LUGGAGE AND CASE CADDY

Abstract

A luggage and case caddy is provided. In an implementation, a wheeled suitcase has a telescoping base frame that extends at length to carry additional luggage, with extending wheel support. The telescoping base frame that provides the extended carrying cart can retract back into the base of the wheeled suitcase. In another implementation, the extended cart folds up against the side of the suitcase. In either implementation, the apparatus can be converted between a single wheeled suitcase with pulling handle, or an extended cart, with pulling handle, for carrying multiple pieces of luggage and belongings.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The subject matter relates generally to luggage, and more particularly to a suitcase that can expand into a cart for additional luggage.

BACKGROUND

There are a number of solutions for traveling with multiple bags and other personal items. Some of these solutions utilize multiple pieces of luggage, which are attached together with straps, but these solutions fail to meet the needs of the market because if a user has more than two pieces of luggage the luggage train becomes hard to control. Other solutions use an additional luggage cart to hold extra pieces, but the added cart becomes another item the traveler has to manage when arriving at a destination. Still other solutions make the traveler use a rental cart available at the airport, but the carts may be unavailable prior to or after security screening, which requires the traveler to obtain and turn in two separate carts.

SUMMARY

A luggage and case caddy is described. An apparatus includes a suitcase with a telescoping frame that converts to a cart for carrying extra baggage and personal belongings. The apparatus may have a self-contained tray or platform at the bottom, which can be extended or deployed allowing baggage to rest on or be secured to the built-in suitcase or bag.

The apparatus may also be considered a cart for luggage that also doubles as luggage. The apparatus may have an adjustable frame to accommodate many different items needed when traveling.

The extendible cart or platform can be reinforced to be weight bearing so that a traveler can put heavy or additional luggage on the platform. The apparatus is available in different sizes, such as checked luggage or carry-on luggage size, or configurable as a backpack or shoulder bag.

The invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are intended to be read in conjunction with both this summary, the detailed description and any preferred and/or particular embodiments specifically discussed or otherwise disclosed. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided by way of illustration only and so that this disclosure will be thorough, complete and will fully convey the full scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.

This summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in limiting the scope of the claimed subject matter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Certain embodiments of the disclosure will hereafter be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements. It should be understood, however, that the accompanying figures illustrate the various implementations described herein and are not meant to limit the scope of various technologies described herein.

FIG. 1 shows an example embodiment of a luggage caddy, with a telescoping base.

FIG. 2 shows the example luggage caddy of FIG. 1, expanded into a cart for additional pieces of luggage.

FIG. 3 shows another example embodiment of the luggage caddy, with a folding base.

FIG. 4 shows the example luggage caddy of FIG. 3, unfolded into a cart for additional pieces of luggage.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following description, numerous details are set forth to provide an understanding of some embodiments of the present disclosure. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the system and/or methodology may be practiced without these details and that numerous variations or modifications from the described embodiments may be possible.

The various embodiments of the example luggage and case caddy 100 are directed to a single suitcase mobilized on wheels that can expand into a cart for transporting additional pieces of luggage. In an implementation, the example luggage and case caddy 100 has a telescoping base frame 102 that can elongate to accommodate extra luggage. In another implementation (FIGS. 3-4), an example luggage case caddy 300 has a folding base frame (“platform”) 302 that can fold up onto a side of the luggage and case caddy 300. The following patents are incorporated by reference in their entireties: Patent No. W0/2000/059332 to Pfeiffer, and Patent No. W0/2012/121789 to Zuckerman.

FIGS. 1-2 show an example luggage and case caddy 100. In FIG. 1, the example luggage and case caddy 100 includes a single suitcase 104 with wheels 106A-106E. A handle 108 is attached to a recessible and telescopable arm that can pivot, raise, and lower for transport of the example luggage and case caddy 100, e.g., by pulling. In an implementation, the suitcase 104 may open along a zipper line 110 or other closing mechanism, although numerous styles of a suitcase 104 may be used for the example luggage and case caddy 100. In FIG. 1, the example luggage and case caddy 100 is in a closed position with respect to the telescoping base frame 102. Attached to the telescoping base frame 102 is a recessible second handle 112, which also functions as a stop or cart end, for extra pieces of luggage on the expanded cart. Pulling the second handle 112 expands the telescoping base frame 102 from beneath the suitcase 104.

FIG. 2 shows the example luggage and case caddy 100 with the base frame 102 expanded into an extended cart 114 to carry and transport extra luggage besides the “built-in” suitcase 104. The base frame 102 telescopes out from beneath the suitcase 104 to provide extra length for the extended cart 114. In an implementation, the telescoping base frame 102 expands parallel to the floor or ground, and includes one or more corresponding wheels, such as wheel 106E, that telescope with the base frame 102 to provide wheel support for the now longer extended cart 114 or caddy for carrying extra luggage or personal belongings.

