The present invention relates to the field of luggage; particularly, to a luggage device having fully recessed legs that may be selectively engaged to translate and pivot about an axis to facilitate controlled movement from a fully recessed storage position to an operative position for conveniently transporting large heavy objects within the luggage.
People have been making specialized luggage devices for use when traveling for centuries. Luggage devices for long objects, such as golf clubs, are more awkward to handle than most luggage devices. If the luggage device for long objects is stood on end, it will easily fall over when bumped, so it is usually handled and placed in a horizontal orientation.
An important improvement for luggage devices was the addition of two built-in wheels along one edge of the luggage opposite a built-in handle. For most luggage devices, these edge wheels allow the luggage to be tilted to near a balance point and then pulled or pushed with the handle opposite the wheels. On paved surfaces, this makes it easy for a person to walk while pushing or pulling the luggage.
However, when luggage devices that are much longer than they are high are heavily loaded, such as luggage devices for golf clubs, the system of two edge wheels and an opposite handle does not work very well. When the long luggage device is tilted to its balance point, the tilt angle is too close to vertical to gain adequate control over the weight of the device. Consequently, the user must tilt the luggage device much closer to horizontal than near the balance point and carry much of the weight in the user's hand, which presents a problem when the luggage device is heavily loaded.
For short, heavily loaded, edge-wheeled luggage devices, the problem can be solved by extending the handle so that most of the weight is on the wheels. Such luggage devices with extendable handles are popular. However, if the luggage is long, longer than about 40 inches, and intended to carry significant weight, extending the handle enough to transfer adequate weight to the wheels would make the length of the tilted luggage device plus extended handle too long for maneuvering through travel stations and around other baggage.
A popular luggage device that particularly suffers from this problem is the travel case for golf clubs. The length of its base is more than twice the height of its side opposite the edge wheels. When loaded with golf clubs, it is quite heavy. When raised at a low enough angle to give adequate control, the weight on a user's hand is undesirably tiresome. A solution to this problem without adding an extension on the handle is needed.
The present invention provides a solution to the above-described problem by allowing the user to be free from bearing the weight of the luggage device. This is accomplished by providing a luggage device having a pair of fully recessed translation biased cantilever legs that is designed to support the weight of the luggage device when in use. When not in use, the legs are fully recessed in the luggage device. The design facilitates a safe and secure transition to an extended operative position. The fully recessed legs may be selectively engaged to translate and pivot about an axis to facilitate controlled movement from a fully recessed storage position to an extended operative position for conveniently transporting large, heavy objects within the luggage device.
Numerous variations, modifications, alternatives, and alterations of the various preferred embodiments, processes, and methods may be used alone or in combination with one another as will become more readily apparent to those with skill in the art with reference to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and the accompanying figures and drawings.
Without limiting the scope of the present invention as claimed below and referring now to the drawings and figures:
These drawings are provided to assist in the understanding of the exemplary embodiments of the high volume aerodynamic golf club head as described in more detail below and should not be construed as unduly limiting the present golf club head. In particular, the relative spacing, positioning, sizing and dimensions of the various elements illustrated in the drawings are not drawn to scale and may have been exaggerated, reduced or otherwise modified for the purpose of improved clarity. Those of ordinary skill in the art will also appreciate that a range of alternative configurations have been omitted simply to improve the clarity and reduce the number of drawings.
The fully recessed translation biased cantilever leg luggage device (100) enables a significant advance in the state of the art. The preferred embodiments of the luggage device (100) accomplish this by new and novel arrangements of elements and methods that are configured in unique and novel ways and which demonstrate previously unavailable but preferred and desirable capabilities. The description set forth below in connection with the drawings is intended merely as a description of the presently preferred embodiments of the luggage device (100), and is not intended to represent the only form in which the luggage device (100) may be constructed or utilized. The description sets forth the designs, functions, means, and methods of implementing the luggage device (100) in connection with the illustrated embodiments. It is to be understood, however, that the same or equivalent functions and features may be accomplished by different embodiments that are also intended to be encompassed within the spirit and scope of the claimed luggage device (100).
