Luggage with Deployable Undercarriage

Abstract

A luggage with a deployable, wheeled undercarriage and movable handles. The undercarriage has telescoping support members that can be deployed or opened to carry additional baggage and closed when not required. Wheels on the support members allow the luggage to be moved along the floor without having to tilt the luggage. This increases the stability and the amount of baggage that can be added. The handles in the deployed configuration extend behind the luggage to facilitate pushing the luggage. Deployment of the undercarriage can be manual or automatic with actuation of a deployment member, such as the handle itself.

1 . A luggage, comprising:
 a. a suitcase defined by a front wall, a rear wall opposite the front wall, two sidewalls opposite each other and adjacent to the front wall and the rear wall, a top wall adjacent to the front and rear walls and the sidewalls, and a bottom wall opposite the top wall and adjacent to front and rear walls and the sidewalls, the suitcase having
 i. an adjustable handle movably connected to the suitcase, the adjustable handle having at least two configurations, wherein in a first configuration the adjustable handle is deployed with the adjustable handle directed rearward relative to the suitcase accessible to a user, and in a second configuration the adjustable handle is at least partially concealed by the suitcase, 
 ii. a containment unit connected to the adjustable handle, the containment unit being pliable so as to adopt an open configuration, and a closed configuration, wherein the containment unit adopts the open configuration when the adjustable handle is deployed, and the containment unit adopts the closed configuration when the adjustable handle is concealed, 
 iii. a reinforcement bar embedded in the rear wall of the suitcase through which the adjustable handle is connected to the suitcase, the reinforcement bar providing added structural integrity to the handle, 
 iv. a surface groove on and external surface of the suitcase to receive the adjustable handle in the closed configuration so as to conceal the handle below the external surface of the suitcase; and 
   b. an undercarriage, comprising:
 i. a base; 
 ii. a first pair of wheels attached to the base; 
 iii. a support member, slidingly attached to the base via a rail system; 
 iv. a second pair of wheels attached to the first support member; 
 v. wherein the rail system, comprises:
 a) a first pair of fixed rails attached to the base via a first pair of angled bars, 
 b) a pair of intermediate rails slidingly coupled to the first pair of fixed rails, 
 c) a pair of inner rails slidingly coupled to the pair of intermediate rails, the pair of inner rails attached to the support member via a second pair of angled bars, 
 d) a second pair of fixed rails attached to the second pair of angled bars, 
 e) a second pair of inner rails slidingly coupled to the second pair of fixed rails, the second pair of inner rails fixed to a second support member, the second support member comprising a pair of slots to receive the second pair of wheels when in the stored configuration. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . A luggage, comprising:
 a. a suitcase defined by a front wall, a rear wall opposite the front wall, two sidewalls opposite each other and adjacent to the front wall and the rear wall, a top wall adjacent to the front and rear walls and the sidewalls, and a bottom wall opposite the top wall and adjacent to front and rear walls and the sidewalls, the suitcase having an adjustable handle adjustably connected to the suitcase, the adjustable handle having at least two configurations, wherein in a first configuration the adjustable handle is deployed with the handle directed rearward and upward relative to the suitcase in a resting position, and in a second configuration the adjustable handle is concealed by the suitcase; and   b. an undercarriage, comprising:
 i. a base; 
 ii. a first pair of wheels attached to the base; 
 iii. a first support member slidingly attached to the base via a first rail system, the first rail system comprising a fixed rail attached to the base, and a sliding rail attached to the support member, the sliding rail slidably coupled to the fixed rail; 
 iv. a second pair of wheels attached to the support member; and 
 v. a second support member slidingly coupled to the first support member via a second rail system. 
   
     
     
         3 . The luggage of  claim 2 , wherein the support members are automatically deployed by actuation of deployment member. 
     
     
         4 . The luggage of  claim 3 , wherein the deployment member is the adjustable handle. 
     
     
         5 . The luggage of  claim 2 , further comprising a reinforcement bar embedded in the rear wall of the suitcase through which the adjustable handle is connected to the suitcase, the reinforcement bar providing added structural integrity to the adjustable handle, 
     
     
         6 . The luggage of  claim 2 , further comprising a surface groove an external surface of the suitcase to receive the adjustable handle in the second configuration so as to conceal the adjustable handle below the external surface of the suitcase. 
     
     
         7 . The luggage of  claim 2 , further comprising a containment unit connected to the adjustable handle, the containment unit being pliable so as to adopt an open configuration, and a closed configuration, wherein the containment unit adopts the open configuration when the adjustable handle is deployed, and the containment unit adopts the closed configuration when the adjustable handle is concealed. 
     
     
         8 . The luggage of  claim 2 , wherein the second support member is a panel, wherein the second support member comprises a pair of slots to receive the second pair of wheels in the stored configuration. 
     
     
         9 . The luggage of  claim 2 , wherein the first support member is a panel, wherein the first support member comprises a second pair of slots to receive the second pair of wheels in the stored configuration. 
     
     
         10 . A luggage, comprising:
 a. a suitcase defined by a front wall, a rear wall opposite the front wall, two sidewalls opposite each other and adjacent to the front wall and the rear wall, a top wall adjacent to the front and rear walls and the sidewalls, and a bottom wall opposite the top wall and adjacent to front and rear walls and the sidewalls, the suitcase having an adjustable handle movably connected to the suitcase, the adjustable handle having two configurations, wherein in a first configuration the adjustable handle is deployed with the handle directed rearward relative to the suitcase and accessible to a user, and in a second configuration the adjustable handle is concealed by the suitcase; and   b. an undercarriage, comprising:
 i. a base; 
 ii. a first support member telescopically attached to the base capable of adopting an open configuration and a closed configuration; and 
 iii. a pair of wheels attached to the support member. 
   
     
     
         11 . The luggage of  claim 10 , wherein the adjustable handle is rotatably connected to the suitcase. 
     
     
         12 . The luggage of  claim 10 , further comprising a second support member telescopically attached to the first support member. 
     
     
         13 . The luggage of  claim 12 , wherein the second support member is a panel comprising a pair of slots to receive the pair of wheels in the stored configuration. 
     
     
         14 . The luggage of  claim 10 , wherein the support members are automatically deployed by actuation of deployment member. 
     
     
         15 . The luggage of  claim 14 , wherein the deployment member is the adjustable handle. 
     
     
         16 . The luggage of  claim 10 , further comprising a reinforcement bar embedded in the rear wall of the suitcase through which the adjustable handle is connected to the suitcase, the reinforcement bar providing added structural integrity to the adjustable handle. 
     
     
         17 . The luggage of  claim 10 , further comprising a surface groove on an external surface of the suitcase to receive the handle in the closed configuration so as to conceal the handle below the external surface of the suitcase. 
     
     
         18 . The luggage of  claim 17 , wherein the surface groove is located on a wall selected from the group consisting of the top wall and the rear wall. 
     
     
         19 . The luggage of  claim 10 , further comprising a containment unit connected to the adjustable handle, the containment unit capable of adopting an open configuration, and a closed configuration, wherein the containment unit adopts the open configuration when the adjustable handle is deployed, and the containment unit adopts the closed configuration when the adjustable handle is concealed. 
     
     
         20 . The luggage of  claim 10 , wherein the suitcase comprises a pair of wheels connected to a rear portion of the bottom wall of the suitcase.