Connectable Suitcases with Configurable Wheels

Abstract

A system for improved travelability of a plurality of suitcases includes mechanisms to link a first upright suitcase to a second, prone-configuration suitcase. In some embodiments, the second, prone configured suitcase, has configurable wheels such that, in the prone configuration, at least two wheels interface with a surface on which the linked first upright suitcase and prone configured second suitcase rests.

1 . A suitcase system comprising:
 a first suitcase having a top surface, a bottom surface, side surfaces, a handle extendably mounted to the top surface, a plurality of wheels interfaced to the bottom surface and two connecting members, a first connecting member of the two connecting members affixed to a first side surface of the side surfaces and a second connecting member of the two connecting members affixed to a second side surface of the side surfaces, the first side surface facing in a first direction and the second side surface facing in a direction opposite to the first direction;   a second suitcase having a second top surface, a second bottom surface, second side surfaces, a second handle extendably mounted to the second top surface, a set of wheels interfaced to a side surface and two mating connecting members, a first mating connecting member of the two mating connecting members affixed to a first surface of the second side surfaces and a second mating connecting member of the two mating connecting members affixed to a second surface of the second side surfaces, the first surface being on an opposing side to the second surface; and   whereas, when the first suitcase is positioned in an upright configuration having the plurality of wheels on a surface and the second suitcase is positioned in a prone configuration having the set of wheels on the surface, the two connecting members align with the two mating connecting members for connecting the first suitcase to the second suitcase and when the two connecting members are locked with the two mating connecting members, the second suitcase moves in tandem with the first suitcase.   
     
     
         2 . The suitcase system of  claim 1 , wherein the two connecting members are clips affixed to the first suitcase and the two mating connecting members are mating clips affixed to the second suitcase. 
     
     
         3 . The suitcase system of  claim 1 , wherein the two mating connecting members are clips affixed to the second suitcase and the two connecting members are mating clips affixed to the first suitcase. 
     
     
         4 . The suitcase system of  claim 1 , wherein the two connecting members are sheets of cloth that are sewn to the first suitcase and the two mating connecting members are snaps that are interfaced to the second suitcase. 
     
     
         5 . The suitcase system of  claim 1 , wherein the two mating connecting members are sheets of cloth that are sewn to the second suitcase and the two connecting members are snaps that are interfaced to the first suitcase. 
     
     
         6 . The suitcase system of  claim 1 , wherein the set of wheels of the second suitcase are interfaced to a third surface of the second side surfaces, the third surface being at a 90-degree angle with respect to the first surface. 
     
     
         7 . The suitcase system of  claim 6 , wherein the set of wheels of the second suitcase are four wheels. 
     
     
         8 . The suitcase system of  claim 6 , wherein the set of wheels of the second suitcase is two wheels. 
     
     
         9 . The suitcase system of  claim 8 , wherein the two wheels are rotatably interfaced to the second suitcase and positioned on the second bottom surface of the second suitcase when the second suitcase is used in the upright configuration and positioned on the third surface of the second suitcase when the second suitcase is used in the prone configuration. 
     
     
         10 . The suitcase system of  claim 9 , further comprising two additional wheels interfaced to the second suitcase and positioned on the second bottom surface of the second suitcase. 
     
     
         11 . The suitcase system of  claim 10 , wherein the two additional wheels are retractable between a first position in which the two additional wheels extend from the second bottom surface of the second suitcase and a second position in which the two additional wheels rest beneath the second bottom surface of the second suitcase. 
     
     
         12 . The suitcase system of  claim 1 , wherein the handle is removably affixed to the top surface of the first suitcase for exchangeability of the handle. 
     
     
         13 . The suitcase system of  claim 12 , wherein the handle is removably affixed to the top surface of the first suitcase by a zipper mechanism. 
     
     
         14 . The suitcase system of  claim 1 , further comprising a third suitcase having a third top surface, a third bottom surface, third side surfaces, a third handle extendably mounted to the third top surface, a third set of wheels interfaced to the third bottom surface and a third set of mating connecting members affixed to an opposing pair of the third side surfaces for mating with another set of connecting members affixed to the second side surfaces of the second suitcase. 
     
     
         15 . A method of moving two or more suitcases, the method comprising:
 standing a first suitcase in an upright configuration in which a set of wheels of the first suitcase are resting on a surface and a handle of the first suitcase is distal from the surface;   providing a second suitcase having at least one pair of wheels positioned on a side surface of the second suitcase and laying the second suitcase in a prone configuration in which the at least one pair of wheels of the second suitcase is resting on the surface; and   connecting the second suitcase to the first suitcase such that, when moving the first suitcase, the second suitcase moving in tandem with the first suitcase.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein when connecting the second suitcase to the first suitcase, a pair of connecting member that is affixed to opposing side surface of the first suitcase are engaged with a pair of mating connecting members that is affixed to other opposing side surfaces of the second suitcase. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the one pair of wheels are positioned on the side surface of the second suitcase by rotating the one pair of wheels from a configuration in which the one pair of wheels are positioned on a bottom surface of the second suitcase into a configuration in which the one pair of wheels are positioned on the side surface of the second suitcase. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the one pair of wheels are positioned on the side surface of the second suitcase using a mechanism in which the one pair of wheels retracts when the second suitcase is in a configuration other than the prone configuration and the one pair of wheels are extended when the second suitcase is in the prone configuration. 
     
     
         19 . A suitcase system comprising:
 a first suitcase having a top surface, a bottom surface, side surfaces, a handle extendably mounted to the top surface and a plurality of wheels interfaced to the bottom surface and two connecting members, a first connecting member of the two connecting members affixed to a first side surface of the side surfaces and a second connecting member of the two connecting members affixed to a second side surface of the side surfaces, the first side surface facing in a first direction and the second side surface facing in a direction opposite to the first direction;   a second suitcase having a second top surface, a second bottom surface, second side surfaces, a second handle extendably mounted to the second top surface, a set of wheels rotatably interface to the second suitcase such that in a first position, the set of wheels extend from the second bottom surface and in a second position, the set of wheels extend from one side surface of the second side surfaces; two mating connecting members, a first mating connecting member of the two mating connecting members affixed to a first surface of the second side surfaces and a second mating connecting member of the two mating connecting members affixed to a second surface of the second side surfaces, the first surface being on an opposing side to the second surface and the first surface being at approximately 90-degrees with respect to the one side surface; and   whereas, when the first suitcase is positioned in an upright configuration having the plurality of wheels on a surface and the second suitcase is positioned in a prone configuration having the set of wheels on the surface, the two connecting members align with the two mating connecting members for connecting the first suitcase to the second suitcase and when the two connecting members are locked with the two mating connecting members, the second suitcase moves in tandem with the first suitcase.   
     
     
         20 . The suitcase system of  claim 19 , wherein the two connecting members are clips affixed to the first suitcase and the two mating connecting members are mating clips affixed to the second suitcase or the two connecting members are mating clips affixed to the first suitcase and the two mating connecting members are clips affixed to the second suitcase.