A strap 116 may attach to the suitcase 104 and be available to extend around other luggage pieces to be carried on the extended cart 114 or caddy. The extended cart 114 may also have a strong platform design, e.g., located on the bottom, to support the weight of heavy luggage. The extended cart 114 may be configured to accommodate an infant carrier on the example luggage and case caddy 100.

FIG. 3 shows another implementation of the luggage and case caddy 300. In the implementation of FIG. 3, the example luggage and case caddy 300 has a foldable platform 302, which in a closed position conforms to a side of the suitcase 104. Thus, in a closed position, the foldable platform 302 is located adjacent to the suitcase 104 and may be substantially perpendicular to the ground, when the bottom of the example luggage and case caddy 300 is parallel to the ground.

FIG. 4 shows the example luggage and case caddy 300 with the foldable platform 302 in the open position. The foldable platform 302 may fold and unfold from the suitcase 104 on a hinge 304. The second handle 112, which also provides a stop or cart end for pieces of luggage on the extended cart 114, may also fold on a hinge 306, and thereby nest down into the foldable platform 302 to conform with the side of the suitcase 104 when the foldable platform 302 is closed.

The example luggage and case caddy 300 also includes the handle 108 on a telescoping arm 308 that extends from the base frame of the example luggage and case caddy 300 to allow a user to pull or steady the example luggage and case caddy 300. The foldable platform 302 also includes one or more wheels, such as wheel 106E. In an implementation, the foldable platform 302 is a tray attached to the suitcase 104, without an accompanying wheel.

In an implementation, the strap 116 may be used to hold the foldable platform 302 in a closed position, and secure pieces of luggage on the extended cart 114 when the foldable platform 302 is in an open position.

The various embodiments of the example luggage and case caddy 100 or 300 may be manufactured from a variety of materials, such as leather, nylon, aluminum, and other materials known in the art.

Additionally, the example luggage and case caddy 100 or 300 may be manufactured in a variety of colors and patterns that allow a user to customize the luggage and case caddy 100 or 300 as well as the telescoping base frame 102 or the foldable platform 302. In an embodiment, the example luggage and case caddy 100 or 300 may be made from materials that are allowed to go through airport security without triggering an alarm.

The example luggage and case caddy 100 or 300 may be of large size, similar to the bulk of a heavy-duty checked bag, or on the other hand, may be of small size, such as that of a carry-on suitcase. The example luggage and case caddy 100 or 300 may be configured as a backpack or shoulder bag.

In its many implementations, the example luggage and case caddy is an apparatus that includes a suitcase component, and an extended cart component, wherein the apparatus is easily convertible between a single wheeled suitcase with pulling handle, and an extended cart with pulling handle for carrying multiple pieces of luggage and belongings.

CONCLUSION

Although a few embodiments of the disclosure have been described in detail above, those of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible without materially departing from the teachings of this disclosure. Accordingly, such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this disclosure as defined in the claims.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising: a wheeled suitcase; anda base frame of the wheeled suitcase telescopable into an extended cart for carrying one or more additional pieces of luggage.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one wheel of the wheeled suitcase telescopes with the base frame to support the extended cart.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a first handle attached to a non-telescoping part of the base frame or the wheeled suitcase for pulling the apparatus; and a second handle attached to a telescoping part of the base frame for pulling the apparatus and for providing a stop or a cart end for additional pieces of luggage being carried by the extended cart.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the second handle nests into the side of the wheeled suitcase when the telescopable base frame is retracted into the wheeled suitcase.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a strap retractable into the wheeled suitcase for securing an additional piece of luggage on the extended cart.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the length of the extended cart is adjustable.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises a backpack or shoulder bag.

8. An apparatus, comprising: a wheeled suitcase; andan extended cart of the wheeled suitcase capable of carrying one or more additional pieces of luggage, the extended cart foldable to conform into a side of the wheeled suitcase.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein at least one wheel of the wheeled suitcase telescopes supports the extended cart when carrying the one or more additional pieces of luggage, and wherein the at least one wheel folds into the side of the wheeled suitcase.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a first handle attached to the wheeled suitcase for pulling the apparatus; and a second handle attached to the extended cart for providing a stop or a cart end for additional pieces of luggage being carried by the extended cart.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the second handle folds to nest into the side of the wheeled suitcase when the extended cart folds to conform to the side of the wheeled suitcase.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a strap retractable into the wheeled suitcase for securing the extended cart against the side of the wheeled suitcase and for securing one or more additional pieces of luggage on the extended cart.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the length of the extended cart is adjustable.

14. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the apparatus comprises a backpack or shoulder bag.

15. An apparatus, comprising: a suitcase component;an extended cart component; andwherein the apparatus is convertible between a single wheeled suitcase with pulling handle, and an extended cart with pulling handle for carrying multiple pieces of luggage and belongings.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the length of the extended cart is adjustable.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the apparatus comprises a backpack or shoulder bag.