening, said movable detent being constructed to automatically engage into said opening when said handle is moved from said retracted position to said extended position thus locking said handle into said extended position; and    said movable detent disengages from said opening thus unlocking said handle in order to move said handle away from said extended position, said movable detent being disengaged when said button is moved.    
     
     
         13 . The luggage article of  claim 5 , wherein 
 said button includes: 
 a housing;  
 a first tab and a second tab movably mounted in said housing, said first cable being attached to said first tab and said second cable being attached to said second cable; and  
 a pushbutton operatively associated with said first tab and said second tab, whereby movement of said pushbutton causes responsive movement of said tabs and thus said cables in order to move said movable detents.  
   
     
     
         14 . The luggage article of  claim 13 , wherein 
 said tabs each include engagement openings formed therein, said engagement openings including a sloped pilot surface;    said pushbutton includes a first projection having a pilot surface and a second projection having a pilot surface, said pilot surfaces of said projections engaging against said pilot surfaces of said engagement openings taken said pushbutton is pushed in so that said tabs are drawn towards each other in order to move said cables and thus said movable detents.    
     
     
         15 . The luggage article of  claim 14 , including 
 a pushbutton spring biasing said pushbutton in a first position wherein said movable detent projects from said male tube.    
     
     
         16 . The luggage article of  claim 5 , wherein 
 said button is a spring biased pushbutton which engages a camming means when said pushbutton is pushed down, said camming means rotating about a pivot point and causing responsive movement of said cable.    
     
     
         17 . The luggage article of  claim 1 , wherein 
 said second roller means is a caster.    
     
     
         18 . The luggage article of  claim 17 , wherein 
 said caster comprises: 
 a caster frame rotatably attached to said wheeled panel mechanism;  
 a wheel axially rotatably mounted to said caster frame, said wheel having an axis of rotation generally perpendicular to an axis of rotation of said caster frame; and  
 said caster frame being (i) freely rotatable about its axis of rotation when said wheel bears against a surface and (ii) oriented in a predetermined position when said wheel is not bearing against said surface.  
   
     
     
         19 . The luggage article of  claim 18 , wherein 
 said wheeled panel mechanism includes guiding means, a portion of said caster frame being guided by said guiding means when said wheel is lifted from said surface so as to position said caster frame in said predetermined position.    
     
     
         20 . The caster of  claim 19 , wherein 
 said caster frame includes a rod extending from said wheel through said guiding means, said rod including a pin; and    said guiding means being constructed and arranged for guiding said pin to orient said wheel and said wheel frame in said predetermined position.    
     
     
         21 . The caster of  claim 20 , wherein 
 said guiding means has a V-shape cross-section for guiding said pin.    
     
     
         22 . The caster of  claim 21 , wherein 
 said retractable portion includes a biasing means to bias said wheel and said caster frame into said predetermined position when said wheel is not bearing against said surface.    
     
     
         23 . The caster of  claim 18 , wherein 
 said caster frame includes (i) a swivel and (ii) a wheel frame connecting said swivel with said wheel, said wheel frame being pivotably mounted to said swivel so that when said retractable portion is stored, said wheel and said caster frame can be positioned so as to occupy less space than a wheel and caster frame without said pivotably mounted plate.    
     
     
         24 . A wheeled panel mechanism for use in association with an article including a handle movable between a retracted position and an extended position, said wheeled panel mechanism including a pivotably mounted panel having a rolling means, said rolling means being selectively deployed or not deployed when said handle is moved from said retracted position.  
     
     
         25 . The mechanism of  claim 24 , wherein 
 said wheeled panel mechanism includes a body portion and linkage means connecting said body portion to said pivotably mounted panel.    
     
     
         26 . The mechanism of  claim 25 , wherein 
 said wheeled panel mechanism includes a slider mechanism movable in said body portion, said slider mechanism causing movement of said pivotably mounted panel between a deployed position where said rolling means are deployed and a nondeployed position where said rolling means are not deployed.    
     
     
         27 . The mechanism of  claim 26 , including 
 a belt having a first end attached to said body portion and a second end attached to said linkage means, said belt being operatively associated with said slider mechanism so that movement of said slider mechanism causes movement of said linkage means.    
     
     
         28 . The mechanism of  claim 27 , including 
 said slider mechanism includes a first roller;    a second roller mounted to said body portion;    a third roller spaced apart from said second roller and also mounted to said body portion; and    said belt engaging against said first, second and third rollers in order to translate movement of said slider mechanism to movement of said pivotably mounted panel in order to move said pivotably mounted panel between said deployed position and said nondeployed position.    
     
     
         29 . The mechanism of  claim 28 , including 
 said linkage means includes a first link and a second link, said first link is pivotably mounted to said panel and said second link and said second link is pivotably mounted to said first link and said body portion, whereby when said pivotably mounted panel is in said nondeployed position, said first and second links fold on top of each other and are disposed in a cavity formed by said body portion with said panel being overlaid thereon.    
     
