Patent US3917038A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3917038A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Mobile suitcase
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1973-11-12
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Granted: 1975-11-04
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Expires: 1993-11-12
Abstract
Abstract A suitcase having wheels as a rolling support, the suitcase having at one end two compartments spaced apart and separated from the main compartment of the suitcase, the compartments each having an access opening out through the suitcase wall for a complete wheel assembly housed within each one of the compartments, and being extensible and retractable, the shafts of the wheels being connected through a linkage to the walls of the compartments, and in the other end of the suitcase there is provided a handle which is slidably received in the main compartment of the suitcase.
Inventors
- 👤 Helga Helene Foge
- 👤 Hans Thomas Thomsen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 21:41
CPC Classifications
A; A45; A45C; A45C5/00; A45C5/14; A45C5/146
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
167 words
A suitcase assembly comprising: a. a suitcase having walls defining a main compartment and a pair of wheel compartments spaced apart by said main compartment, each wheel compartment having an access opening in a wall of the suitcase through which a wheel may extend; b. a pair of pivotable wheel-supporting forks on each of which a wheel is rotatably carried, each fork having a first pivot pin radially remote from the wheel and secured to said suitcase in one of said spaced wheel compartments by which the fork is pivotable, and a second pivot pin radially remote from the wheel by which the fork is actuated, the axes of said pivot pins lying along a line substantially perpendicular to the radius of the wheel; c. a handle having a pair of arms slidably disposed in said suitcase; d. a pair of linkages respectively connecting said arms to said second pivot pins; and e. first releasable locking means for selectably positively locking said forks in an extended position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
167 words
A suitcase assembly comprising: a. a suitcase having walls defining a main compartment and a pair of wheel compartments spaced apart by said main compartment, each wheel compartment having an access opening in a wall of the suitcase through which a wheel may extend; b. a pair of pivotable wheel-supporting forks on each of which a wheel is rotatably carried, each fork having a first pivot pin radially remote from the wheel and secured to said suitcase in one of said spaced wheel compartments by which the fork is pivotable, and a second pivot pin radially remote from the wheel by which the fork is actuated, the axes of said pivot pins lying along a line substantially perpendicular to the radius of the wheel; c. a handle having a pair of arms slidably disposed in said suitcase; d. a pair of linkages respectively connecting said arms to said second pivot pins; and e. first releasable locking means for selectably positively locking said forks in an extended position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A suitcase assembly according to claim 1 in which said first releasable locking means is also adapted to selectably positively lock said forks in a retracted position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
A suitcase assembly according to claim 1 in which said arms telescope with a coupling portion of said linkages, and second releasable locking means for locking at least one of said arms to said portion of one of said linkages.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
A suitcase assembly according to claim 1 in which said pivot pins are so arranged that when the axes of said pivot pins coincide with the direction of force from said handle, the adjacent end of the suitcase coincides with a tangent to the extended wheel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
51 words
A suitcase assembly according to claim 3 in which said arms have a rectangular cross-section, there being a pair of tracks of U-shaped cross-section secured to a wall of said suitcase and telescopically receiving said arms, and said portion of said one linkage being of U-shaped cross-section disposed within said arm.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
67 words
A suitcase assembly according to claim 3 in which said second locking means comprises a spring blade secured at one end to said coupling portion of said one linkage, and a lock pin secured to said spring blade remotely from said one end of said spring blade and projecting through a hole in said coupling portion and receivable into at least one hole in said one arm.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
68 words
A suitcase assembly according to claim 1 in which said first locking means comprises a spring blade secured at one end to an inside portion of said linkage, and a lock pin secured to said spring blade remotely from said one end of said spring blade and projecting through a hole in said portion of said linkage into at least one hole in the wall of said suitcase.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
49 words
A suitcase assembly according to claim 1 in which said first locking means comprises a resilient bracket secured to at least one of said forks and having a groove therein, a portion of one of said linkages being receivable therein when said one fork is in the extended position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
84 words
A suitcase assembly according to claim 1 in which said first locking means comprises: a. first slot means disposed in one of said linkages through which said second pivot pin projects; b. second slot means in said one linkage defining a notch receptive of said first pivot pin; c. said first slot means being elongated, and said second slot means being open-ended, both in the direction of the length of said arms; and d. a spring biasing said one linkage away from said handle.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
A suitcase assembly according to claim 9 in which said second slot means is defined by a pair of prongs, one prong being shorter than the other to facilitate engagement with and disengagement from said first pivot pin.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
A suitcase assembly according to claim 9 in which said first and second slot means are enlarged transversely to said direction at corresponding ends thereof.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-11-03 | 1979-05-05 | 1979-11-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-11-03 | 1983-05-05 | 1983-11-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-11-03 | 1987-05-05 | 1987-11-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |