Ergonomic upright wheeled luggage
First Claim
1. In a wheeled upright luggage case having a main body with a back and with a depth dimension and a width dimension, each of which is less than a height dimension of the body, and a handle mounted at an upper portion of the body for moving the case on the wheels along a supporting surface, the luggage case, at least when packed with clothing and the like, having a center of gravity about in the geometric center of the body, the improvement comprising:
- at least a pair of wheels, spaced along the width dimension, mounted to a first lower portion of the body;
at least one other wheel mounted on a second lower portion of the body at a distance along the depth dimension forward of the pair of wheels;
wherein the depth dimension is less than the width dimension, and wherein the body, when resting on the other wheel and the pair of wheels, tilts at an angle from vertical, and a vertical line passing through the center of gravity falls between the pair of wheels and the other wheel; and
whereby the case can stand unattended on the wheels and pushed or pulled by the handle on at least some of the wheels.
15 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A wheeled upright luggage case is disclosed. The best embodiment of the case has wheels to allow the case to stand upright in a stable and balanced position without attendance by the user. The case has a wheel handle to allow the user to push or pull the case across a supporting surface. The case may be pushed or pulled on either four wheels or two wheels. When four wheels are used, the full weight of the case and its contents are borne by the wheels, relieving the user from having to bear with her arm any of the weight of the luggage. The body of the case is designed to have a specific range of tilt angles from the vertical; by tilting the body of the case toward the user, the design of the case improves the stability of the case while it is pushed across a supporting surface on four wheels. Various case body configurations and push handle arrangements are disclosed.
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Citations
85 Claims
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1. In a wheeled upright luggage case having a main body with a back and with a depth dimension and a width dimension, each of which is less than a height dimension of the body, and a handle mounted at an upper portion of the body for moving the case on the wheels along a supporting surface, the luggage case, at least when packed with clothing and the like, having a center of gravity about in the geometric center of the body, the improvement comprising:
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at least a pair of wheels, spaced along the width dimension, mounted to a first lower portion of the body; at least one other wheel mounted on a second lower portion of the body at a distance along the depth dimension forward of the pair of wheels; wherein the depth dimension is less than the width dimension, and wherein the body, when resting on the other wheel and the pair of wheels, tilts at an angle from vertical, and a vertical line passing through the center of gravity falls between the pair of wheels and the other wheel; and whereby the case can stand unattended on the wheels and pushed or pulled by the handle on at least some of the wheels. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. In an upright luggage case having a main body with a back, a front, a top and a bottom, and the luggage case, when at least partially loaded with personal items, also having a center of gravity at about the geometric center of the body, an improvement comprising:
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at least two back wheels attached to the bottom substantially proximate to the back of the body; at least one front for wheeling means mounted upon the bottom substantially proximate to the front of the body; the back of the body extending between the top and the bottom and disposed at a first substantial angle from the vertical when all the wheels are in contact with a generally horizontal supporting surface; the front of the body extending between the top and the bottom and disposed at a second substantial angle from the vertical when all the wheels are in contact with the supporting surface; and handle means, mounted at an upper end of the body substantially proximate to the back of the body, for moving the case upon the wheels along the supporting surface; wherein an imaginary vertical line passing through the center of gravity intersects the bottom of the body. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57)
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58. An article of upright wheeled luggage for transporting personal items across a supporting surface, comprising a main body having a front, a back, two sides, a top, and a bottom, said bottom comprising a front edge and a back edge, said body defining an interior space in which the personal items may be contained, the body having a major axis spaced between the front and the back, and the luggage and personal items contained within the interior space having a center of gravity, said article of luggage comprising:
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at least two back wheels attached to the bottom substantially adjacent to the back edge; and front means for wheeling mounted upon the bottom between the front edge and the back wheels; wherein when the wheels and the front means for wheeling are engaging a horizontal supporting surface, the major axis is tilted at an angle from the vertical of between about 6 degrees and about 25 degrees; and wherein the center of gravity is above the bottom and between the back wheels and the front means for wheeling. - View Dependent Claims (59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73)
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74. A wheeled luggage case comprising:
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a main body defining an interior space for containing personal items, the body comprising a top and a bottom which define a height dimension, said body further comprising; a width dimension less than the height dimension, and a depth dimension less than said width dimension; a center of gravity located within the interior space; and a major axis extending between the top and the bottom and defining an angle of tilt with respect to vertical; at least two back wheels connected to the body; and at least one front wheel disposed upon the bottom, forward of the back wheels; wherein a vertical line through the center of gravity passes between the front wheel and the back wheels, and wherein the angle of tilt is between about 6 degrees and about 25 degrees. - View Dependent Claims (75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85)
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Specification