Luggage article with foldable base assembly

[0042] Reference figure 1 The wheeled luggage article 100 according to one embodiment includes a substantially cubic structure formed by a plurality of walls that define a closed volume of the luggage article 100, and the user's belongings are carried in the closed container. The luggage items can be figure 1 The fully operable open position shown in Figure 4 Change between the folded positions shown in. As described below, the base assembly is foldable to allow the luggage item 100 to move between these two positions. The luggage item 100 includes opposing front and rear walls 102 and 104, opposing left and right walls 106 and 108, and opposing top and bottom walls 110 and 112 that collectively define a receiving portion or outer structure of the luggage case 100. The outer structure of the luggage item 100 defines height, width, and depth. Each of the walls 102, 104, 106, 108, 110, 112 may be referred to as a panel, face, or side. For example, the front wall 102 and the rear wall 104 may define the main surface of the luggage item 100, wherein the left side wall 106 and the right side wall 108 and the opposite top end wall 110 and the bottom end wall 112 form a secondary surface. The intersection of the front wall 102 and the rear wall 104 of the luggage item 100, the left side wall 106 and the right side wall 108, and the top end wall 110 and the bottom end wall 112 defines the corresponding edge of the luggage item 100. For example, the intersection between the rear wall 104 and the top end wall 110 defines the upper rear edge 114, the intersection between the rear wall 104 and the bottom end wall 112 defines the rear lower edge 116, and the intersection between the front wall 102 and the bottom end wall 112 The intersection of, defines the front lower edge 118. The luggage item 100 may be a bag, a box, a backpack, or any other luggage item, and the luggage item 100 may be a soft shell or a mixed combination of a hard shell and a soft shell. As explained below, the luggage item 100 may be formed of various materials and devices to allow the luggage item 100 to be elastically deformable between an open position and a folded position.

[0043] The luggage item 100 may be divided into a lid 122 and a base 124 along the opening line 120. The lid 122 includes a front wall 102 and the base 124 includes a rear wall 104. The cover 122 may be pivotally connected to the base 124 along a portion of the luggage item 100 by a hinge 126 such as a fabric strap, piano hinge, spaced discrete hinges, or hinge joints. A closing mechanism such as a zipper 128 may extend along the opening line 120 to releasably connect the lid 122 to the base 124. In this embodiment, the zipper 128 may be opened to allow the lid 122 and the base 124 to pivot about the hinge 126 to allow access to the interior. Although hereinafter described as the zipper 128 and the hinge 126, respectively, various types of closing mechanisms and hinge structures are also acceptable.

[0044] The luggage item 100 includes at least one handle (or handle). For example, such as figure 1 As shown in, the luggage item 100 may include a fixed carrying handle 130 attached to the top wall 110 and to the left side wall 106 and/or the right side wall 108. In some embodiments, the luggage item 100 may include an extendable handle 132 that may be aligned along the outer side of the rear wall 104 of the luggage item 100. The extendable handle 132 may be aligned along the rear wall 104 but is located inside the luggage item 00 and extends through the top wall 110. In some embodiments, the extendable handle 132 may be substantially parallel to the rear wall 104 of the luggage item 100 or it may extend at an angle relative to the rear wall 104 of the luggage item 100. For example, the extendable handle 132 may be tilted back about five degrees relative to the rear wall 104 to help absorb any flexibility between the rear wall 104 and the bottom end wall 112 of the luggage article 100. Although described in relation to the rear wall 104, the top wall 110, the left side wall 106 and/or the right side wall 108, the extendable handle 132 and the fixed carrying handle 130 can be connected to any wall or side of the luggage item 100. Department associated.

[0045] Continue to refer figure 1 The luggage item 100 may include a base assembly 134 positioned along the lower rear edge 116 generally adjacent to the lower portion of the rear wall 104 and the bottom end wall 112. As noted above, the base assembly 134 is foldable and includes a foldable part 135 and a fixed part 137. The fixing portion 137 is installed to the luggage item 100 adjacent to the rear wall 104 along the bottom end wall 112. The foldable part 135 is pivotally attached to the fixed part 137 and extends along the bottom end wall 112. In an exemplary embodiment, the foldable portion 135 is attached to the bottom end wall 112. When in the open position, the base assembly 134 establishes a rigid or rigid bottom wall structure that is located at a fixed position relative to the rear wall 104 and is formed to help support the luggage item 100 when the luggage item 100 is in use. The contents and the luggage structure of the luggage item 100 itself. In the folded or folded position, the base assembly 134 may also allow the luggage item 100 to be at least partially folded when not in use. Although the base assembly 134 is described as being attached to the bottom end wall 112 and the rear wall 104 of the luggage item 100, the base assembly 134 may be attached to other parts of the luggage item 100 with or without wheels. , And it is convenient to switch between the folded position and the open position when desired.

