US 2009/0255772 A1 · FULLY RECESSED TRANSLATION BIASED CANTILEVER LEG LUGGAGE DEVICE

a) a dextral leg recess (300) having a dextral recess leg engagement region (320), a dextral leg storage region (330), and a dextral pivot (310), wherein the dextral recess leg engagement region (320) includes:

(i) a dextral leg engagement region storage location (322);

(ii) a dextral leg engagement region operative location (324);

and

(iii) a dextral leg engagement region transition region (326);

b) a sinistral leg recess (400) having a sinistral recess leg engagement region (420), a sinistral leg storage region (430), and a sinistral pivot (410), wherein the sinistral recess leg engagement region (420) includes:

(i) a sinistral leg engagement region storage location (422);

(ii) a sinistral leg engagement region operative location (424);

and

(iii) a sinistral leg engagement region transition region (426);

c) a dextral leg (600) in rotational and translational cooperation with the dextral pivot (310) including a dextral biasing mechanism (640), wherein the dextral leg (600) has a dextral leg engagement end (610), a dextral leg roller end (620) that the dextral biasing mechanism (640) biases toward the dextral pivot (610), the dextral leg roller end (820) having a dextral caster (1110) attached thereto, and a dextral pivot slot (630) in cooperation with the dextral pivot (310), wherein the dextral pivot slot (630) has a dextral slot length (632), a dextral slot storage position (634), and a dextral slot transition region (636), such that;

(i) the dextral leg (600) has a storage position fully recessed within the device (100) wherein the dextral biasing mechanism (640) biases the dextral slot storage position (634) to the dextral pivot (310) thereby positioning the dextral leg engagement end (610) in cooperation with the dextral leg engagement region storage location (322);

(ii) the dextral leg (600) has an operative position extending from the device (100) wherein the dextral biasing mechanism (640) biases the dextral leg roller end (620) toward the dextral pivot (310) thereby positioning the dextral leg engagement end (610) in cooperation with the dextral leg engagement region operative location (324);

and

(iii) the dextral leg (600) pivots about the dextral pivot (310) to rotate from the recessed storage position to the operative position, and

(a) 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), and

(b) 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);

d) a sinistral leg (800) in rotational and translational cooperation with the sinistral pivot (410) including 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), the sinistral leg roller end (820) having a sinistral caster (1210) attached thereto, and a sinistral pivot slot (830) in cooperation with the sinistral pivot (410), wherein the sinistral pivot slot (830) has a sinistral slot length (832), a sinistral slot storage position (834), and a sinistral slot transition region (836), such that;

(i) the sinistral leg (800) has a storage position fully recessed within the device (100) wherein the sinistral biasing mechanism (840) biases the sinistral slot storage position (834) to the sinistral pivot (410) thereby positioning the sinistral leg engagement end (810) in cooperation with the sinistral leg engagement region storage location (422);

(ii) the sinistral leg (800) has an operative position extending from the 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);

and

(iii) the sinistral leg (800) pivots about the sinistral pivot (410) to rotate from the recessed storage position to the operative position, and

(a) to pivot the sinistral leg (800) from the recessed storage position to the operative position the sinistral leg (800) must be translated in a direction opposite the bias of the sinistral biasing mechanism (840) to release the cooperation of the sinistral leg engagement end (810) and the sinistral leg engagement region storage location (422) such that the sinistral leg engagement end (810) cooperates with the sinistral leg engagement region transition region (426) as the sinistral leg (800) pivots toward the operative position until the bias of the sinistral biasing mechanism (840) results in the cooperation of the sinistral leg engagement end (810) and the sinistral leg engagement region operative location (424), and

(b) to pivot the sinistral leg (800) from the operative position to the recessed storage position the sinistral leg (800) must be translated in a direction opposite the bias of the sinistral biasing mechanism (840) to release the cooperation of the sinistral leg engagement end (810) and the sinistral leg engagement region operative location (424) such that the sinistral leg engagement end (810) cooperates with the sinistral leg engagement region transition region (426) as the sinistral leg (800) pivots toward the storage position until the bias of the sinistral biasing mechanism (840) results in the cooperation of the sinistral leg engagement end (810) and the sinistral leg engagement region storage location (422);

e) a crossbar (1000) connecting the dextral leg (600) and the sinistral leg (800);

f) at least one base roller (1300) located at a corner edge of the luggage device (100) and separated from an axis of the dextral pivot (310) and the sinistral pivot (410) by a base roller to pivot distance (1310);

g) a rotation prevention recess (500), the rotation prevention recess (500) including a rotation prevention ledge (510), wherein

(i) the rotation prevention recess (500) cooperates with the crossbar (1000) such that crossbar (1000) must be translationally displaced in a direction opposite the bias of the dextral biasing mechanism (640) and the sinistral biasing mechanism (840) by a rotation prevention recess minimum offset distance (530) to release the cooperation of the rotation prevention recess (500) and the crossbar (1000) and facilitate simultaneous movement of (a) the dextral leg engagement end (610) from the dextral leg engagement region operative location (324), and (b) the sinistral leg engagement end (810) from the sinistral leg engagement region operative location (424), to permit rotation of the dextral leg (600) and the sinistral leg (800) from the recessed storage position to the operative position;

and

(ii) the rotation prevention recess (500) forms a gripping recess (520) sized to permit a human hand to grip the recessed crossbar (1000) and apply a reverse bias force to translate the crossbar (1000) free of the rotation prevention recess (500);

and

h) a dextral leg translation assistance device (700) having a dextral leg engagement end roller (710) rotably mounted to the dextral leg engagement end (610), and a sinistral leg translation assistance device (900) having a sinistral leg engagement end roller (910) rotably mounted to the sinistral leg engagement end (810), 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).

Fully recessed translation biased cantilever leg luggage device

Life of this patent

Fully recessed translation biased cantilever leg luggage device

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19