An embodiment of the fully recessed translation biased cantilever leg luggage device (100) is depicted in
First, the leg recesses (300, 400) will be disclosed in detail. The dextral leg recess (300) has a dextral recess leg engagement region (320), a dextral leg storage region (330), and a dextral pivot (310). Likewise, the sinistral leg recess (400) has a sinistral recess leg engagement region (420), a sinistral leg storage region (430), and a sinistral pivot (410). The attributes of the leg recesses (300, 400) are best illustrated in
As illustrated nicely in
The dextral biasing mechanism (640) is illustrated as a spring in
Therefore, the unique design of the luggage device (100) requires a step-wise sequence of events to achieve the rotation of the legs (600, 800) from the safely secured and fully recessed storage position of
Now, the specific sequence of steps to successfully transition the luggage device (100) from the storage position to the operative position will be described. As seen in
Having released the automatic cooperation of the dextral leg engagement end (610) and the dextral leg engagement region storage location (322), the dextral leg engagement end (610) is free to rotate about the dextral pivot (310) and enter into the dextral leg engagement region transition region (326), as seen in
Finally, the dextral leg engagement end (610) leaves the dextral leg engagement region transition region (326) and enters the dextral leg engagement region operative location (324), as seen in
Therefore, in order to pivot the dextral leg (600) from the recessed storage position to the operative position, the dextral leg (600) must be translated in a direction opposite the bias of the dextral biasing mechanism (640) to release the cooperation of the dextral leg engagement end (610) and the dextral leg engagement region storage location (322) such that the dextral leg engagement end (610) cooperates with the dextral leg engagement region transition region (326) as the dextral leg (600) pivots toward the operative position until the bias of the dextral biasing mechanism (640) results in the cooperation of the dextral leg engagement end (610) and the dextral leg engagement region operative location (324). Further, to pivot the dextral leg (600) from the operative position to the recessed storage position, the dextral leg (600) must be translated in a direction opposite the bias of the dextral biasing mechanism (640) to release the cooperation of the dextral leg engagement end (610) and the dextral leg engagement operative location (324) such that the dextral leg engagement end (610) cooperates with the dextral leg engagement region transition region (326) as the dextral leg (600) pivots toward the storage position until the bias of the dextral biasing mechanism (640) results in the cooperation of the dextral leg engagement end (610) and the dextral leg engagement region storage location (322). As previously expressed, while much of the prior disclosure and drawings reference the dextral leg recess (300) and dextral leg (600), all of the disclosure and drawings apply equally to the sinistral leg recess (400) and sinistral leg (800).
Similar to the dextral leg (600), the sinistral leg (800) also has a sinistral biasing mechanism (840), wherein the sinistral leg (800) has a sinistral leg engagement end (810), a sinistral leg roller end (820) that the sinistral biasing mechanism (840) biases toward the sinistral pivot (410), and a sinistral pivot slot (830) in cooperation with the sinistral pivot (410), as seen in
Additionally, the sinistral leg (800) has an operative position, identical to that of the dextral leg (600), extending from the luggage device (100) wherein the sinistral biasing mechanism (840) biases the sinistral leg roller end (820) toward the sinistral pivot (410) thereby positioning the sinistral leg engagement end (810) in cooperation with the sinistral leg engagement region operative location (424). The sinistral leg (800) translates and rotates about the sinistral pivot (410) to transition the sinistral leg (800) from the recessed storage position to the operative position. The explanation of the sequence of operation of the sinistral leg (800) is identical to that previously explained in great detail for the dextral leg (600); thus, the sinistral leg (800) sequence of operation will be brief and focus on
As seen well in
The rotation prevention recess minimum offset distance (530) assures safety during the handling and operation of the luggage device (100). As noted above, in order to place the legs (600, 800) in the operative position, the crossbar (1000) must be translationally displaced a distance greater than the rotation prevention recess minimum offset distance (530). Such a distance helps ensure that the legs (600, 800) are brought into the operative position only when there is an intent to do so. Any incidental contact, which is likely to be experienced during baggage handling operations, is not likely to place the legs (600, 800) in the operative position. Thus, the legs (600, 800) will be safely recessed within the luggage device (100) until a user intends to place the legs (600, 800) in the operative position. In one embodiment, the rotation prevention recess minimum offset distance (530) is at least fifty percent of the crossbar diameter. In yet another embodiment, the rotation prevention recess minimum offset distance (530) is greater than or equal to the crossbar diameter. In still another embodiment, the rotation prevention recess minimum offset distance (530) is in the range of about ΒΌ of an inch to about 3 inches. Such distances ensure that the luggage device (100) may be safely handled without the threat of the legs (600, 800) being unintentionally moved to the operative position, which could cause harm to baggage handling personnel or disrupt the baggage handling process.