[0046] The base assembly 134 includes at least one wheel support 136 having a wheel assembly 138 attached thereto to allow the user to pull or drag the luggage item 100 at an angle relative to the ground, or to allow the user The luggage item 100 is guided in an upright position. In some embodiments, the base assembly 134 includes four wheel supports 136 mounted to the bottom end wall 112 of the luggage item 100, such as two rear wheel supports 136A and two front wheel supports 136B. Such as Figure 2B As shown in the figure, each rear wheel bracket 136A is installed close to the lower corner of the luggage item 100 defined by the intersection of one of the left side wall 106 and the right side wall 108, the rear wall 104 and the bottom end wall 112 To the corresponding fixed part 137 of the base assembly 134. The front wheel bracket 136B may be positioned adjacent to the front of the bottom end wall 112 of the luggage item 100. Each of the two rear wheel supports 136A can be spaced apart from the other of the two rear wheel supports 136A by the width of the luggage item 100, and can be spaced apart from the adjacent front wheel supports 136B. The depth of item 100. For maintenance and/or replacement, the wheel bracket 136 may be removable. In other embodiments, the wheel bracket 136 may be permanently installed so that it cannot be easily removed.

[0047] Such as Figure 2B As shown in, each wheel support 136 may include a wheel assembly 138 attached to the wheel support 136, such as a caster wheel or a self-rotating wheel assembly. For example, the rear wheel assembly 138A may be connected to each rear wheel bracket 136A, and the front wheel assembly 138B may be connected to each front wheel bracket 136B. Each wheel assembly 138 may include at least one wheel having a wheel axis around which the at least one wheel rotates. In order to allow handling of the luggage item 100 on various terrains, each of the rear wheel assembly 138A and the front wheel assembly 138B may be a caster or a self-rotating wheel assembly having two orthogonal axes, such as a wheel axis and a vertical rotation axis, The wheel assembly 138 rotates around the two orthogonal axes. Although it is shown that casters or self-rotating wheel assemblies are attached to the front wheel bracket 136B, it is conceivable that the front wheel bracket 136B may include any type of wheel assembly or combination of wheel assemblies. For example, the front wheel assembly 138B may be a vertical wheel assembly (not shown). In some embodiments, the front wheel bracket 136B may not include the front wheel assembly 136B, but the feet 139 (see Figure 3B ).

[0048] Reference Figure 3A with 5 Each rear wheel bracket 136A is positioned near the rear lower corner, and may include an upper arm 140 and a lower arm 142. In some embodiments, the upper arm 140, which may be referred to as a reinforced portion, may extend vertically along a portion of the rear wall 104 of the luggage item 100, and the lower arm 142 may be toward the front wall 102 of the luggage item 100 along the bottom end wall 112. Extend at least partially. In an exemplary embodiment, the upper arm 140 and the lower arm 142 define an L-shaped cross section. As will be described below, the upper arm 140 and the lower arm 142 of each rear wheel support 136A can remain stationary when the luggage item 100 moves between the open position and the folded position. As in Figure 3A As shown in, the rear panel member 156 extending adjacent to the rear wall 104 of the luggage item 100 may be attached to the upper arms 140 of the two rear wheel supports 136A. The rear panel member 156 can help maintain the positional relationship of the two rear wheel brackets 136A, and can operate to increase the torsional rigidity of the base assembly 134. The rear panel member 156 may have a transverse honeycomb shape to reduce the total weight of the luggage item 100 and increase the strength of the rear panel member 156. Such as Figure 3A As shown, the bottom 158 of the extendable handle 132 is connected to the rear panel member 156.

