Retractable roller assembly

Claim 2

A retractable roller assembly comprising in combination: a roller; a housing for said roller; roller support means having one end pivotably connected to said housing and means mounting said roller for rotatable movement to the other end of said roller support means, said roller support means being pivotable between a first retracted position wherein said roller is housed within said housing and a second extended position wherein said roller is extended at least partially beyond said housing for rolling engagement with a surface; first means defining a first notch in said support means for establishing said first position; second means vertically separated from said first means defining a second notch in said support means and for establishing said second position; and locking means slideably mounted to said housing for reciprocal rectilinear sliding movement into and out of locking engagement with said first and second notches, said locking means for (a) releasably locking said support means in said first position by being slideably moved into engagement with said first notch when said first notch is moved into registry with said locking means by virtue of the pivotal movement of said support means, (b) releasably locking said support means in said second position by being slideably moved into engagement with said second notch when said second notch is moved into registry with said locking means by virtue of said pivotal movement of said support means, and (c) permitting said support means to be freely pivotable between said first and second positions by being slideably moved out of said locking engagement with either of said first or second notches.

Claim 3

An assembly as in claim 1 further comprising first biasing means for biasing said locking means in a notch-engaging direction.

Claim 4

An assembly as in claim 2 further comprising second biasing means for biasing said support means in a direction encouraging said support means to be pivotably moved to said second extended position.

Claim 5

An assembly as in claim 3 wherein said housing includes first and second pairs of opposing side walls and a partial bottom wall fixed to said first pair of said side walls and one wall of said second pair of side walls, said bottom wall together with another wall of said second pair of side walls defining an interior space into which a portion of said roller is receivable when in said first retracted position.

Claim 6

An assembly as in claim 4 wherein said locking means is mounted to said bottom wall for reciprocal sliding movement relative thereto.

Claim 7

An assembly as in claim 1 wherein said support means includes means defining raised surfaces for cushioning said assembly when said roller is in said first retracted position.

Claim 8

In combination with a piece of luggage, a roller assembly as in claim 1.

Claim 9

A retractable roller assembly comprising in combination: a roller; a housing for said roller including a substantially planar bottom wall, said bottom wall including means defining an open space; support means supporting said roller for pivotal movement at one end and having the other end pivotably connected to said housing for permitting pivotal movement of said support means between a first retracted position wherein said roller is housed within said housing and at least partially extends through said open space, and a second extended position wherein said roller is extended at least partially beyond said housing for rolling engagement with a surface, said support means further including means defining first and second notches establishing said first and second positions, respectively; locking means mounted to said bottom wall for rectilinear sliding reciprocal movement relative thereto and for (a) releasably locking said support means in said first position by being slideably moved into engagement with said first notch when said first notch is moved into registry with said locking means by virtue of said support means being pivotably moved to said first position, (b) releasably locking said support means in said second position by being slideably moved into engagement with said second notch when said second notch is moved into registry with said locking means by virtue of said support means being pivotably moved to said second position, and (c) permitting said support means to be freely pivotable between said first and second positions by being slideably moved out of said locking engagement with either of said first or second notches; first biasing means for biasing said locking means in a direction encouraging locking engagement with either of said first or second notches; and second biasing means for biasing said support member in a direction encouraging pivotal movement thereof to said second position.

Claim 10

A retractable roller assembly comprising in combination: a roller; a housing for said roller including a substantially planar bottom wall, said bottom wall including means defining an open space; support means supporting said roller for pivotal movement at one end and having the other end pivotably connected to said housing for permitting pivotal movement of said support means between a first retracted position wherein said roller is housed within said housing and at least partially extends through said open space, and a second extended position wherein said roller is extended at least partially beyond said housing for rolling engagement with a surface, said support means further including means defining first and second notches establishing said first and second positions, respectively; locking means mounted to said bottom wall for rectilinear sliding reciprocal movement relative thereto and for (a) releasably locking said support means in said first position by being slideably moved into engagement with said first notch when said first notch is moved into registry with said locking means by virtue of said support means being pivotably moved to said first position, (b) releasably locking said support means in said second position by being slideably moved into engagement with said second notch when said second notch is moved into registry with said locking means by virtue of said support means being pivotably moved to said second position, and (c) permitting said support means to be freely pivotable between said first and second positions by being slideably moved out of said locking engagement with either of said first or second notches; first biasing means for biasing said locking means in a direction encouraging locking engagement with either of said first or second notches; and second biasing means for biasing said support member in a direction encouraging pivotal movement thereof to said second position.

Claim 11

An assembly as in claim 8 wherein said support means further includes means defining raised surfaces for cushioning said assembly when said roller is in said first retracted position.

Claim 12

In combination with a piece of luggage, a roller assembly as in claim 8.