Patent ID: 6148971
Filing Date: 2000-11-21
Classification: A45C

Abstract:
A hard-sided pullable suitcase comprising:(a) a generally rectangular shaped molded case, comprisingan open container portion and a lid portion, said lid portion connected to said container portion by a hinge;said molded case having elongate opposing parallel, planar side walls, a planar top wall and an opposing bottom wall, a planar front end wall and an opposing planar rear end wall; said bottom wall having a forward portion and a rearward portion, said forward portion extending in a horizontal plane from said front end wall to about midway between said front end wall and said rear end wall, said rearward portion--inclining upward--from said forward portion to said rear end wall at an angle of about 17 degrees to the plane defined by said forward portion;(b) a pair of main wheels, rotatably mounted transversely to said side walls adjacent to said bottom wall at the proximate midway point corresponding to a vertical line through the suitcase center of gravity, thereby locating said main wheels for carrying most of the suitcase weight;(c) a pair of castered wheels mounted on said bottom wall adjacent to said front end wall;(d) a carrying handle, mounted on said top wall at its proximate center;(e) a pulling handle, pivotably mounted on said front end wall adjacent to said top wall; and(f) means for fixing said pulling handle rigidly in place to facilitate lifting the suitcase front end and pulling said suitcase on said main wheels; said--rearward portion of said bottom wall--providing adequate ground clearance for the rear end of the case when said suitcase is pulled forward on its main wheels using a rigidly fixed pulling handle.