[0049] As in Figure 3A with 5 As shown in, the foldable portion 135 is pivotally attached to the rear wheel bracket 136A at the first pivot axis P. In some embodiments, the first pivot axis P, which may have an equal distance from the upper arm 140 and the lower arm 142, may be positioned adjacent to the rear wall 104 of the luggage item 100 and may be offset from the wheel axis of the rear wheel assembly 138A. For example, the first pivot axis P may extend laterally across the rear wall 104 of the luggage item 100 adjacent to the rear edge 116 of the rear wall 104 (eg, substantially above the rear wheel assembly 138A). In some embodiments, the wheel axis of each rear wheel assembly 138A may be positioned in front of the first pivot axis P. In embodiments where the rear wheel assembly 138A includes a vertical wheel assembly, the first pivot axis P may be parallel to the wheel axis. As in Figure 7 As best seen in, the fixed portion 137 includes a protrusion 159 having an arcuate bearing surface 161 radially spaced from the first pivot axis P. The foldable portion 135 includes a bearing member 163 having an inner surface 165 that rotatably abuts on the arcuate bearing surface 161 of the protrusion 159. In some embodiments, the inner surface 165 of the foldable portion 135 extends around most of the protrusion 159.

[0050] As in Figure 2B , 4 As best shown in and 7, the base assembly 134 may include a locking system 152 integrated in the rear wheel bracket 136A of the base assembly 134. One embodiment of the locking system 152 may take the form of a spring-loaded detent 174 that selectively locks and unlocks the foldable portion 135 of the base assembly 134 in the open position and/or the closed position. The pawl 174 may include a sliding member 176 that defines a recess 177 and has an actuator portion 178 that a user can access through, for example, an opening through the lower surface 181 of the rear wheel bracket 136A. The recess 177 is defined by the lower protrusion 175A and the upper protrusion 175B. The pawl 174 also includes a blocking member 180 defined on and protruding from a portion of the lower arm 142 of the rear wheel bracket 136A. The spring 185 can bias the sliding member 176 of the pawl 174 into the blocking member (or tongue) 180 or on the blocking member (or tongue) 180 in the spring bias direction. The blocking member 180 is received in the recess 177 and held in this position by the biasing force of the spring 185. The blocking member 180 may be a ridge or any other suitable structure that is arranged on the fixing portion 137 and can be received in the corresponding recess 177. By positioning the blocking member 180 in the recess 177 and holding it in this position by the biasing force of the spring 185, the engagement of the blocking member 180 with the lower protrusion 175A and the upper protrusion 175B of the recess 177 and the foldable portion 135 are fixed relative to The relative folding of the portion 137 interferes and prevents the relative folding. The recess 177 and the blocking member 180 may be reversed or exchanged to move the blocking member 180 into engagement and disengagement with the recess 177.

[0051] When the user biases the actuator portion 178, the force of the spring may be overcome to retract the blocking member 180 from the recess 177 and separate the pawl 174. This allows the foldable part 135 to rotate relative to the fixed part 137 of the base assembly 134. When the foldable portion 135 is subsequently rotated back toward its locked position (for example, the foldable portion 135 is rotated toward the lower arm 142 of the rear wheel bracket 136A), the blocking member 180 engages the sliding member 176 of the pawl 174 to hold the foldable portion 135 Locked in the open position. Such as Figure 7 As shown in FIG. 1, the blocking member 180 includes a first angled (or inclined) surface 187 that corresponds to the second angled (or inclined) surface 189 of the lower protrusion 175A and slidably abuts against On this second angled surface 189 to move the sliding member 176 in a direction opposite to the direction of spring bias when the foldable portion 135 is rotated toward the lower arm 142. For example, the angled surfaces 187, 189 generate a cam force on the sliding member 176 to automatically align the blocking member 180 and the recess 177 for engagement with a "click." In some embodiments, other locking mechanisms may also be used on or in connection with the base assembly 134.

[0052] Reference Figure 7 In the open position, the foldable portion 135 may extend substantially perpendicular to the fixed portion 137 (for example, the upper arm 140). As shown in the figure, the lower surface 181 of the foldable portion 135 and the lower surface 183 of the fixed portion 137 are arranged substantially flush. In some embodiments, when the foldable part 135 is in the open position, the rear end 184 of the foldable part 135 may abut the front end 186 of the fixed part 137. In addition, the foldable portion 135 may be positioned to extend substantially linearly with respect to the lower arm 142 of the rear wheel bracket 136A. In order to further define the open position, the foldable portion 135 and the fixed portion 137 may include corresponding restriction surfaces or structures 188 that engage with each other to restrict the foldable portion 135 relative to the fixed portion 137 in at least one direction Spin.

