Wheeled Suitcase

Abstract

The present invention is a wheeled suitcase that includes a suitcase body, a base, an elongated track, a handle, and a retractable wheel, mounted along the track, being moveable between an active position at which the retractable wheel extends below the track or an inactive position at which said retractable wheel is substantially within the interior volume of the base, wherein the elongated track permits said retractable wheel to move to a desired position between the first end and the second end of the track when the retractable wheel is in an inactive position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A wheeled suitcase, comprising:
 a suitcase body having top and bottom surfaces, front and rear surfaces, and first and second side surfaces;   a base having an interior volume defining an enclosure having a top, a bottom and four sides and being connected to said bottom surface of the suitcase body;   an elongated track having a first end and a second end, having a relatively rigid frame extending around the track, being coupled to the bottom of the base;   a retractable wheel, mounted along the track, being moveable between an active position at which the retractable wheel extends below the track or an inactive position at which said retractable wheel is substantially within the interior volume of the base, wherein the elongated track permits said retractable wheel to move to a desired position between the first end and the second end of the track when the retractable wheel is in an inactive position; and   a handle extending upwardly from the suitcase body for steering, pushing, pulling and lifting purposes, such that when the retractable wheel is in the active position, in use, the retractable wheel are in contact with the ground and wherein when the suitcase body is being pushed along by the handle, the retractable wheel leads.   
     
     
         2 . The wheeled suitcase according to  claim 1 , wherein said retractable wheel is made from material for facilitating optimal rolling contact with a floor surface. 
     
     
         3 . The wheeled suitcase according to  claim 2 , wherein said material comprises rubber/silicone to enable rolling movement over a variety of surfaces and grading and under adverse environmental conditions. 
     
     
         4 . The wheeled suitcase according to  claim 3 , wherein said variety of surfaces and grading comprises at least one selected from the group: paved brick surfaces, paved stone surfaces, gravelly surfaces, rocky surfaces, irregular surfaces, curved surfaces, inclined surfaces, curbing, stairways and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The wheeled suitcase according to  claim 1 , wherein an anti slippage means is secured to the handle. 
     
     
         6 . The wheeled suitcase according to  claim 5 , wherein the anti-slippage means is a protrusion disposed at the central portion of the handle. 
     
     
         7 . The wheeled suitcase according to  claim 1 , wherein said retractable wheel has a diameter at least five inches. 
     
     
         8 . A wheeled suitcase, comprising:
 a suitcase body having top and bottom surfaces, front and rear surfaces, and first and second side surfaces;   a base having an interior volume defining an enclosure having a top, a bottom and four sides and being connected to said bottom surface of the suitcase body;   a support wheel, located on the bottom of the base, being moveable between an active position at which the support wheel extends below the bottom of the base or an inactive position at which said support wheel is substantially within the interior volume of the base;   an elongated track having a first end and a second end, having a relatively rigid frame extending around the track, being coupled to the bottom of the base;   a retractable wheel, mounted along the track, being moveable between an active position at which the retractable wheel extends below the track or an inactive position at which said retractable wheel is substantially within the interior volume of the base, wherein the elongated track permits said retractable wheel to move to a desired position between the first end and the second end of the track when the retractable wheel are in an inactive position; and   a handle extending upwardly from the suitcase body for steering, pushing, pulling and lifting purposes, such that when the retractable wheel is in the active position, in use, the retractable wheel is in contact with the ground and wherein when the suitcase body is being pushed along by the handle, the retractable wheel leads.   
     
     
         9 . The wheeled suitcase according to  claim 8 , wherein said retractable wheel is made from material for facilitating optimal rolling contact with a floor surface. 
     
     
         10 . The wheeled suitcase according to  claim 9 , wherein said material comprises rubber/silicone to enable rolling movement over a variety of surfaces and grading and under adverse environmental conditions. 
     
     
         11 . The wheeled suitcase according to  claim 10 , wherein said variety of surfaces and grading comprises at least one selected from the group: paved brick surfaces, paved stone surfaces, gravelly surfaces, rocky surfaces, irregular surfaces, curved surfaces, inclined surfaces, curbing, stairways and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The wheeled suitcase according to  claim 8 , wherein an anti slippage means is secured to the handle. 
     
     
         13 . The wheeled suitcase according to  claim 12 , wherein the anti-slippage means is a protrusion disposed at the central portion of the handle. 
     
     
         14 . The wheeled suitcase according to  claim 8 , wherein said retractable wheel has a diameter at least five inches. 
     
     
         15 . A wheeled suitcase, comprising:
 a suitcase body having top and bottom surfaces, front and rear surfaces, and first and second side surfaces;   a base having an interior volume defining an enclosure having a top, a bottom and four sides and being connected to said bottom surface of the suitcase body;   a support wheel, located on the bottom of the base, being moveable between an active position at which the support wheel extends below the bottom of the base or an inactive position at which said support wheel is substantially within the interior volume of the base;   an elongated track having a first end and a second end, distanced from the support wheel, having a relatively rigid frame extending around the track, being coupled to the bottom of the base;   a retractable wheel, mounted along the track, being moveable between an active position at which the retractable wheel extends below the track or an inactive position at which said retractable wheel is substantially within the interior volume of the base, wherein the elongated track permits said retractable wheel to move to a desired position between the first end and the second end of the track when the retractable wheel is in an inactive position;   an elongated cover extending outwardly from the base wherein the elongated cover covers the retractable wheel when the retractable wheel is substantially within the interior volume of the base; and   a handle extending upwardly from the suitcase body for steering, pushing, pulling and lifting purposes, such that when the retractable wheel is in the active position, in use, the retractable wheel is in contact with the ground and wherein when the suitcase body is being pushed along by the handle, the retractable wheel leads.   
     
     
         16 . The wheeled suitcase according to  claim 15 , wherein said retractable wheel is made from material for facilitating optimal rolling contact with a floor surface. 
     
     
         17 . The wheeled suitcase according to  claim 16 , wherein said material comprises rubber/silicone to enable rolling movement over a variety of surfaces and grading and under adverse environmental conditions. 
     
     
         18 . The wheeled suitcase according to  claim 15 , wherein an anti slippage means is secured to the handle. 
     
     
         19 . The wheeled suitcase according to  claim 18 , wherein the anti-slippage means is a protrusion disposed at the central portion of the handle. 
     
     
         20 . The wheeled suitcase according to  claim 15 , wherein said retractable wheel has a diameter at least five inches.