Patent ID: 8490765
Filing Date: 2013-07-23
Classification: A45C

Abstract:
1. A wheeled luggage case having a luggage receptacle, the receptacle having first and second opposing major walls and having a posterior end wall at a posterior end and an anterior end wall at an anterior end forming a luggage compartment, whereof the first major wall of the receptacle is adapted to serve as a bottom wall that faces the ground during use of the wheels in a first mode of wheeled travel of the luggage case, wherein said luggage case further comprises: (i) a plurality of non-retractable support wheels located at the posterior end of the bottom wall; (ii) a retractable steering wheel assembly, located on the bottom wall, distanced, in use, from the support wheels, said steering wheel assembly having at least one wheel and being moveable between an active position at which the steering wheel assembly extends below the bottom wall of the luggage receptacle or an inactive position at which the steering wheel assembly is retracted; and (iii) a handle having a handle grip a rigid/pushable handle stem pivotally attached to the luggage receptacle wherein the retractable steering wheel assembly is on a distal portion of the handle stem and rotation of the handle relative to the receptacle moves the retractable steering wheel assembly between the inactive and active positions to directly enable the luggage case to travel on the support wheels and steering wheel assembly such that, in the active position the case is deployed with the bottom wall facing the ground for wheeled travel and the handle grip located at the same posterior end of the luggage receptacle as the support wheels and inclined relative to the plane of the bottom wall and tilted posteriorly away from the posterior end of the luggage receptacle and further wherein, in the active position, the handle, steering wheel assembly and support wheels are arranged such that when the case is being pushed along by the handle grip, the steering wheel assembly leads, and the retractable steering wheel assembly on a distal portion of the handle stem is located forward of the pivotal mounting of the handle stem to the luggage receptacle.