US 12,446,670 B2 · Wheeled luggage item with integrated personal mobility capability

Abstract

A wheeled luggage item includes a base defining an interior cavity, and a liner structured to partition the interior cavity into a first portion and a second portion physically isolated from the first portion. Personal luggage items may be stored in the cavity first portion. First and second wheels are rotatably coupled to the base so as to be movable between stowed positions in the cavity second portion and deployed positions outside the base, to enable a riding mode of the luggage item. Steering levers are rotatably deployable to operably connect to the first wheel, enabling the first wheel to be steered by a user riding the luggage item in the riding mode. To propel the luggage item in the riding mode, a battery in the interior cavity may power an in-wheel motor operably connected to the second wheel.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A wheeled luggage item comprising:

a base defining an interior cavity;
a liner structured to partition the interior cavity into a first portion and a second portion physically isolated from the first portion;
a wheel rotatably coupled to the base so as to be movable between a stowed position in the cavity second portion and a deployed position outside the cavity second portion;
and
a seat structure rotatable to any of a stowed orientation in which a seating surface of the seat structure is positioned at a first height above a ground surface, and a raised orientation in which another seating surface of the seat structure is positioned at a second height above the ground surface, the second height being greater than the first height.

2 more elements

A wheeled luggage item comprising:

a base;
a steerable wheel rotatably coupled to the base so as to be movable between a stowed position and a deployed position;
a first steering lever rotatably coupled to the base;
and
a second steering lever rotatably coupled to the base,
the first steering lever and the second steering lever being operably connected to the wheel so as to enable steering of the wheel by simultaneous rotation of the first steering lever in one of a first rotational direction and a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction, and rotation of the second steering lever in the other one of the first rotational direction and the second rotational direction, when the wheel is in the deployed position.

3 more elements

A wheeled luggage item comprising:

a base defining an interior cavity;
a steerable wheel rotatably coupled to the base so as to be movable between a stowed position and a deployed position;
a first steering lever rotatably coupled to the base;
a second steering lever rotatably coupled to the base
a gear set operably connected to the first steering lever and the second steering lever;
a torque transfer member operably connected to the gear set so that simultaneous rotation of the first steering lever in one of a first rotational direction and a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction, and of the second steering lever in the other one of the first rotational direction and the second rotational direction, causes rotation of the torque transfer member in an associated torque direction;
and
a first steering cable and a second steering cable operably connected to the torque transfer member and to the wheel, so that rotation of the torque transfer member in the associated torque direction causes the wheel to turn in an associated direction when the wheel is in the deployed position.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Wheeled luggage item with integrated personal mobility capability

Life of this patent

Wheeled luggage item with integrated personal mobility capability

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20