Wheeled suitcase equipped with a seat for a small child

Abstract

The wheeled suitcase, particularly having dimensions that make it useful as hand luggage, is provided with, resting on its top wall, a preferably fold-away seat ( 2, 3 ) in which it is possible to place the small child (B) who is held securely in place by means of straps ( 6, 6 ′) in such a way that the said suitcase can also be used temporarily as a pram.

1 . Wheeled suitcase characterized in that it is equipped with a seat ( 2 ,  3 ), resting on the top wall of the said suitcase (V), in which seat ( 2 ,  3 ) it is possible to place a small child (B) who is held securely in place by means of straps ( 6 ,  106 ,  6 ′), in such a way that the suitcase can also be used temporarily as a pram.  
     
     
         2 . Suitcase according to  claim 1 , in which the seat ( 2 ,  3 ) can be folded away.  
     
     
         3 . Suitcase according to  claim 1 , in which the seat is positioned with its backrest ( 3 ) facing, and at a suitable distance from, the shafts (S) of the said suitcase, in such a way that the child can place his or her legs either side of or between the said shafts and can grasp them firmly in his or her hands.  
     
     
         4 . Suitcase according to  claim 1 , in which the seat is positioned with its backrest ( 3 ) resting against the lower part of the shafts (S) which therefore also take part of the weight of the seated child.  
     
     
         5 . Suitcase according to  claim 4 , in which the seat comprises a seat base part ( 2 ) which rests on the top wall of the said suitcase and which is hinged by means of hinges ( 1 ) to a backrest part ( 3 ), which can be folded down onto the seat base and which in the raised position of use rests against the shafts of the said suitcase, means being provided for attaching any one or more parts of the said seat to any suitable part of the suitcase (V).  
     
     
         6 . Suitcase according to  claim 5 , in which the hinges ( 1 ) connecting the seat base ( 2 ) to the backrest ( 3 ) are fixed directly or indirectly to an upper crossmember (T) that belongs to the stiffening structure of the suitcase (V) or that can be fixed to the latter.  
     
     
         7 . Suitcase according to  claim 5 , in which the backrest part ( 3 ) is provided with means for its removable connection to the shafts (S) of the said suitcase (V).  
     
     
         8 . Suitcase according to  claim 5 , in which the backrest part ( 3 ) has dimensions such that when it is folded down onto the seat base ( 2 ), it is wholly or largely within the projection in plan view of this component.  
     
     
         9 . Suitcase according to  claim 8 , in which there is hinged to the backrest part ( 3 ) by suitable hinges ( 4 ) on the opposite side from that hinged to the seat base part ( 2 ), an extension ( 103 ) which in the rest position folds down onto the rear face of the backrest and in the use position is coplanar with said backrest, resting at the bottom on the latter and at the rear on the shafts (S) of the suitcase (V).  
     
     
         10 . Suitcase according to  claim 5 , in which the seat base part ( 2 ) can be connected at the sides to the backrest part ( 3 ) by means of flexible or jointed bands ( 5 ) useful as means for lateral containment of the seated child.  
     
     
         11 . Suitcase according to  claim 5 , in which the ends of straps ( 6 ) with which it is possible to fasten the child securely to the said seat are anchored to the hinges ( 1 ) connecting the seat base part ( 2 ) to the backrest part ( 3 ) or to some other position of the seat near these hinges, and to the shafts (S).  
     
     
         12 . Suitcase according to  claim 6 , in which the hinges ( 1 ) connecting the seat base part ( 2 ) to the backrest part ( 3 ) and which connect the entire seat to the said suitcase, are such as to allow the seat base itself to rotate towards the shafts (S) when the handle (M 1 ) on top of the suitcase (V) is to be used.  
     
     
         13 . Suitcase according to  claim 3 , characterized in that it comprises a seat base part ( 2 ) that rests on the top wall of the said suitcase, that is attached by any suitable means ( 1 ) to any part of the said suitcase and that is hinged like a book on the side furthest from the shafts (S), by means of hinges ( 7 ), to a backrest part ( 3 ) that can be folded down on to the said seat or that can be moved away angularly from the latter by at least ninety degrees and means ( 5 ) being provided to keep the backrest in this position of use, while suitable belts ( 6 ′) are provided to hold the child on the seat constructed in this manner.  
     
     
         14 . Suitcase according to  claim 2 , characterized in that it is provided with straps or other suitable means so that the various component parts of the seat can be secured in the fold-away position when this component is not being used.  
     
     
         15 . Suitcase according to  claim 1 , characterized in that it can be provided with a fold-away means useful as a footrest for the child sitting on the seat fitted to the said suitcase (V).