Luggage Apparatus with Concealable Retractable Wheel Mechanism

Abstract

A luggage apparatus comprising a rigid case body having retractable wheels concealable within recessed compartments in the base is disclosed. The apparatus includes a control (i.e., actuation) interface disposed on the exterior of the case body, operable in a first position to retract the wheels into the compartments and in a second position to deploy or extend the wheels for rolling. Each wheel is coupled to either a spring-loaded mechanism or an electric motor system to enable vertical movement between the retracted and extended positions. The spring mechanism comprises a helical compression spring aligned around a vertical wheel shaft, while the motorized embodiment employs a mini electric motor coupled to a vertical actuator. The control (i.e., actuation) button is configured for dual-mode operation and is compatible with both mechanical and electrical systems.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A concealable and selectively retractable wheels luggage device comprising:
 a luggage device having a case body, a plurality of retractable wheels, and a plurality of hollow compartments;   wherein said plurality of hollow compartments are spaced apart and positioned in a base of said case body;   wherein said case body comprising a first panel configured to removably lock with a second panel to secure items stored in said luggage device;   wherein said first panel having a zipper for removably locking with said second panel;   wherein said plurality of retractable wheels comprises at least three spinning wheels;   wherein each of said plurality of retractable wheels connected to a vertical retractable shaft having a helical compression spring concentrically aligned therearound;   wherein said helical compression spring is housed within a rectangular cavity and compresses or decompresses based on a position of said vertical retractable shaft;   wherein each of said at least three spinning wheels selectively retractable within a respective each of said plurality of hollow compartments; and   further wherein each of said at least three spinning wheels is retracted when said helical compression spring is compressed and is extended when said helical compression spring is decompressed.   
     
     
         2 . The concealable and selectively retractable wheels luggage device of  claim 1 , wherein each of said at least three spinning wheels comprise a hubless wheel. 
     
     
         3 . The concealable and selectively retractable wheels luggage device of  claim 1 , wherein each of said at least three spinning wheels comprise a caster wheel. 
     
     
         4 . The concealable and selectively retractable wheels luggage device of  claim 3 , wherein each of said vertical retractable shaft having a rotatable axle therearound. 
     
     
         5 . The concealable and selectively retractable wheels luggage device of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of retractable wheels comprises four spinning wheels. 
     
     
         6 . The concealable and selectively retractable wheels luggage device of  claim 5 , wherein each of said four spinning wheels comprise a hubless wheel. 
     
     
         7 . The concealable and selectively retractable wheels luggage device of  claim 5 , wherein each of said four spinning wheels comprise a caster wheel. 
     
     
         8 . The concealable and selectively retractable wheels luggage device of  claim 2 , wherein said case body is a rigid rectangular container having rounded corners. 
     
     
         9 . The concealable and selectively retractable wheels luggage device of  claim 6 , wherein said case body is a rigid rectangular container having rounded corners. 
     
     
         10 . A concealable and selectively retractable wheels luggage device comprising:
 a luggage device having a case body, a plurality of retractable wheels, a plurality of hollow compartments, and a control interface;   wherein said plurality of hollow compartments are spaced apart and positioned in a base of said case body;   wherein said case body comprising a first panel configured to removably lock with a second panel to secure items stored in said luggage device;   wherein said first panel having a zipper for removably locking with said second panel;   wherein said plurality of retractable wheels comprises at least three spinning wheels;   wherein each of said plurality of retractable wheels connected to a vertical retractable shaft having a helical compression spring concentrically aligned therearound;   wherein said helical compression spring is housed within a rectangular cavity and compresses or decompresses based on a position of said vertical retractable shaft;   wherein each of said at least three spinning wheels selectively retractable within a respective each of said plurality of hollow compartments;   wherein each of said at least three spinning wheels is retracted when said helical compression spring is compressed and is extended when said helical compression spring is decompressed; and   further wherein said control interface having a button disposed on an exterior surface of said case body for providing actuation to retract and extend said at least three spinning wheels.   
     
     
         11 . The concealable and selectively retractable wheels luggage device of  claim 10 , wherein said control interface actuated in a first position to retract said at least three spinning wheels and in a second position to extend said at least three spinning wheels. 
     
     
         12 . The concealable and selectively retractable wheels luggage device of  claim 11 , wherein said control interface electronically coupled to an electric motor to operably retract and extend said at least three spinning wheels when said control interface is actuated in said first position or said second position. 
     
     
         13 . The concealable and selectively retractable wheels luggage device of  claim 11 , wherein said control interface electronically coupled to a plurality of electric motors, and further wherein each one of said plurality of electric motors operably retracts and extends an associated one of said at least three spinning wheels when said control interface is actuated in said first position or said second position. 
     
     
         14 . The concealable and selectively retractable wheels luggage device of  claim 13 , wherein said control interface is remotely actuated with an electronic device. 
     
     
         15 . A concealable and selectively retractable wheels luggage device comprising:
 a luggage device having a case body, a plurality of retractable wheels, a plurality of hollow compartments, and a control interface;   wherein said plurality of hollow compartments are spaced apart and positioned in a base of said case body;   wherein said case body comprising a first panel configured to removably lock with a second panel to secure items stored in said luggage device;   wherein each of said plurality of retractable wheels connected to a vertical retractable shaft having a helical compression spring concentrically aligned therearound;   wherein said helical compression spring is housed within a rectangular cavity and compresses or decompresses based on a position of said vertical retractable shaft;   wherein said plurality of retractable wheels comprises four spinning wheels;   wherein each of said four spinning wheels selectively retractable within a respective each of said plurality of hollow compartments;   wherein each of said four spinning wheels is retracted when said helical compression spring is compressed and is extended when said helical compression spring is decompressed;   wherein said control interface having a button disposed on an exterior surface of said case body for providing actuation to retract and extend said four spinning wheels; and   further wherein each of said four spinning wheels is selected from the group consisting of a hubless wheel and a caster wheel.   
     
     
         16 . The concealable and selectively retractable wheels luggage device of  claim 15 , wherein said case body is a rigid rectangular container having rounded corners. 
     
     
         17 . The concealable and selectively retractable wheels luggage device of  claim 15 , wherein said control interface actuated in a first position to retract said four spinning wheels and in a second position to extend said four spinning wheels. 
     
     
         18 . The concealable and selectively retractable wheels luggage device of  claim 15 , wherein said control interface electronically coupled to an electric motor to operably retract and extend said four spinning wheels when said control interface is actuated in said first position or said second position. 
     
     
         19 . The concealable and selectively retractable wheels luggage device of  claim 15 , wherein said control interface electronically coupled to a plurality of electric motors, and further wherein each one of said plurality of electric motors operably retracts and extends an associated one of said four spinning wheels when said control interface is actuated in said first position or said second position. 
     
     
         20 . The concealable and selectively retractable wheels luggage device of  claim 19 , wherein said control interface is remotely actuated with an electronic device.