     
         30 . A luggage article including a handle movable from a retracted position to an extended position, said handle including detent means comprising: 
 a detent mechanism including a detent housing and a movable detent;    a button mounted in said handle; and    a cable connecting said button to said detent such that movement of said button causes corresponding movement of said movable detent which in turn permits movement of said handle from said extended position to said retracted position.    
     
     
         31 . The luggage article of  claim 30 , wherein 
 said handle includes a pair of spaced apart female tubes secured to a frame of said luggage article; and    a pair of male tubes, each of which is slidingly engaged in respective female tubes, said male tubes being joined by a gripping portion at one end thereof and each having a free end opposite said gripping portion.    
     
     
         32 . The luggage article of  claim 31 , wherein 
 each of said female tubes includes an opening, said detent being constructed to automatically engage into said opening when said handle is moved from said retracted position to said extended position thus locking said handle into said extended position; and    said detent disengages from said opening thus unlocking said handle in order to move said handle away from said extended position, said detent being disengaged when said button is moved.    
     
     
         33 . The luggage article of  claim 30 , wherein 
 said button is a spring biased pushbutton which engages a camming means when said pushbutton is pushed down, said camming means rotating about a pivot point and causing responsive movement of said cable.    
     
     
         34 . A caster for an item including a retractable portion, said caster comprising: 
 a caster frame attached to said retractable portion;    a wheel rotatably mounted to said caster frame; and    said wheel and said caster frame being (i) freely rotatable about an axis of rotation generally perpendicular to an axis of rotation of said wheel mounted in said caster frame when said wheel bears against a surface and (ii) oriented in a predetermined position when said wheel is not bearing against said surface.    
     
     
         35 . The caster of  claim 34 , wherein 
 said retractable portion including guiding means, a portion of said caster frame being guided by said guiding means when said wheel is lifted from said surface so as to position said caster frame in said predetermined position.    
     
     
         36 . The caster. of  claim 35 , wherein 
 said caster frame includes a rod extending from said wheel through said guiding means, said rod including a pin; and    said guiding means being constructed and arranged for guiding said pin to orient said wheel and said wheel frame in said predetermined position.    
     
     
         37 . The caster of  claim 36 , wherein 
 said guiding means has a V-shape cross-section for guiding said pin.    
     
     
         38 . The caster of  claim 37 , wherein 
 said retractable portion includes a biasing means to bias said wheel and said caster frame into said predetermined position when said wheel is not bearing against said surface.    
     
     
         39 . The caster of  claim 34 , wherein 
 said caster frame includes (i) a swivel and (ii) a wheel frame connecting said swivel with said wheel, said wheel frame being pivotably mounted to said swivel so that when said retractable portion is stored, said wheel and said caster frame can be positioned so as to occupy less space than a wheel and caster frame without said pivotably mounted plate.    
     
     
         40 . A caster for an item, said caster comprising: 
 a caster frame rotatably attached to said item;    a wheel axially rotatably mounted to said caster frame, said wheel having an axis of rotation generally perpendicular to an axis of rotation of said caster frame; and    said caster frame being (i) freely rotatable about its axis of rotation when said wheel bears against a surface and (ii) oriented in a predetermined position when said wheel is not bearing against said surface.    
     
     
         41 . The caster of  claim 40 , wherein 
 said item includes guiding means, a portion of said caster. frame being guided by said guiding means when said wheel is lifted from said surface so as to position said caster frame in said predetermined position.    
     
     
         42 . The caster of  claim 41 , wherein 
 said caster frame includes a rod extending from said wheel through said guiding means, said rod including a pin; and    said guiding means being constructed and arranged for guiding said pin to orient said wheel and said caster frame in said predetermined position.    
     
     
         43 . The caster of  claim 42 , wherein 
 said guiding means has a V-shape cross-section for guiding said pin.    
     
     
         44 . The caster of  claim 43 , wherein 
 said retractable portion includes a biasing means to bias said wheel and said wheel frame into said predetermined position when said wheel is not bearing against said surface.    
     
     
         45 . The caster of  claim 40 , wherein 
 said caster frame includes (i) a swivel and (ii) a wheel frame connecting said swivel with said wheel, said wheel frame being pivotably mounted to said swivel so that when said retractable portion is stored, said wheel and said caster frame can be positioned so as to occupy less space than a wheel and caster frame without said pivotably mounted plate.    
     
     
         46 . A pushbutton device for a mechanism including a movable detent having attached thereto a cable, said cable being attached to a camming means, said pushbutton device including a spring biased pushbutton that engages said camming means when said pushbutton is pushed down, said camming means rotating about a pivot point and causing responsive movement of said cable and said movable detent.  
     
     
         47 . The device of  claim 46 , wherein 
 said mechanism includes a pair of movable detents each having attached thereto a separate cable, each of said cables being attached to a separate camming means.