Rolling Collapsible Luggage With Fixed and Swivel Wheels
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rolling travel luggage is susceptible to unintended movement due to swivel caster wheels, has rigid sides that hinder the insertion of bulky items, and transfers luggage load to the user's arm, causing strain.
Innovation Solution
A rolling luggage design with fixed wheels and a collapsible structure that includes a removable front flap, allowing for easy access and reduced strain by distributing the load more evenly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If swivel caster wheels are used to allow luggage to roll in any direction, then ease of movement is improved, but stability deteriorates due to unintended rotation or rolling
Solution Approach 1:
The wheel system is segmented into two functional groups: swivel caster wheels for directional movement and fixed wheels for stability. This segmentation allows each wheel type to perform its specific function without interfering with the other, resolving the contradiction between ease of movement and stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The fixed wheels act as intermediaries that counterbalance the rotational tendency of the swivel caster wheels. By providing opposing friction forces, the fixed wheels mediate between the unstable swivel wheels and the ground, preventing unintended rotation while maintaining the ability to roll in intended directions.
2Strength
If rigid sides are used to protect contents, then strength is improved, but ease of insertion for bulky items deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The side walls are designed with dynamic characteristics, allowing them to flex outward during insertion of bulky items and then return to their rigid protective shape. This dynamic behavior enables easy insertion while maintaining strength and protection when the item is properly positioned inside.
Solution Approach 2:
The rigidity parameter of the side walls is changed temporarily during the insertion process. The walls become more flexible to accommodate bulky items, then return to their original rigid state to provide protection, effectively changing the physical parameter based on operational needs.
3Ease of operation
If a top handle is provided for rolling, then ease of operation is improved, but user strain increases due to load transfer to arm and wrist
Solution Approach 1:
The handle is repositioned from a vertical top location to a horizontal location near the wheels, changing the dimensional orientation of the handle. This allows the user to push from below or beside the luggage rather than pulling from above, redistributing the force application to reduce strain on the arm and wrist while maintaining ease of operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A rolling luggage bag includes a cover fixedly coupled to a base having a first side opposite a second side and a bottom face extending therebetween. The cover comprises a plurality of panels defining an interior chamber, a first and second wheel coupled to the base and configured to rotate about an axis of rotation, at least a portion of each of the first and second wheels projecting from the first side and from the bottom face, and a third wheel and a fourth wheel coupled to the bottom face. The third and fourth wheels independently swivel about a respective swivel axis. When the rolling luggage is in an upright position, the first, second, third, and fourth wheels all contact a surface on which the luggage bag stands.