Rolling Luggage with Segmented Wheels and Collapsible Sides
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rolling travel luggage faces challenges such as unintended movement due to swivel caster wheels, rigid sides that hinder the insertion of bulky objects, and strain on the user when tilting the luggage to engage side wheels.
Innovation Solution
A rolling luggage design featuring a base with first and second wheels for stability, a collapsible structure with pivotable side portions, and a handle system that reduces user 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 operation is improved, but unintended movement and lack of stability worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The wheel system is segmented into four distinct wheels: two fixed wheels at the rear and two swivel caster wheels at the front. This segmentation allows the fixed wheels to provide stability and prevent unintended movement, while the swivel caster wheels enable controlled rolling in any direction. The separation of functions between different wheel types resolves the contradiction between ease of operation and stability.
2Strength
If rigid sides are used to protect contents, then strength is improved, but ease of insertion for bulky objects worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The side portions of the luggage are designed to be collapsible rather than permanently rigid. The side walls can be folded or collapsed inward to create a larger access opening, allowing bulky objects to be inserted easily. Once the object is inside, the sides can be returned to their rigid protective position. This dynamic transformation resolves the contradiction between protection and ease of insertion.
3Ease of operation
If a top handle is used for rolling, then ease of operation is improved, but user strain worsens due to load transfer
Solution Approach 1:
A rolling mechanism with four wheels serves as an intermediary between the user and the luggage load. Instead of directly supporting the load through a top handle, the wheels mediate the interaction by providing rolling contact with the ground. This distributes the load across multiple wheel contact points, reducing the strain on the user's arm, wrist, and forearm while maintaining ease of operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A rolling luggage bag includes a cover fixedly coupled to a base, the base including a first side opposite a second side and a bottom face extending there between, wherein the cover comprises a plurality of panels, arranged in a direction away from the base, wherein the plurality of panels defines an interior chamber, a first wheel and a second wheel coupled to the base, the first and second wheels configured to rotate about an axis of rotation and separated by a first distance along the 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 configured to independently swivel about a respective swivel axis and separated by a second distance extending between the swivel axes. When the rolling luggage is in an upright position, the first, second, third, and fourth wheels all contact a surface the luggage bag stands on.