Wheel-mounted luggage

Claim 1

A wheel-supported carrier comprising: a casing of generally rectangular parallelipedal configuration with a broad base defined by a pair of longitudinal edges and a pair of transverse edges; a pair of bushings mounted on said base parallel to and adjacent to each said longitudinal edge a pair of wheels each connected to a cylindrical rotatable sleeves and mounted on said base about respective pivotal axes generally parallel to said longitudinal edges whereby the axes of said wheels can assume a retracted position perpendicular to said base and an operative position generally parallel thereto upon pivotal movement of said sleeves about their relative axes; said sleeves fixed to said casing along said base in said bushings, each sleeve having an end portion of larger diameter than the remainder of said sleeve each bushing and the respective end portion of said sleeve having camming engagement confronting faces, one of the confronting faces being formed with a recess defined between a steep flank and an inclined flank and the other confronting face being formed with a projection generally complementary to said recess and formed between a steep flank and an inclined flank whereby the steep flanks of the confronting faces abut one another in said operative position to limit further rotation of each sleeve in the sense tending to swing the respective wheels of its retracted position while the inclined flanks of the confronting faces mutually engage to prevent opposite rotation of the respective sleeve in the absence of relative axial displacement of each bushing and the respective sleeve; and a cross member fixing said bushings to said casing and extending parallel to one of said pairs of edges; a respective handlebar member received in each sleeve and axially displaceable therein; cooperating formations on each handlebar member and sleeve for operatively coupling same to rotate said sleeves and the larger end portion connected thereto to swing the respective wheels out of their retracted positions and into their operative positions upon axial telescoping withdrawal of the handlebar members from the respective sleeves; and means for mounting said bushing on said casing for axial movement relative to the respective sleeves to permit reverse rotation of said larger end portions of said sleeves to the retracted position upon telescoping of said handlebar members into said sleeves upon unloading of said wheel and the camming engagement of the inclined flanks of the confronting faces.