Motorized luggage

• US 4,913,252 A
• Filed: 11/21/1988
• Issued: 04/03/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bartley B. Dean, George Spector
• Original Assignee: Bartley B. Dean, George Spector
• Inventors: Bartley, B. Dean, Spector, George
• Primary Examiner(s): Marmor, Charles A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Culbreth, Eric
• Application Number:
  US07/274,004
• Time in Patent Office: 498 Days
• Field of Search: 180/315, 180/65.1, 180/65.6, 180/180, 180/181, 180/208, 180/209, 280/97, 280/87.041, 280/87.05, 280/220, 200/332, 200/332.2, 200/335, 190/18 A
• US Class Current: 180/208
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2009/005 into a vehicle, e.g. scooter
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 5/14 with built-in rolling means
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 9/00 Purses, Luggage or bags convertible into objects for other use sacks or packs carried on the body and convertible into other articles A45F4/02; trunk-wardrobes A47B61/06; trunk-beds A47C17/82
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 51/02 the driver standing in the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 15/00 Collapsible or foldable cycles
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 3/002 without a seat, i.e. the rider operating the vehicle in a standing position, e.g. non-motorized scooters; non-motorized scooters with skis or runners

Abstract

An article of motorized luggage is provided and consists of a plurality of wheels rotatably journaled to bottom of a container body for allowing travel along the ground and a mechanism within the container body for driving one of the wheels to make the luggage a self-powered unit. In a modification a steerable platform is connected to the luggage so as to transport a person standing upon the platform.

Claims

1. An article of motorized luggage comprising:

(a) a container body with a bottom for holding various items therein;

(b) a plurality of wheels, individually rotatably journaled to said bottom of said container body for allowing said container body to travel along the ground;

(c) means within said container body for driving at least one of said wheels to make said luggage a self-powered unit;

(d) an upwardly pivoting lever pivoted on a side of said container body for activating said driving means and for maneuvering said container body when said luggage travels along the ground;

wherein said driving means includes;

(e) a motor for supplying rotary motion;

(f) a battery for supplying electric current to said motor;

(g) a switch electrically connected between said motor and said battery, said switch located adjacent said lever whereby pivoting of said lever upwardly will turn said switch on;

(h) a bevel gear assembly to carry rotary motion from said motor to said at least one of said wheels when said switch is turned on by said lever;

(i) a horizontal track carried within said bottom of said container body;

(j) a platform substantially slideable within said track for transporting a person standing thereupon, said platform having a slot within a top surface thereof and

(k) means on a front end of said platform held and manually operated by the person for allowing said platform to travel and be steered along the ground;

(l) said steering means comprising an upright handle bar post rotatably mounted at its lower end to said front end of said platform;

(m) said steering means further comprising a horizontal steering bar carried under the front end of said platform and centrally connected to and rotated by said upright handle bar post; and

(n) a pair of spaced apart front wheel assemblies, individually rotatably journaled to underside at each end of said steering bar for allowing said platform to travel and be steered along the ground.

2. An article of motorized luggage as recited in claim 1, wherein said handle bar post is telescopic, collapible and can be pivoted from a vertical to a horizontal folded position into said slot in said platform to receive said handle bar post therein before said platform is slid partially within said track for storage.