Luggage bag with handle-activated wheel deployment system

Abstract

A luggage bag ( 10 ) having a handle-activated wheel deployment system ( 11 ), which includes an extendable handle assembly ( 26 ) having a number of extendable members ( 25 ), and a cross piece ( 30 ) joining the extendable members ( 25 ). Also included is a number of extendable wheel assemblies ( 12 ) having extendable wheels ( 14 ) which are movable from a retracted position ( 78 ) to an extended position ( 76 ), and axel brackets ( 16 ) which are rotatable about a pivot ( 20 ). The axel bracket ( 16 ) also has at least one extension tab ( 74 ). An activation assembly ( 50 ) includes a linkage ( 49 ) which connects the extendable handle assembly ( 26 ) and at least one extendable wheel assembly ( 12 ), so that extension of the handle assembly ( 26 ) causes extension of the extendable wheels ( 14 ). The activation assembly ( 50 ) acts to move the extension tab ( 74 ) to pivot the wheels ( 14 ) to extend or retract.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A luggage bag with an enclosure for containing articles to be transported, and including a handle activated wheel deployment system, comprising: 
 an extendable handle assembly having a plurality of extendable members, and a cross piece joining said extendable members;    a plurality of extendable wheel assemblies having extendable wheels which are movable from a retracted position to an extended position, said extendable wheel assemblies each including an axel bracket which is rotatable about a pivot, said axel bracket also having at least one extension tab;    an activation assembly including a linkage which connects said extendable handle assembly and at least one of said extendable wheel assemblies, such that extension of said extendable handle assembly causes extension of at least one of said extendable wheels, said activation assembly acting to move said at least one extension tab to pivot said wheels to extend said wheels and also to move said at least one extension tab to pivot said wheels to retract said wheels.    
     
     
         2 . The luggage bag of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said at least one extension tab includes a first extension tab and a second extension tab.    
     
     
         3 . The luggage bag of  claim 2 , wherein: 
 said activation assembly includes a block which acts to push said first extension tab to extend said wheels and acts to push said second tab to retract said wheels.    
     
     
         4 . The luggage bag of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said at least one extension tab is a single extension tab which is pulled by said linkage to pivot said wheels to said extended position, and which is pushed by said linkage to pivot said wheels to said retracted position.    
     
     
         5 . The luggage bag of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said activation acts to extend both wheels in unison and also acts to retract both wheels in unison.    
     
     
         6 . The luggage bag of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said linkage includes at least one cable.    
     
     
         7 . The luggage bag of  claim 6 , wherein: 
 each of said at least one cable travels inside a tube that is fixed in position.    
     
     
         8 . The luggage bag of  claim 3 , wherein: 
 said cable is connected to said block.    
     
     
         9 . The luggage bag of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a locking mechanism which acts to maintain said handle and said wheels in said extended position and also in said retracted position.    
     
     
         10 . The luggage bag of  claim 9 , wherein: 
 said locking mechanism is activated by a release button.    
     
     
         11 . The luggage bag of  claim 10 , wherein: 
 said release button is included in said cross piece of said handle.    
     
     
         12 . The luggage bag of  claim 9 , wherein: 
 said locking mechanism includes retention members which are urged by springs into detent holes.    
     
     
         13 . The luggage bag of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said pivots rotate about axes which are substantially parallel to said extendable members.    
     
     
         14 . A handle-activated wheel deployment system for luggage, comprising: 
 an extendable handle assembly having a plurality of extendable members, and a cross piece joining said extendable members;    a plurality of extendable wheel assemblies having extendable wheels which are movable from a retracted position to an extended position, said extendable wheel assemblies each including an axel bracket which is rotatable about a pivot, said axel bracket also having at least one extension tab;    an activation assembly including a linkage which connects said extendable handle assembly and at least one of said extendable wheel assemblies, such that extension of said handle assembly causes extension of at least one of said extendable wheels, said activation assembly acting to move said at least one extension tab to pivot said wheels to extend said wheels and also to move said at least one extension tab to pivot said wheels to retract said wheels.    
     
     
         15 . The handle-activated wheel deployment system of  claim 14 , wherein: 
 said at least one extension tab includes a first extension tab and a second extension tab.    
     
     
         16 . The handle-activated wheel deployment system of  claim 15 , wherein: 
 said activation assembly includes a block which acts to push said first extension tab to extend said wheels and acts to push said second tab to retract said wheels.    
     
     
         17 . The handle-activated wheel deployment system of  claim 14 , wherein: 
 said at least one extension tab is a single extension tab which is pulled by said linkage to pivot said wheels to said extended position, and which is pushed by said linkage to pivot said wheels to said retracted position.    
     
     
         18 . The handle-activated wheel deployment system of  claim 14 , wherein: 
 said linkage includes at least one cable.    
     
     
         19 . The handle-activated wheel deployment system of  claim 18 , wherein: 
 each of said at least one cable travels inside a tube that is fixed in position.    
     
     
         20 . The handle-activated wheel deployment system of  claim 19 , wherein: 
 said cable is connected to said block.    
     
     
         21 . The handle-activated wheel deployment system of  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 a locking mechanism which acts to maintain said handle and said wheels in said extended position and also in said retracted position.    
     
     
         22 . The handle-activated wheel deployment system of  claim 14 , wherein: 
 said pivots rotate about axes which are substantially parallel to said extendable members.