US3532355A - Luggage carrier - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 6, 1970 E. v. HAWKES LUGGAGE CARRIER FiledOct. 22, 1968 14- I 'BYWM% l A TORNEYS United States Patent 3,532,355 LUGGAGE CARRIER Evelyn V. Hawkes, 4422 Macomb St. NW., Washington, D.C. 20016 Filed Oct. 22, 1968, Ser. No. 769,505 Int. Cl. B62b 11/00 US. Cl. 280-4713 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A device comprised of a resilient loop of substantial width and breadth having a set of swivel wheels mounted to its exterior surface, said loop adapted to circumscribe luggage and other parcels whereby the transportation of such articles is facilitated even though there may be sevveral pieces in a group of different sizes, shapes and weights.

The present invention release generally to a device suitable for the transportation of heavy luggage and, more specifically, to a luggage carrier having an improved construction to facilitate circumscribing the device about the luggage.

It is frequently desirable, for instance at travel terminals, to provide a means whereby several pieces of luggage of various sizes or a single piece of luggage of substantial weight can be transported with a minimum of delay and effort. It is normally advantageous in such situations, when there are several pieces of luggage, to transport them as a group. It is, therefore, a primary object of this invention to provide an improved luggage carrier characterized by an ease of attachment and removal together with a facility to carry several items at one time.

Another object of the invention is to provide a luggage carrier which is efiicient for transporting a single piece of luggage by locating its ground-engaging wheels beneath the designed bottom of the luggage but which can be easily and rapidly shifted or rotated about the luggage to provide dolly means for transporting several additional pieces of stacked luggage.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the type described having a pair of swivel wheels attached to a relatively rigid plate to enable the one Wheel to act for the other when the latter engages a protuberance or crack in its path movement.

A still further object is to provide a luggage carrier in accordance with the preceding objects which shall b of a simple, inexpensive construction and is easily folded thereby requiring a minimum of storage space.

Another object is to provide an improved device by which bulky or heavy objects other than luggage may be transported, the attachment and removal of which shall be more flexible and with greater ease than has heretofore been taught by the prior art.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide an improved carrier comprised of a plurality of bands or loops each consisting of a length of elastic material connected to a shorter length of nonelastic fabric material to which is afiixcd a solid plate that provides a mounting for several antifriction, ground-engaging casters.

These and other objects of the invention will become more apparent to those skilled in the art by reference to the following detailed description when viewed in light of the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a carrier illustrating the construction of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevation view of the plate assembly illustrating its construction in detail;

3,532,355 Patented Oct. 6, 1970 FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a carrier illustrating its use to transport a single object; and

FIG. 4 is an elevation view of the carrier illustrating its use to transport several objects of different shapes.

It is recognized that luggage aids are known to the prior art. Normally, these aids are comprised of a plurality of straps equipped with swivel wheels intermediate their ends and having conventioned buckle arrangements. In use, the wheels are positioned beneath the luggage, the straps are looped about the luggage and the buckles secured. This invention obviates many of the disadvantages of these prior art arrangements and contributes many unexpected advantages.

The invention can be best understood by referring to the drawings wherein like elements are referred to by like numerals. The use and practicality of the invention can best be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4. A pair of bands 9 and 9" are customarily employed although a single band is workable. The bands are adapted to circumscribe a piece of luggage L. Only the band 9 will be described in detail, it being understood that band 9 is of similar construction.

As seen in FIG. 1, the band 9 is comprised of a resilient or elastic strap portion 10 of substantial width and length which, at its ends, is sewn at 13 and 13 or otherwise atiixed to the ends of a nonelastic fabric section 12. The strap portion 10 can be of a heavy duty, elastic material which can stretch to approximately twice its length without harm.

The wheel assembly 14 consists of a substantially rigid plate 19 to which are fastened two or more antifriction members such as swivel or caster assemblies 20. The castor assemblies 20 are of a commercially available type and consist of a bracket 16 and a trunnion 17 rotatably dependent therefrom. The trunnions 17 each rotatably support a wheel member 18 about an axis offset from the axis of rotation of the trunnion. The wheel assembly is secured to the strap by placing the plate 19 interiorly of strap portion 12 midway of its length. Two brackets 16 are disposed exteriorly of the portion 12 and riveted to plate 19 near its ends. Thus, the wheel assembly is secured to the strap and the castors of each strap have a fixed relationship with each other. Through the fixing of the position of the wheels of each strap with one another, the luggage can negotiate a more uneven surface because one of the wheels will act as a pivot to the other when the first engages a crack or other small obstruction.

FIG. 3 illustrates bands utilized to transport a single heavy or bulky piece of luggage. Also shown in FIG. 3 is an optional removable hand strap 26 of leather or fabric material which will facilitate moving the luggage The use of elastic loops not only decreases mounting time but their use allows the plate and wheel assembly to be quickly shifted or rotated about the luggage without adjustment of buckles or other awkward retention devices. Thus, the wheels can readily be located adjacent the side of the luggage. This position, as shown in 'FIG. 4, permits the base piece of luggage to be converted into a dolly for the transportation of several articles at the same time.

In a general manner, while there has been disclosed effective and efficient embodiments of the invention, it should be well understood that the invention is not limited to such embodiments, as there might be changes made in the arrangement, disposition, and form of the parts without departing from the principle of the present invention.

I claim: 1. A device for facilitating the movement of heavy or bulky luggage comprising at least one endless loop having an elastic portion and a nonelastic portion for circumscribing and resiliently gripping luggage of various dimensions, said elastic portion being the greater part of said loop, a relatively rigid plate secured to said nonelastic portion, first and second Wheel assemblies, means to afiix said Wheel assemblies along the length of said plate in spaced coplanar relationship to each other.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein each of said wheel assemblies is comprised of a bracket secured to said plate, a trunnion rotatably mounted to said bracket about an axis normal to said plate, a wheel rotatably mounted in said trunnion about an axis lying in plane to which said first-mentioned axis is normal.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,670,969 3/1954 Costikyan 280-4713 2,964,329 12/1960 Beck 280-4713 FOREIGN PATENTS 252,466 3/1927 Italy. 977,604 11/1950 France.

10 LEO FRIAGLIA, Primary Examiner R. R. SONG, Assistant Examiner

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