[0053] In the folded or folded position, the foldable portion 135 may engage a portion of the luggage item 100 (e.g., the upper arm 140 of each rear wheel support 136A). For example, the foldable portion 135 may be about the first pivot axis P (e.g., at Figure 7 In the counterclockwise direction) until at least a portion of the foldable portion 135 engages a portion of the upper arm 140 of the rear wheel bracket 136A. In the folded or folded position, the foldable portion 135 may extend substantially parallel to the fixed portion 137 (e.g., the upper arm 140). In some embodiments, other mechanisms may be used together with the foldable part 135 to define the folding position of the base assembly 134. For example, it is conceivable that a part of the foldable part 135 (for example, a terminal of the bearing member 163) may engage a corresponding part of the fixed part 137 and restrict the rotation of the foldable part 135 toward the upper arm 140.

[0054] Reference Figure 3A with Figure 5 The foldable portion 135 of the base assembly 134 may include a base 146 that extends at least partially across the bottom end wall 112 toward the front wall 102 of the luggage item 100. In some embodiments, the base 146, which may be a panel or an arm, may be one of many parts of the bottom end wall 112. For example, in the case where the bottom end wall 112 is made of multiple layers, the outer surface (eg, outer surface or inner surface) of the base 146 may be attached to the hard side and/or soft side outer material of the luggage item 100 . The base 146 may include a proximal end or edge 148 and a distal end or edge 150. The base 146 may be composed of a polypropylene board, a honeycomb panel, or other materials or structures suitable for reducing the total weight of the luggage item 100 and increasing the structural rigidity of the base 146. In some embodiments, the proximal end or edge 148 may be connected to the foldable portion 135 and the distal end or edge 150 may be connected to the housing or luggage structure to form the lower front edge 118 of the luggage item 100. In this way, the base 146 and the bottom end wall 112 can move together with the foldable part 135 when the foldable part 135 pivots at the first pivot axis P. Such as Figure 5 As shown in the figure, the base 146 extends substantially parallel to the foldable portion 135. In some embodiments, each front wheel bracket 136B can be connected to the distal end or edge 150 of the base 146. A gap G may be defined between the base 146 and the rear panel member 156 adjacent to the rear lower edge 116 of the luggage item 100 to allow the base assembly 134 to move between the open position and the folded position. As explained below, when moving from the open position to the closed position, the size of the gap G may be reduced to allow the base 146 to be positioned closer to the rear panel member 156 when the base assembly 134 is in the folded position.

[0055] As described above, the base assembly 134 can be moved between an open position and a folded position to open and fold up the luggage item 100. Such as Figure 3A As shown, in the open position, the base 146 may extend substantially perpendicular to the rear wall 104 of the luggage item 100. In the open position, the foldable portion 135 may be positioned adjacent to the lower arm 142 of each rear wheel support 136A (e.g., substantially parallel to the lower arm 142). Reference Figure 4 with Image 6 In the folded position, the base 146 may be positioned adjacent to the rear wall 104 (eg, substantially on the rear wall 104 and/or the rear panel member 156). In some embodiments, when in the folded or folded position, the foldable portion 135 may be positioned adjacent to the upper arm 140 of each rear wheel bracket 136A. In the folded position, the foldable portion 135 may extend at an acute angle relative to the fixed portion 137, and preferably extends substantially parallel to the fixed portion 137. Additionally or alternatively, because the lower arm 142 is fixed relative to the upper arm 140 of the rear wheel bracket 136A, the foldable portion 135 may extend substantially perpendicular to the lower arm 142 when the base assembly 134 is in the folded position.