In yet another embodiment, the rotation prevention recess (500) forms a gripping recess (520), seen as the central recess of
Still a further embodiment includes a dextral leg translation assistance device (700) and a sinistral leg translation assistance device (900), wherein the dextral leg translation assistance device (700) promotes reduced friction movement of the dextral leg engagement end (610) through the dextral leg engagement region transition region (326), and the sinistral leg translation assistance device (900) promotes reduced friction movement of the sinistral leg engagement end (810) through the sinistral leg engagement region transition region (426). The translation assistance devices (700, 900) may be virtually any friction reducing device including, but not limited to, low-friction surfaces, bearings, or magnets, regardless of the location. In fact, in one particular embodiment the dextral leg translation assistance device (700) includes a dextral leg engagement end roller (710) rotably mounted to the dextral leg engagement end (610), and the sinistral leg translation assistance device (900) includes a sinistral leg engagement end roller (910) rotably mounted to the sinistral leg engagement end (810), as seen in
In yet another embodiment, the luggage device (100) includes a dextral roller (1100) attached to the dextral leg roller end (620), and a sinistral roller (1200) attached to the sinistral leg roller end (820), as seen in
Yet a further embodiment recognizes a unique relationship between the dextral slot length (632) and the sinistral slot length (832), and the luggage device's (100) resistance to unintentional opening. In this embodiment, the dextral slot length (632) and the sinistral slot length (832) are preferably at least 0.5 inches. Still further, the resistance, or biasing force, of the biasing mechanisms (640, 840) is preferably at least 5 pounds per inch. In a further embodiment, the translational force required to transition the legs (600, 800) from the storage position to the operative position is at least 5 pounds of force, more preferably at least 10 pounds of force. Yet, it is preferred to require a translational force of less than 30 pounds of force. Such unique translational force ranges provide the safety needed to allow convenient operation by the user and the necessary safety of airline baggage handlers.
In yet a further embodiment, the luggage device (100) further recognizes unique relationships that provide heightened stability and safety. In this embodiment, the sinistral leg (800) has a sinistral leg cantilever distance (850) measured from the sinistral pivot (410), when in the operative position as seen in
Yet, the cantilever distances (650, 850) cannot be made so large as to impact the storage capacity of the luggage device (100). Thus, in yet another embodiment, the sinistral leg recess (400) has a sinistral leg engagement region max depth (428) measured from the most exterior point of sinistral leg (800), when in the storage position as seen in
The luggage device (100) may be a flexible soft-case type travel bag, a rigid hard-case type travel bag, or a hybrid type travel bag having both flexible soft-case type portions and rigid hard-case type portions. In fact, the pivots (310, 410) are the only portions of the luggage device (100), other than the legs (600, 800), that must be rigid; however, the luggage device (100) may include larger rigid portions around the pivots (310, 410) referred to as a pivot carriage (200). Likewise, the pivot carriage (200) may be permanently attached to the luggage device (100) or it may be releasably attached. When the pivot carriage (200) is releasably attached, it may be done so via straps, clips, snaps, or any other releasable attachment means known to those with skill in the art.
Numerous alterations, modifications, and variations of the preferred embodiments disclosed herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art and they are all anticipated and contemplated to be within the spirit and scope of the instant invention. For example, although specific embodiments have been described in detail, those with skill in the art will understand that the preceding embodiments and variations can be modified to incorporate various types of substitute and or additional or alternative materials, relative arrangement of elements, and dimensional configurations. Accordingly, even though only few variations of the present invention are described herein, it is to be understood that the practice of such additional modifications and variations and the equivalents thereof, are within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims. The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of all means or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended to include any structure, material, or acts for performing the functions in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/044,945, filed on Apr. 15, 2008, all of which is incorporated by reference as if completely written herein.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61044945 | Apr 2008 | US |