Luggage system and folding dolly therefor

A luggage system comprising a luggage piece having a dolly connector unit fixably located thereon;

• and a dolly, the dolly comprising:
• (a) a movable base, a platform fixably located relative to the base;
• (b) a handle member fixably locatable relative to the base for manipulation thereof;
• (c) a luggage connector unit supported relative to the base, the luggage connector unit being selectively coupleable with the dolly connector unit for fixably holding the luggage piece on the dolly;
• (d) a pair of axially spaced wheels rotatably mounted relative to the base for rolling the dolly over a roadway surface;
• (e) a handle frame connected between the base and the handle, the luggage connector unit being connected to the handle frame, the handle frame comprising a plurality of telescoping members for selectively locating the handle between an extended position and a retracted position relative to the base, the telescoping members forming a parallel spaced pair of frame columns, the luggage connector being connected between corresponding members of each column;
• and
• (f) a support member fixably locatable relative to the bases
• (g) a latch holder for releasably fixably holding the luggage connector on at least one of the column members, the latch holder comprising a pair of arm members pivotally connected to a latch frame, each arm member having a grip element for contacting a respective one of the column members, and a handle portion for moving the grip element away from the column member in response to finger pressure, a spring element being connected between the arm member and the frame for biasing the grip element against the column member,
• the dolly having a rest position wherein the platform is disposed in fixed relation parallel to the roadway surface with the wheels and the support member contacting the roadway surface, the handle frame extending perpendicular to the platform, the dolly also having a transport position wherein the platform and the handle frame are together inclined relative to the rest position, the support member being raised from the roadway surface with the wheels rollably supporting the dolly, the luggage piece being supportable partly on the platform and partly by the handle frame when the connector units are coupled together.

A luggage system comprising a plurality of luggage pieces, each luggage piece having a dolly connector unit including a latch plate member fixably located thereon;

• and a dolly, the dolly comprising:
• (a) a base having an axially spaced pair of wheels rotatably mounted thereto for engaging a roadway surface;
• (b) a handle frame including a parallel spaced pair of telescoping columns of column members projecting from the base, a first pair of column members being rigidly connected to the base, a handle member being rigidly connected between respective last column members of the columns for manipulation of the dolly;
• (c) a platform pivotally connected to the base on a platform axis proximate the handle frame for movement between an extended position perpendicular to the handle frame and a retracted position parallel to and proximate the handle frame, the platform having a support for contacting the roadway surface in the extended position of the platform for providing a rest position of the dolly wherein the platform is disposed in fixed relation parallel to the roadway surface with the wheels also contacting the roadway surface, the dolly also having a transport position wherein the platform and the handle frame are together inclined relative to the rest position with the support member raised from the roadway surface with the wheels rollably supporting the dolly;
• and
• (d) a luggage connector unit supported on the handle frame for engaging the dolly connector units of a selected one of the luggage pieces, the luggage connector unit comprising:
• (i) a latch frame member, at least one luggage piece being supportable partly on the platform and partly by the latch frame when the connector units are coupled together;
• (ii) a pair of latch members supported by the latch frame and movable between respective latching and releasing positions, each latch member having an engagement shoulder, the engagement shoulders being operative for securing the dolly connector unit of a luggage piece against the latch frame member in the latching position of the latch members;
• and
• (iii) a latch actuator for moving the latch members between the latching and releasing positions, the latch members being formed for freely entering and exiting the dolly connector unit in the releasing position of the latch members.

A luggage dolly for a plurality of luggage pieces, each luggage piece having a dolly connector fixably located thereon, the dolly comprising:

• (a) a base having an axially spaced pair of wheels rotatably mounted thereto for engaging a roadway surface;
• (b) a handle frame including a parallel spaced pair of telescoping columns of column members projecting from the base, a first pair of column members being rigidly connected to the base, a handle member being rigidly connected between respective last column members of the columns for manipulation of the dolly;
• (c) a platform pivotally connected to the base on a platform axis proximate the handle frame for movement between an extended position perpendicular the handle frame and a retracted position parallel to and proximate the handle frame, the platform having a support for contacting the roadway surface in the extended position of the platform for providing a rest position of the dolly wherein the platform is disposed in fixed relation parallel to the roadway surface with the wheels also contacting the roadway surface, the dolly also having a transport position wherein the platform and the handle frame are together inclined relative to the rest position with the support member raised from the roadway surface with the wheels rollably supporting the dolly;
• and
• (d) a luggage connector unit supported on the handle frame for engaging the dolly connectors of the luggage pieces, the luggage connector unit comprising:
• (i) a latch frame member, at least one luggage piece being supportable partly on the platform and partly by the latch frame when the connector units are coupled together;
• (ii) a pair of latch members supported by the latch frame and movable between respective latching and releasing positions, each latch member having an engagement shoulder, the engagement shoulders being operative for securing the dolly connector of a luggage piece against the latch frame member in the latching position of the latch members;
• and
• (iii) a latch actuator for moving the latch members between the latching and releasing positions, the latch members being formed for freely entering and exiting the dolly connector unit in the releasing position of the latch members.