The present invention relates to a suitcase which is convertible into a child carrying wheeled stroller. The sub-assembly forming the child carrying seat assembly is conveniently stored in the rear compartment of the suitcase when not in use, and may be extended into a use position by merely withdrawing the handle portion upwardly until a seat pivots into a seat position on the top portion of the suitcase and having a seatback carried between the tubular members and immediately rearward of and above the seat member.
The present invention relates to a suitcase which is a convertible into a child carrying wheeled stroller assembly. It has become well established in the suitcase art field that it is desirable to have a suitcase which incorporates wheels at the bottom thereof, and a retractable handle located in a rear compartment of the suitcase. These features enable the user to easily extend the handle upwardly, and pulling backwardly on the suitcase, the suitcase then pivots onto its rear wheels and provides the user with an easy and convenient method of transporting the suitcase. This has been determined to be far more preferable than forcing the user to either use a shoulder strap or a handle for lifting the suitcase. In some cases, the wheels are retractable into concealed compartments on the underside of the suitcase, although this is not necessary for the efficient use of such a suitcase.
It has been observed, however, that for the traveling public which travels with children, such suitcases are convenient, and eliminates the need for carrying the suitcase, nevertheless, for those with young children, it is necessary to travel with a collapsible stroller as well as a suitcase. The present invention attempts to solve the problem of having parents carry a collapsible stroller by providing a suitcase which incorporates therein with compartments for carrying clothing, laptop computers and the like, but is further provided with a rear compartment which carries a sub-assembly movable between a retracted rest position, and an extended use position wherein a child carrying seat sub-assembly may be easily extended into a use position, utilizing the suitcase top as a support platform for the child carrying seat member. In this manner, the suitcase can function as a wheeled stroller and eliminates the requirement that parents traveling with young children carry a collapsible stroller as well as a suitcase. The present invention provides a convenient and easy to use suitcase convertible into a child stroller for easy transportation of the unit once the child is seated thereon, but nevertheless, is retractable into a rest position totally within the confines of a rear compartment of the suitcase.
The principal object of the present invention is to provide a suitcase which is convertible into a child carrying wheeled stroller assembly. The invention provides a suitcase which remains a suitcase, but includes a rear compartment having a retractable child carrying seat sub-assembly which may be extended into a use position utilizing the body of the suitcase as the support platform for the child carrying seat back.
In conjunction with the foregoing object, a further object of the present invention is to provide a suitcase convertible into a child carrying wheeled stroller assembly wherein the suitcase includes a rear compartment, the rear compartment having an upper and a lower horizontally mounted support bracket supporting a pair of vertical support tubes, the support tubes carrying a pair of opposed telescoping tubular members supported on the vertical tube supports, the telescoping tubular members being movable between a retracted rest position, and an extended use position, with a seat back, mounted across a pair of opposed telescopic tubular members, and further having a seat member carried on a pivot bar mounted between the telescoping support members, such that when the telescoping tubular members are extended upwardly into a use position, the seat member may pivot into a use position on top of the top portion of the suitcase, while the seat back is in position at a point immediately behind and above the pivoted seat member.
In conjunction with the foregoing objects, a further object is to provide a suitcase convertible into a child wheeled stroller assembly, wherein the entire child carrying seat sub-assembly is retractable into the rear compartment, and the rear compartment may be closed by means of a closure member such as a zipper, thereby providing a total concealment of the sub-assembly when not in use.
A further object is to provide a child carrying seat sub-assembly within a suitcase, which may further be provided with a pair of forward retractable wheels mounted into the underside of the forward portion of the suitcase, when used in conjunction with the rear wheels, and thereby provide a four wheeled child carrying stroller assembly for ease of use.
In summary, the present invention provides a convenient and easy to use suitcase convertible into a child carrying wheeled stroller. The suitcase is provided with a plurality of compartments, but includes a rear compartment which is generally closed by means of a zipper closure member. The rear compartment is provided with an upper and a lower support bracket mounted within the compartment, the upper and lower support brackets supporting a pair of opposed vertical tubular members which in turn carry a pair of opposed telescoping tubular members thereon. The opposed telescoping tubular members carry a seat member which is pivotally secured thereto by means of a pivot bar such that the seat member may pivot relative to the telescopic tubular members, and the telescoping tubular members are further provided with a seat back secured there between. The upper portion of the telescoping tubular members are interconnected by means of a handlebar which provides a grasp bar for the user. When not in use, the seat member is pivoted upwardly, and entire assembly is retracted into the rear compartment, and the rear compartment is enclosed by means of a zipper. In use, the user would grasp the handlebar to extend the telescoping tubular members upwardly, thereby bringing the seat member up above the suitcase body, such that the top of the suitcase provides a support platform for the seat when pivoted downwardly, and presents a seatback immediately behind the seat member to provide a seat and seatback in order to carry a child.
With particular reference to
As is typical with suitcases intended for modern travel, the suitcase includes a plurality of compartments which is not particularly relevant to the present invention. However, the suitcase 10 of the present invention is shown to include a rear compartment 20 which is enclosed by means of a zipper 21. The rear compartment is shown to contain a child carrying seat sub-assembly 25, and as shown in
The seat sub-assembly 25 is carried within the rear compartment by means of an upper support bracket 27, and a lower support bracket 29, both of which are secured to the rear compartment by means of rivets 31 as shown. The upper and lower support brackets 27 and 29 respectively carry a pair of opposed vertical support tubes 33 and 35 respectively. Each of the vertical support tubes 33 and 35 are shown to accommodate a pair of opposed telescoping tubular members represented by the numerals 37 and 39 respectively. The top of the telescoping tubular members 37 and 39 are inter-connected by a handlebar 40. As is also shown in
It can be observed from
As is further illustrated in
As illustrated in
It is also contemplated by the present invention that the suitcase 10 may be designed with a pair of retractable forward front wheels retracted under the front wall 14 of the suitcase 10. This feature, when incorporated into the suitcase of the present invention, permits the suitcase to be converted to a 4-wheel stroller for further ease of use when carrying a child. It is contemplated that when this feature is incorporated in the suitcase, the front wheels when extended, would raise the level of the front wall 14 of the suitcase 10 slightly greater than the rear wheel 16 and 18 respectively. In this manner, when the device is being used to carry a child, the child will be tilted such that the child will be tilted slightly backward so the back of the child is well rested into the seatback.
It is also contemplated that the sub-assembly may further include child support straps for strapping the child to the seat once the sub-assembly has been extended to its use position and the child has been placed on the seat member and against the seat back.
While there has been disclosed what is at present considered to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, various improvements may be made hereto and incorporated into the invention. All such obvious modifications and variations are intended to be covered by the appended claims.