[0056] In order to fold the base assembly 134 and substantially fold up the luggage item 100, the user may first actuate the locking system 152 of the rear wheel bracket 136A to selectively position the foldable portion 135 of the base assembly 134 relative to the fixed portion 137 as described above. Unlock. The user can then fold the base assembly 134 by rotating the foldable part 135 relative to the fixed part 137. For example, the foldable portion 135 can be rotated toward the fixed portion 137 to substantially fold the luggage item 100 (see Figure 4 ). When the foldable part 135 is rotated toward the fixed part 137, the foldable part 135 can be rotated away from the lower arm 142 of the rear wheel bracket 136A (see Figure 4 with Image 6 ). The rotation of the foldable portion 135 toward the fixed portion 137 causes the size of the gap G between the base 146 and the rear panel member 156 to laterally collapse and/or reduce (see Figure 8 with Picture 9 ). The user can continue to rotate the foldable portion 135 toward the fixed portion 137 until, for example, the foldable portion 135 contacts a part of the luggage item 100 (for example, the upper arm 140 of each rear wheel bracket 136A), thereby defining the folded position of the base assembly 134. In some embodiments, the foldable portion 135 may not contact a portion of the luggage item 100 to define the folded position of the base assembly 134. For example, the folding position of the base assembly 134 may be defined as when the base 146 contacts the rear panel member 156 or when the terminal of the bearing member 163 contacts a part of the fixed portion 137.

[0057] The opening of the base assembly 134 can be done in the reverse order to that described above. For example, the user may first pivot the foldable portion 135 away from the fixed portion 137 of the base assembly 134 until the locking system 152 of the rear wheel bracket 136A fixes the foldable portion 135 relative to the fixed portion 137, as described above. In some embodiments, the locking system 152 may be operated to automatically engage when the foldable portion 135 is rotated to the open position (eg, the sliding member 176 of the pawl 174 automatically engages the blocking member 180 of the lower arm 142). Alternatively or in addition, the locking system 152 may require manual manipulation to position the sliding member 176 on the blocking member 180. For example, once the foldable portion 135 is located at a desired position relative to the fixed portion 137, the stopper portion 178 can be manually slid toward the blocking member 180 to seat the sliding member 176 into the blocking member 180 or to place the sliding member against the blocking member 180 176.

[0058] in spite of Figure 1 to Figure 9 The base assembly 134 is shown with one base 146 interconnecting four wheel assemblies 138, but it is conceivable that the base assembly 134 may include any number of bases, such as two bases 146. Reference Picture 10 with Picture 11 Each of the two bases 146 can connect a rear wheel bracket 136A to a front wheel bracket 136B. In such an embodiment, the two bases 146 form independent and parallel arm elements 182. Each arm element 182 can pivot independently from the other arm element 182 to provide a greater number of base assemblies 134 and/or luggage items 100 in an open configuration and/or a folded configuration. Such as Picture 10 with 11 As shown, each arm element 182 (which may have a generally rectangular cross-section) may be as wide as the rear wheel support 136A and/or the front wheel support 136B. Each arm element 182 may be attached to the opposite side 190 of the rear wheel bracket 136A. In this way, the arm element 182 may be stronger and surround the locking system 152 and/or the first pivot axis P.

[0059] The front wheel support 136B can be pivotally connected to the arm member 182 so that the front wheel support 136B can be rotated between an open position and a folded position. For example, the front wheel bracket 136B may be pivotally attached to the distal end or edge 150 of the base 146 at the second pivot axis. The second pivot axis may be positioned parallel to the first pivot axis P and adjacent to the lower front edge 118 of the luggage item 100.

[0060] in Picture 10 with Picture 11 In the illustrated embodiment, the front wheel bracket 136B may be locked in the open position and/or the closed position. For example, each front wheel support 136B may include a locking system 252 that is similar to the locking system 152 described above with reference to the rear wheel support 136A. For example, each front wheel bracket 136B may be configured to include a similar spring-loaded pawl 278 that selectively locks and unlocks the front wheel bracket 136B relative to the arm member 182 (e.g., locks on the rear wheel The similar blocking member 280 in the lower arm 142 of the bracket 136A is locked in or against the blocking structure 80). In some embodiments, other locking mechanisms may also be used on or in connection with the front wheel support 136B. In all other respects, Picture 10 with Picture 11 The implementation shown in can be basically equivalent to Figure 1 to 9 Those aspects described in.

[0061] Reference Figure 3A The base assembly 134 and/or the luggage item 100 may include reinforcement features that are operable to increase the torsional stiffness of the base assembly 134 and/or the luggage item 100. As an example of a strengthening feature, two connecting members 154 may join the front wheel bracket 136B to the foldable portion 135 of the rear wheel bracket 136A. For example, the terminal 155 of each connecting member 154 may be attached to one front wheel bracket 136B and the adjacent rear wheel bracket 136A (for example, see Figure 3A ). In some embodiments, the connecting member 154 may extend adjacent to the base 146 (eg, substantially parallel to the edge of the base 146). In such an embodiment, the connecting member 154 can increase the torsional rigidity and strength of the foldable portion 135 and/or the bottom end wall 112, especially for luggage items with increased depth. The connecting member 154 may generally be a pultruded rod having a substantially rectangular or circular cross-section. in spite of Figure 2A to Figure 7 The connecting member 154 attached to the rear wheel bracket 136A and the front wheel bracket 136B is shown, but it is conceivable that the rear wheel bracket 136A and the front wheel bracket 136B may only be attached to the base 146 (ie, without the connecting member 154 ).

[0062] Reference Figure 3A The pultrusion pieces 160A, 160B extend vertically from the fixed portion 137 (for example, from the upper arm 140) to form a frame defining the longitudinal corners of the luggage article 100. In some embodiments, at least one reinforcing beam member 162 may be attached between the pultrusion pieces 160A, 160B at a location spaced apart from the fixed portion 137. Each reinforcing beam member 162 may extend laterally across the rear wall 104 of the luggage item 100 substantially parallel to the first pivot axis P. The frame defined by the pultrusion pieces 160A, 160B and the at least one reinforcing beam member 162 may be integrated with the front wall 102, the rear wall 104, the side walls 106 and 108 of the luggage item 100 as conventionally known.

[0063] Reference Figure 3A At least one back plate 164 may be connected to the base 146, the rear panel member 156, the pultrusion pieces 160A, 160B, and/or each reinforced beam member 162. The back plate 164, which may be composed of a flexible material suitable for elastic deformation, is a component of the rear wall 104 and/or the bottom end wall 112. For example, the back plate 164 may have a first portion 166 extending adjacent to the rear wall 104 and a second portion 168 extending adjacent to the base 146. In such an embodiment, the first portion 166 generally extends between the upper rear edge 114 and the lower rear edge 116, and the second portion 168 generally extends between the lower rear edge 116 and the lower front edge 118 of the luggage item 100. The second portion 168 may be clamped with the base 146 and the hard and/or soft outer material to define the bottom end wall 112 (for example, between the base 146 and the outer material of the luggage item 100).

[0064] In some embodiments, the back plate 164 is a continuous member having an arcuate third portion 170 between the first portion 166 and the second portion 168 that arcuately extends around the lower rear edge 116 to allow the base The seat assembly 134 moves between an open position and a folded position. For example, the arcuate third portion 170 may define a cavity 172 with the base 146 and the rear panel member 156, the cavity 172 extending laterally between the two rear wheel brackets 136A (see Figure 8 ). When moving from the open position to the folded position, the cavity 172 can collapse laterally (see Picture 9 ). Such as Figure 3A As shown, the top 173 of the extendable handle 132 may be connected to the back plate 164. In such an embodiment, each reinforcing beam member 162 can increase the torsional rigidity of the back plate 164 to avoid twisting of the extendable handle 132 during the rotation of the luggage item 100 by the user. The extendable handle 132 also strengthens the structure of the back plate 164.

[0065] All relative and directional references (including up, down, up, down, left, right, left, right, top, bottom, side, above, below, front, middle, back, vertical, Levels, etc.) are all given as examples to help readers understand the specific embodiments described here. They should not be understood as specific requirements or limitations on location, orientation, or use, unless explicitly stated in the claims. Connection references (such as attachment, coupling, connection, joining, etc.) should be interpreted broadly and may include intermediate members located between element connections and relative movement between elements. In this way, connecting references does not necessarily infer that two elements are directly connected and in a fixed relationship with respect to each other, unless explicitly stated in the claims.

[0066] Those skilled in the art will recognize that the currently disclosed embodiments are taught by way of example rather than limitation. Therefore, the contents included in the above description or shown in the drawings should be interpreted as illustrative rather than limiting in meaning. The following claims are intended to cover all the general and specific features described herein and all the descriptions of the scope of the method and system of the present invention that fall within the scope in terms of language.